General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums(Re: Sneaky AI enslavement) If you have a Gmail account, you need to read this.
(About the "never-enough" greedy AI a-holes at the G7.)
If you have a Gmail account and have not done it, you need to read this.
Google's AI now scans your emails and attachments, bank statements, tax files, medical letters, all of it. It's turned on by default, and there's a class-action lawsuit over it how.
Here are 5 moves to shut it off, the switch is hidden in two places:
1. The Main Switch
This is the main setting Google shows you, but it's not the only one.
Gmail (Desktop):
⚙️ Settings → See all settings → Smart features and personalization → Uncheck "Turn on smart features in Gmail, Chat, and Meet" → Save Changes.
2. The Hidden Switch
Turning off the first setting isn't enough. Most people stop there.
On the same settings page: Google Workspace smart features → Manage Workspace smart feature settings → Turn off both checkboxes → Save.
Both settings need to be turned off.
3. Your Phone
The settings don't always sync between devices, so check the Gmail app separately.
Gmail app → Menu (☰ → Settings → Select your account → Turn off "Smart features and personalization" → Confirm.
4. Delete Gemini History
If you've used Gemini before, your chats may be saved, and some could be reviewed by humans.
Go to http://myactivity.google.com/product/gemini → Turn off Gemini Apps Activity → Delete Activity → All Time.
This removes your past Gemini chat history and stops future conversations from being saved.
5. Move Sensitive Emails
Turning off Gmail's smart features helps, but for truly private emails, consider using a separate service.
For medical, legal, or financial emails, use a free Proton Mail account. It offers end-to-end encryption and doesn't use AI to scan your emails.
Keep Gmail for newsletters, promotions, and less sensitive messages.
This is the kind of post people should save for later.
dalton99a
(96,082 posts)Maru Kitteh
(32,081 posts)CousinIT
(12,866 posts)dalton99a
(96,082 posts)And it's been around for a while
LogDog75
(1,443 posts)The only thing I use it for to read Google docs one person uses to send me information. In the couple of years that I've had it I've used it probably 3 or 4 times. Now, it's like my hotmail account which I use as my "junk" account when I don't want to give someone my regular email account.
yardwork
(69,869 posts)Raven123
(8,003 posts)MarineCombatEngineer
(18,226 posts)just finished doing so.
Scrivener7
(60,290 posts)area51
(12,781 posts)SSJVegeta
(3,387 posts)Do they save the data to other places as they do this?
NNadir
(38,800 posts)GiqueCee
(4,991 posts)c-rational
(3,233 posts)nuxvomica
(14,364 posts)I had turned off smart reply after it suggested a totally fictional story about me dealing with a printer problem two years ago. It creeped me out. I now have all the other "smart" stuff turned off. Thanks for posting.
orleans
(37,393 posts)niyad
(135,110 posts)in my emaiils, telling me what th email says aan "suggesting" responses. I was woonderung how to turn it off.
CapnSteve
(423 posts)Done and done! Previously killed copilot in Windows and Office 365.
Death to ARTIFICIAL intelligence!
aggiesal
(10,984 posts)Reviewing the settings, I had done this on my phone when I first received a message that this was happening.
Silly me, I thought it applied to everything.
When I looked on my computer, the settings were enabled.
I followed your instructions and disabled all the settings for this invasive feature.
Again thanks.
Only use your Superpowers for good!
patphil
(9,301 posts)We need strong regulation now.
irisblue
(38,099 posts)Justice matters.
(10,185 posts)I must admit I don't know the answer so I hope other DUers can answer your question here in a reply to your reply.
irisblue
(38,099 posts)TommyT139
(2,475 posts)Also. do the steps need to be repeated after the updates (including automatic ones)?
I would assume so?
FakeNoose
(42,878 posts)Almost everyone in my family has a g-mail account.
I will share this. (Probably I'll send it out via G-Mail.)
alwaysinasnit
(5,672 posts)purr-rat beauty
(1,600 posts)If users of Gmail were not notified and given instructions to opt out this should be considered a serious breach and TOA violation brought on by Google.
AI is going to become mal/spy/bloat/etc.ware
I will let my wife know and we will make the changes and reconsider our options.
Every damn tool that's been relied for years is being turned into a weapon against us.
Akakoji
(617 posts)Tens of millions of dollars.
Prairie_Seagull
(4,879 posts)Seems more than ever it's
Us against them.
Fuckers.
SheltieLover
(82,503 posts)Tyvm!
yellow dahlia
(6,809 posts)ret5hd
(22,685 posts)Talitha
(8,203 posts)Maybe because I never used any of the available 'smart' stuff?
GoodRaisin
(11,162 posts)Wonder Why
(7,335 posts)then whine when the government collects personal information even though the government can and will get that information from the same companies that people gave it to.
They give it away in their home (e.g. Google, Alexa, ring, their "smart" TV and similar), their phone, their car, etc.
I did computer and network security and privacy for a living and I'm appalled with the attitude of the stupid but this is just one more example of what companies will do because people don't care.
BaronChocula
(4,934 posts)Just did a search and found this how to video for dummies like me.
debsy
(1,085 posts)reACTIONary
(7,386 posts)Of course, Google AI naturally would. But, for the other side of the issue, this is what Google AI says:
## The Core Controversy: Facts vs. Rumors
A viral social media wave led to a class-action lawsuit filed against Google. The lawsuit alleges that Google secretly used its Gemini AI to scan private emails and attachments. Google has publicly denied these specific allegations, stating that the lawsuit is misleading. The company clarifies that while automated systems do process emails to power individual inbox tools, that data is never used to train public AI models. [1, 2]
## What Do "Smart Features" Actually Do?
The settings mentioned in your post are called Smart Features and Personalization. They are turned on by default for many users and utilize basic machine learningnot public generative AIto provide convenience features. [3, 4]
If you choose to leave these features enabled, your email data is processed to automate:
* Smart Compose & Smart Reply: Predictive text and quick automated response suggestions.
* Inbox Categorization: Sorting emails automatically into Primary, Promotions, and Social tabs.
* Cross-App Integration: Automatically adding flight itineraries to Google Calendar or pulling tracking numbers into Google Maps. [4, 5, 6, 7]
## What Happens If You Turn Them Off?
If you follow the opt-out steps outlined in your post, you will successfully block Google from processing your text to personalize your dashboard. However, you will immediately lose access to automated tab sorting, text predictions, grammar tools, and automatic calendar updates. Furthermore, disabling these toggles will not stop Google from scanning your inbox for essential backend operational needs, such as filtering out spam, blocking malware, and detecting phishing attempts. [4, 5, 6, 8]
------------------------------
If you want to evaluate your digital privacy further, please let me know:
* Would you like step-by-step instructions to clear your historical data on Google?
* Are you interested in a comparison of alternative privacy-focused email providers?
* Do you want to check if you are eligible for any recent Google privacy settlements?
[1] [https://upcurvecloud.com](https://upcurvecloud.com/blog/separating-fact-from-fiction-gmail-privacy-and-ai-training-explained/)
[2] [https://www.nbcchicago.com](https://www.nbcchicago.com/video/news/local/google-accused-of-using-ai-to-exploit-data-from-gmail-accounts/3872487/)
[3] [https://www.malwarebytes.com](https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2025/11/gmail-is-reading-your-emails-and-attachments-to-train-its-ai-unless-you-turn-it-off)
[4] [https://www.youtube.com]()
[5] [https://www.youtube.com](&t=7)
[6] [https://www.jdsupra.com](https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/privacy-tip-475-gmail-users-urged-to-5393852/)
[7] [https://workspace.google.com](https://workspace.google.com/blog/product-announcements/updated-smart-feature-settings-give-users-increased-choice-and-control)
[8] [https://www.linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/luizajarovsky_important-if-youre-a-gmail-user-and-activity-7397279112115150848-G0GU)
Justice matters.
(10,185 posts)I mean, to the average users (most of the general public) who don't care about all the annoying switches, and just sign it without taking the annoying long time to read and moreso, to understand the fine prints, who's to say they don't just lie (and do it anyway without telling they're lying of course)?
reACTIONary
(7,386 posts).... First, the AI says the lawsuits is based only on "internet rumors." The filing by the plaintiffs should be publicly available, and it may explain the basis for their allegations. Do they have anything other than rumors? Maybe a whistleblower? If so, the filing should tell us.
Second, whatever evidence they do or don't have, they will have to prove their allegations in court. So eventually, the truth will out.
progressoid
(53,492 posts)so...
reACTIONary
(7,386 posts).... maybe not. We shall see.
To be honest, the OP looks like one of those Facebook posts that declares "By posting this message I hereby declare Facebook does not, blah, blah, blah, Mark Zuckerberg, blah, blah blah, copyright, blah, blah, blah." Just an internet rumor generating chain-mail level reposts.
There does seem to be an actual lawsuit, but it would be helpful if links to an actual legitimate news article or to the actual legal filing were provided. Otherwise it just doesn't seem legit.
sprinkleeninow
(22,507 posts)Akakoji
(617 posts)there's a class-action lawsuit over it now
Alice Kramden
(2,980 posts)Bookmarked
stage left
(3,376 posts)iemanja
(57,806 posts)When Im at my computer. Thank you!
Raine
(31,257 posts)Jack Valentino
(5,367 posts)and I have a LOT of Gmail addresses--- but I generate so few emails from myself,
I haven't given enough of a SHIT about that to DO anything about it!
If they are, which I guess they are, they would mostly have to rely upon
emails SENT to me, which are mostly spam, and of little value thereby)
(Haven't been trying to plan any assassinations through my Gmail accounts, lately...
or ever, I guess.... LOL.... although I might have had a rather questionable conversation
with GROK once, about why hasn't anyone tried to kill Elon yet? HAHAHAHAHAHA)
Lonestarblue
(13,608 posts)Gum Logger
(454 posts)Do not have an account with googly eyes
Liberal In Texas
(16,513 posts)My wife is always on top of this stuff. It's like having an in-house IT person LOL.
rpannier
(24,998 posts)thanks
OldBaldy1701E
(11,747 posts)CurtEastPoint
(20,137 posts)Ziggy Beans
(82 posts)I had to do the following
Go to Settings -> Data privacy (not Select your account) --> Turn off "Smart features"
CurtEastPoint
(20,137 posts)Ziggy Beans
(82 posts)At least not on my iPhone
I had to go to Settings -> Data privacy (not Select your account) --> Turn off "Smart features"
Clouds Passing
(8,233 posts)Journeyman
(15,504 posts)Wild blueberry
(8,407 posts)Just did. Appreciate your suggestions.
DBoon
(25,242 posts)Will configuring via the browser also fix the Outlook client? This is via IMAP.
Quanto Magnus
(1,411 posts)for their AI settings, it's under Settings - Privacy and security
There is also a catagory called 'AI Innovations' (I just turned that one off)
This isn't for email per se. It's for browsing, but I thought I'd add...
sorry for the threadjack
P.S. I don't see any of the OP's path references on my Android either
ShazzieB
(23,050 posts)I originally made the account to take the place of my spam-riddled yahoo account, but the gmail account started getting clogged with spam so fast that I never made the switch. *sigh*
Spam is the bane of my email existence!
Martin68
(28,219 posts)unchecked and inoperative. I have received invitations to turn on AI assistance in the past but never accepted the offers. So, clearly, my google mail defaults did not include smart features. I'l check my phone settings next.