(Re: Sneaky AI enslavement) If you have a Gmail account, you need to read this.

[Justice matters.]

Last edited Thu Jun 18, 2026, 05:06 PM - Edit history (2)

(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.



Edited to hopefully help answer specific questions in this thread I don't have the answers to:

Link to the Computer Help and Support forum:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1095

Re-edited to add a link:

SSJVegeta (3,388 posts)
70. Thanks! I also just got Google ai to explain how Google ai is a threat to privacy lol
Reply to SSJVegeta (Reply #70)
Thu Jun 18, 2026, 04:50 PM

A primary resource provided:

https://concentric.ai/google-gemini-security-risks/

[dalton99a]

1. People should do this ASAP.

[Maru Kitteh]

2. I have a proton.me account. This post should be shared with EVERYONE you care about.

[CousinIT]

5. Yep. I switched to Proton too for that reason. n/t

[dalton99a]

6. +1. Proton email is legit.

And it's been around for a while

[LogDog75]

3. I have a gmail account but rarely use it.

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]

4. Marking for later.

[Raven123]

7. Thank you for posting

[MarineCombatEngineer]

8. Thanks for this info,

just finished doing so.

[Scrivener7]

9. Thank you!!!

[area51]

10. Bookmarking. n/t

[SSJVegeta]

11. How is this a threat to our privacy?

Do they save the data to other places as they do this?

[Justice matters.]

67. Link to the Computer Help and Support forum:

I don't know the answer so maybe other DUers know it at:

The Computer Help and Support forum:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1095

[SSJVegeta]

70. Thanks! I also just got Google ai to explain how Google ai is a threat to privacy lol

A primary resource provided:

https://concentric.ai/google-gemini-security-risks/

[Justice matters.]

73. Thank you for this link!! I will re-edit the OP to include it. n/t

[NNadir]

12. Thanks for this.

[GiqueCee]

13. Thanks for the heads-up!

[c-rational]

14. Thanks. Bookmarked.

[nuxvomica]

15. I had smart reply turned off but not the others

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]

16. bookmarking to send my son in law and maybe he can do it for me. nt

[niyad]

17. KNR and bookmarking. Thank you. I just recently noticed ai crap

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

[CapnSteve]

18. Thanks for this!

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

Death to ARTIFICIAL intelligence!

[aggiesal]

19. You used your Superpowers for good today. Thank you. ...

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]

20. This is one way that AI is used for nefarious purposes.

We need strong regulation now.

[irisblue]

21. I have a gmail acct, but I go through the web address, should I do anything different?

[Justice matters.]

29. Kick, and...

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]

30. Thx

[TommyT139]

31. Same question here. (And redo after updates?)

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

I would assume so?

[Justice matters.]

69. Link to the Computer Help and Support forum:

I don't have the answer but maybe other DUers know it at:

The Computer Help and Support forum:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1095

[Justice matters.]

68. Link to the Computer Help and Support forum:

I don't have the answer but maybe other DUers know it at:

The Computer Help and Support forum:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1095

[FakeNoose]

22. This is great info - THANKS!

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

[alwaysinasnit]

23. Many thanks for this post!!!!

[purr-rat beauty]

24. I would surmise...

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]

42. Yeah but Sergei has already give the GOP fraud and corruption crime family

Tens of millions of dollars.

[Prairie_Seagull]

25. So bookmarked.

Seems more than ever it's

Us against them.

Fuckers.

[SheltieLover]

26. Rotten bastards! 🤬

Tyvm!

[yellow dahlia]

27. Thanks! Saving for later.

[ret5hd]

28. replying for easy retrieval (nt)

[Talitha]

32. Checked everything on my laptop and the settings were already off.

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

[GoodRaisin]

33. Thank you, and bookmarked.

[Wonder Why]

34. The problem is that most people don't care. They give away their privacy to anyone and everyone

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]

35. Thanks

Just did a search and found this how to video for dummies like me.

[debsy]

36. Done, thank you!!

[reACTIONary]

37. Google AI categorically denies this....

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.]

38. Thank you, but who's to say they are not... lying? (for profits)

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]

40. Well, two observations....

.... 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]

63. Well they have lost a few privacy lawsuits in the past.

so...

[reACTIONary]

65. Maybe this will be one more...

.... 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]

39. Ty much!

[Akakoji]

41. Where?

there's a class-action lawsuit over it now

[Alice Kramden]

43. KnR

Bookmarked

[stage left]

44. Thanks for this information!

[iemanja]

45. Bookmarking for later

When I’m at my computer. Thank you!

[Raine]

46. Thank you for the info, I'm bookmarking this. 👍nt

[Jack Valentino]

47. YEAH, I've HEARD that Gmail spys on my emails to train their A.I.----

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]

48. Do these directions apply to iPhone? I have none of these options in my GMail app.

[Justice matters.]

71. Link to the Computer Help and Support forum:

I don't have the answer but maybe other DUers know it at:

The Computer Help and Support forum:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1095

[Lonestarblue]

79. Thank you!

[Gum Logger]

49. This is not all that new

Do not have an account with googly eyes

[Liberal In Texas]

50. Mine have been fixed for a long time.

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

[rpannier]

51. k&r

thanks

[OldBaldy1701E]

52. Thank you for this. VERY useful. (n/t)

[CurtEastPoint]

53. Thanks but Android doesn't have Menu (☰ → Settings → Select your account → Turn off "Smart features and pers

[Ziggy Beans]

55. iPhone doesn't either

I had to do the following

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

[CurtEastPoint]

57. thanks...on Android I don't see 'smart features' there.

[Justice matters.]

74. I don't have the answer but check the link in my reply 72 below if it can help. n/t

[Justice matters.]

72. I have Android on my phone and it does have these switches

Maybe it depends on the version or substitute "Select your account" with the account, as in [e-mail] (xxxxxxx is the tag).

If not, I may not have the answer but maybe other DUers know it at:

The Computer Help and Support forum:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1095

[CurtEastPoint]

78. thanks, will investigate!

[Ziggy Beans]

54. Thanks, but I'm not sure your app instructions are correct

At least not on my iPhone

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

[Justice matters.]

75. I have a Android Samsung but I don't know about Apple.

Maybe I should have mentioned that in the OP but didn't know how the code shows on Apple phones. And yes, on my Android phone, "Select your account" is not a menu option. It has to be showing the [e-mail] tag (one or many on top of each other if the user has many different accounts).

Link to the Computer Help and Support forum for hopefully get answers to other questions I can't answer
The Computer Help and Support forum:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1095

[Clouds Passing]

56. Thank you Justice matters. Did them all! Bookmarked.

[Journeyman]

58. Thanks. I'll check this later. . .

[Wild blueberry]

59. Thank you

Just did. Appreciate your suggestions.

[DBoon]

60. What if I use an Outlook client for email instead of a Web browser?

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

[reACTIONary]

66. I use thunderbird as my email client for gmail accounts....

Last edited Thu Jun 18, 2026, 09:06 PM - Edit history (1)

....since the email goes to the gmail server, and the server does not know what client you use (and you might use both), it performs this processing regardless.

I found out about this on my own, when I logged into the google web interface by chance. I only do that maybe once or twice a year since I use thunderbird. The web interface was different and confusing. When I researched how to get it back to what I consider normal, it told me to switch off the "smart" features and it would go back to what I was expecting.

I do not like "smart features" and try to avoid them. But I am not paranoid about "evil AI" or "evil Google." Its a trade off and it is driven by a mass, world wide market, not anyone's individual preferences.

[Justice matters.]

76. I don't know the answer so I post the link to the DU forum about technical issues.

Wishing it could be answered in a thread there.

The Computer Help and Support forum:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1095

[reACTIONary]

80. The answer is that the Google email server...

.... does not know which client you may be using: web, outlook, Thunderbird, etc. And you can mix and match. So it performs the same processing on incoming and outgoing emails regardless of which client you may be using.

The outlook and the thunderbird clients communicate to the sever through a standard protocol called IMAP. IMAP is a universal standard so it does not support proprietary "smart" features. The browser interface, however, runs on Google's servers and is adjacent to the email server. Because it is "inside the box" it does not need to use a standard protocol and can support the "smart features." However, the email server will process the emails in the same way, regardless.

It seems like Google is saying that if you turn off the "smart" features, then the "smart" processing is not done. This would make sense, but it could be that they just suppress the smart features without actually stopping the smart processing. As far as the browser user would know, it's all back to being dumb. But the absence of the smart features does not necessarily mean that the processing behind the scenes has changed.

[Justice matters.]

81. Ok, thank you.

Maybe it's an argument included in the class action (I don't have time right now to search for it but I would like to see it posted in a new OP).

[Quanto Magnus]

61. If you're looking in the google browser

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]

64. I have a gmail accoubt, but i don't use it for anything important, so I mzy just get rid of it.

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]

62. Thanks for the heads up. However, when I checked my desktop gmail settings, all the smart features were

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.

[Justice matters.]

77. I don't know the answers but maybe DUers know all of them at:

The Computer Help and Support forum:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1095

If any more informations are needed.

Thanks everyone for my OP getting to the top of Greatest! Important stuff.

[Martin68]

82. The settings on my iPhone gmail app also not set to smart functions. So the default was not for smart functions.

I think the user has to turn them on first. At least that was the case on my apple desktop and phone. I caution people on accepting offers from Google to "improve performance" with AI.

[liberalla]

83. Bookmarking! Good info: GOOGLE AI & gmail