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Justice matters.

(10,185 posts)
Wed Jun 17, 2026, 02:14 PM Yesterday

(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.

65 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
(Re: Sneaky AI enslavement) If you have a Gmail account, you need to read this. (Original Post) Justice matters. Yesterday OP
People should do this ASAP. dalton99a Yesterday #1
I have a proton.me account. This post should be shared with EVERYONE you care about. Maru Kitteh Yesterday #2
Yep. I switched to Proton too for that reason. n/t CousinIT Yesterday #5
+1. Proton email is legit. dalton99a Yesterday #6
I have a gmail account but rarely use it. LogDog75 Yesterday #3
Marking for later. yardwork Yesterday #4
Thank you for posting Raven123 Yesterday #7
Thanks for this info, MarineCombatEngineer Yesterday #8
Thank you!!! Scrivener7 Yesterday #9
Bookmarking. n/t area51 Yesterday #10
How is this a threat to our privacy? SSJVegeta Yesterday #11
Thanks for this. NNadir Yesterday #12
Thanks for the heads-up! GiqueCee Yesterday #13
Thanks. Bookmarked. c-rational Yesterday #14
I had smart reply turned off but not the others nuxvomica Yesterday #15
bookmarking to send my son in law and maybe he can do it for me. nt orleans Yesterday #16
KNR and bookmarking. Thank you. I just recently noticed ai crap niyad 23 hrs ago #17
Thanks for this! CapnSteve 23 hrs ago #18
You used your Superpowers for good today. Thank you. ... aggiesal 23 hrs ago #19
This is one way that AI is used for nefarious purposes. patphil 23 hrs ago #20
I have a gmail acct, but I go through the web address, should I do anything different? irisblue 23 hrs ago #21
Kick, and... Justice matters. 22 hrs ago #29
Thx irisblue 22 hrs ago #30
Same question here. (And redo after updates?) TommyT139 22 hrs ago #31
This is great info - THANKS! FakeNoose 23 hrs ago #22
Many thanks for this post!!!! alwaysinasnit 23 hrs ago #23
I would surmise... purr-rat beauty 23 hrs ago #24
Yeah but Sergei has already give the GOP fraud and corruption crime family Akakoji 17 hrs ago #42
So bookmarked. Prairie_Seagull 22 hrs ago #25
Rotten bastards! 🤬 SheltieLover 22 hrs ago #26
Thanks! Saving for later. yellow dahlia 22 hrs ago #27
replying for easy retrieval (nt) ret5hd 22 hrs ago #28
Checked everything on my laptop and the settings were already off. Talitha 21 hrs ago #32
Thank you, and bookmarked. GoodRaisin 21 hrs ago #33
The problem is that most people don't care. They give away their privacy to anyone and everyone Wonder Why 21 hrs ago #34
Thanks BaronChocula 21 hrs ago #35
Done, thank you!! debsy 21 hrs ago #36
Google AI categorically denies this.... reACTIONary 20 hrs ago #37
Thank you, but who's to say they are not... lying? (for profits) Justice matters. 20 hrs ago #38
Well, two observations.... reACTIONary 17 hrs ago #40
Well they have lost a few privacy lawsuits in the past. progressoid 2 hrs ago #63
Maybe this will be one more... reACTIONary 1 hr ago #65
Ty much! sprinkleeninow 20 hrs ago #39
Where? Akakoji 17 hrs ago #41
KnR Alice Kramden 16 hrs ago #43
Thanks for this information! stage left 13 hrs ago #44
Bookmarking for later iemanja 12 hrs ago #45
Thank you for the info, I'm bookmarking this. 👍nt Raine 12 hrs ago #46
YEAH, I've HEARD that Gmail spys on my emails to train their A.I.---- Jack Valentino 9 hrs ago #47
Do these directions apply to iPhone? I have none of these options in my GMail app. Lonestarblue 8 hrs ago #48
This is not all that new Gum Logger 7 hrs ago #49
Mine have been fixed for a long time. Liberal In Texas 6 hrs ago #50
k&r rpannier 6 hrs ago #51
Thank you for this. VERY useful. (n/t) OldBaldy1701E 6 hrs ago #52
Thanks but Android doesn't have Menu (☰ → Settings → Select your account → Turn off "Smart features and pers CurtEastPoint 5 hrs ago #53
iPhone doesn't either Ziggy Beans 5 hrs ago #55
thanks...on Android I don't see 'smart features' there. CurtEastPoint 4 hrs ago #57
Thanks, but I'm not sure your app instructions are correct Ziggy Beans 5 hrs ago #54
Thank you Justice matters. Did them all! Bookmarked. Clouds Passing 5 hrs ago #56
Thanks. I'll check this later. . . Journeyman 3 hrs ago #58
Thank you Wild blueberry 3 hrs ago #59
What if I use an Outlook client for email instead of a Web browser? DBoon 3 hrs ago #60
If you're looking in the google browser Quanto Magnus 2 hrs ago #61
I have a gmail accoubt, but i don't use it for anything important, so I mzy just get rid of it. ShazzieB 2 hrs ago #64
Thanks for the heads up. However, when I checked my desktop gmail settings, all the smart features were Martin68 2 hrs ago #62

LogDog75

(1,443 posts)
3. I have a gmail account but rarely use it.
Wed Jun 17, 2026, 02:19 PM
Yesterday

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.

nuxvomica

(14,364 posts)
15. I had smart reply turned off but not the others
Wed Jun 17, 2026, 03:14 PM
Yesterday

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.

niyad

(135,110 posts)
17. KNR and bookmarking. Thank you. I just recently noticed ai crap
Wed Jun 17, 2026, 03:35 PM
23 hrs ago

in my emaiils, telling me what th email says aan "suggesting" responses. I was woonderung how to turn it off.

CapnSteve

(423 posts)
18. Thanks for this!
Wed Jun 17, 2026, 03:39 PM
23 hrs ago

Done and done! Previously killed copilot in Windows and Office 365.

Death to ARTIFICIAL intelligence!

aggiesal

(10,984 posts)
19. You used your Superpowers for good today. Thank you. ...
Wed Jun 17, 2026, 03:43 PM
23 hrs ago

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!

Justice matters.

(10,185 posts)
29. Kick, and...
Wed Jun 17, 2026, 05:10 PM
22 hrs ago

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.

TommyT139

(2,475 posts)
31. Same question here. (And redo after updates?)
Wed Jun 17, 2026, 05:16 PM
22 hrs ago

Also. do the steps need to be repeated after the updates (including automatic ones)?

I would assume so?

FakeNoose

(42,878 posts)
22. This is great info - THANKS!
Wed Jun 17, 2026, 04:04 PM
23 hrs ago

Almost everyone in my family has a g-mail account.
I will share this. (Probably I'll send it out via G-Mail.)



purr-rat beauty

(1,600 posts)
24. I would surmise...
Wed Jun 17, 2026, 04:19 PM
23 hrs ago

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)
42. Yeah but Sergei has already give the GOP fraud and corruption crime family
Wed Jun 17, 2026, 10:14 PM
17 hrs ago

Tens of millions of dollars.

Talitha

(8,203 posts)
32. Checked everything on my laptop and the settings were already off.
Wed Jun 17, 2026, 05:26 PM
21 hrs ago

Maybe because I never used any of the available 'smart' stuff?

Wonder Why

(7,335 posts)
34. The problem is that most people don't care. They give away their privacy to anyone and everyone
Wed Jun 17, 2026, 05:41 PM
21 hrs ago

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.

reACTIONary

(7,386 posts)
37. Google AI categorically denies this....
Wed Jun 17, 2026, 06:51 PM
20 hrs ago

Of course, Google AI naturally would. But, for the other side of the issue, this is what Google AI says:

No, Google does not use your private Gmail content to train its public Gemini AI models, but there is an active class-action lawsuit and a widespread privacy debate surrounding these features. [1, 2]
## 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 learning—not public generative AI—to 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)
38. Thank you, but who's to say they are not... lying? (for profits)
Wed Jun 17, 2026, 07:03 PM
20 hrs ago

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)
40. Well, two observations....
Wed Jun 17, 2026, 09:49 PM
17 hrs ago

.... 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.

reACTIONary

(7,386 posts)
65. Maybe this will be one more...
Thu Jun 18, 2026, 02:23 PM
1 hr ago

.... 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.

Jack Valentino

(5,367 posts)
47. YEAH, I've HEARD that Gmail spys on my emails to train their A.I.----
Thu Jun 18, 2026, 06:21 AM
9 hrs ago

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)



Liberal In Texas

(16,513 posts)
50. Mine have been fixed for a long time.
Thu Jun 18, 2026, 08:31 AM
6 hrs ago

My wife is always on top of this stuff. It's like having an in-house IT person LOL.

CurtEastPoint

(20,137 posts)
53. Thanks but Android doesn't have Menu (☰ → Settings → Select your account → Turn off "Smart features and pers
Thu Jun 18, 2026, 09:30 AM
5 hrs ago

Ziggy Beans

(82 posts)
55. iPhone doesn't either
Thu Jun 18, 2026, 09:57 AM
5 hrs ago

I had to do the following

Go to Settings -> Data privacy (not Select your account) --> Turn off "Smart features"

Ziggy Beans

(82 posts)
54. Thanks, but I'm not sure your app instructions are correct
Thu Jun 18, 2026, 09:56 AM
5 hrs ago

At least not on my iPhone

I had to go to Settings -> Data privacy (not Select your account) --> Turn off "Smart features"

DBoon

(25,242 posts)
60. What if I use an Outlook client for email instead of a Web browser?
Thu Jun 18, 2026, 11:51 AM
3 hrs ago

Will configuring via the browser also fix the Outlook client? This is via IMAP.

Quanto Magnus

(1,411 posts)
61. If you're looking in the google browser
Thu Jun 18, 2026, 12:30 PM
2 hrs ago

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)
64. I have a gmail accoubt, but i don't use it for anything important, so I mzy just get rid of it.
Thu Jun 18, 2026, 01:22 PM
2 hrs ago

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)
62. Thanks for the heads up. However, when I checked my desktop gmail settings, all the smart features were
Thu Jun 18, 2026, 12:40 PM
2 hrs ago

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.

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