Follow ZDNET: Add us as a favorite source On Google.
ZDNET Highlights
- Google denies allegations that it is analyzing your private emails to train its AI.
- A class action lawsuit accuses Google of privacy violations.
- You may still want to opt out of the features in question.
Google is denying allegations that it changed some Gmail settings that allowed it to analyze private emails and other data to train its AI models without users’ knowledge or permission. The allegations come in the wake of a class action lawsuit filed earlier this month that accused the company of privacy violations over the alleged change.
Also: Are AI browsers worth the security risk? Why are experts worried?
referring to a Discussion thread about this on XSecurity firm Malwarebytes published a Blog post last ThursdayClaiming that the change implemented for Gmail users allows Google to view their private emails and attachments to train Gemini and other AI tools. Features cited in the allegations include smart compose, smart replies, and predictive text.
I contacted Google for comment, and a spokesperson sent me the following statement:
“These reports are misleading – we haven’t changed anyone’s settings. Gmail smart features have been in place for many years, and we do not use your Gmail content for training our Gemini AI models. Finally, we are always transparent and clear if we make changes to our terms of service and policies.”
In response to Google’s protest, Malwarebytes updated its blog post with the following comment:
“We’ve updated this article after realizing that we may have contributed to a storm of misunderstanding surrounding a recent change to the wording and placement of Gmail’s Smart Features. The settings themselves aren’t new, but the way Google recently rewrote and brought them to the fore has led many people (including us) to believe that Gmail content can be used to train Google’s AI models, and that users are being automatically opted in. Google’s docs But after taking a closer look and reviewing other reporting, that doesn’t appear to be the case.
Also: Google just launched Gemini 3 for Search — here’s what it can do and how to try it
Malwarebytes further said that Gmail scans the content of your emails to enable its smart features such as spam filtering, email classification, and writing suggestions. But the security firm said this is “normal” behavior and different from using your data for AI training.
Yes, these smart features have been around for years. But even if they aren’t being used for AI training, they still appear to be capable of automation. The Verge reported One of its employees said they had opted out of some smart features, but they were added back in so they were able to.
what did i get
I checked the three Gmail settings described by Malwarebytes in my account as well as several other Google accounts, two of which I made on the spot. For the two new accounts I set up, a Privacy and Terms page described some of the data Google could collect. Here I can tell it not to save certain data, like my web and app activity. However, there was no mention of smart features potentially using my email or other data.
In each account, all three settings highlighted by Malwarebytes were automatically enabled.
Also: How to Get Rid of AI Observations in Google Search: 4 Easy Ways
The first setting, “Turn on smart features in Gmail, Chat, and Meet,” allows Google to use your content in these products to provide smart features and personalize your experience.
The second setting, “Smart features in Google Workspace”, allows Google Workspace to use your Workspace content and activity to personalize your experience. Workspaces includes apps for businesses and schools like Gmail, Chat, Meet, Drive, and more.
Specifically, enabling this setting means that Google can show events from Gmail in your calendar, like flight schedules and invitations. You’re also able to run more personalized searches that use keyword suggestions, file suggestions, and more relevant results. Additionally, you can ask Gemini to summarize content, create drafts, find important information, and use other Gemini features for Workspaces.
The third setting, “Smart features in other Google products,” lets Google use content and activity in your workspace to personalize your experience in other products. These can include restaurant reservations and to-go orders in Maps, tickets and loyalty cards in Google Wallet, replies and reminders in the Google Assistant, and suggestions and replies in the Gemini app.
A Google Help Center page Provides more details on how smart features work.
about that case
What about the lawsuit that sparked concerns and controversy? Proposed, filed in federal court in San Jose, California on November 11 class action lawsuit The allegation is that Google secretly gave Gemini access to Gmail, Chat and Meet users’ private communications. As Reported by Bloomberg On November 12, a lawsuit alleged that doing so without users’ consent and making it difficult to opt out could be a violation California Privacy Invasion Act,
Also: Google’s AntiGravity puts coding productivity before AI hype — and the result is surprising
“On or about October 10, 2025, Google secretly turned on Gemini for all of its users’ Gmail, Chat, and Meet accounts, enabling the AI to track its users’ private communications across those platforms without the users’ knowledge or consent,” the lawsuit alleges. “As of the date of this filing, Google continues to track these private communications with Gemini by default, requiring users to affirmatively locate this data privacy setting and turn it off, despite not having ‘agreed’ to such AI tracking in the first place.”
Based on Google’s explanation alone, most of the allegations in the lawsuit appear to be baseless. But that doesn’t mean there’s no cause for concern. The biggest question is why Google is enabling these settings automatically, and seemingly without your knowledge or permission.
how to get out
If you don’t use smart features and other options, you can of course turn off any or all of the three key settings. This way.
On desktop, sign in to the Gmail website, click the gear icon at the top right, and then select the button to see all settings. On the General screen on the Settings page, look for the Smart Features section. If the setting “Turn on smart features in Gmail, Chat, and Meet” is on, click the checkbox to turn it off.
Also: How to turn off Gemini in your Gmail, Photos, Chrome, and more – it’s easy to opt out of AI
In the next section of Google Workspace Smart Features, click the button to manage Workspace Smart Feature settings. On the pop-up window, turn off the switches for “Smart features in Google Workspace” and “Smart features in other Google products.”
In the Gmail mobile app, tap the three-line icon at the top left and select Settings. In the iOS app, tap Settings for Data Privacy. In the Android app, tap your Google account name. Turn off the switch for smart features. Tap the option for “Google Workspace smart features” and then turn off the switches for “Smart features in Google Workspace” and “Smart features in other Google products.”
If you turn off all three settings, keep in mind that some smart features, including Smart Compose and Smart Reply, may no longer work as expected. But Gmail itself will still work normally. As always, it’s a choice between convenience and privacy, and that’s something only you can decide for yourself.
