[Correction] Gmail can read your emails and attachments to power "smart features"
www.malwarebytes.com
Did you know that Gmail can use your emails and attachments for its smart features? Here's how to check your settings.

Cross posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/39114169

How to opt out

Opting out requires you to change settings in two places, so I’ve tried to make it as easy to follow as possible. Feel free to let me know in the comments if I missed anything.

To fully opt out, you must turn off Gmail’s “Smart features” in two separate locations in your settings. Don’t miss one, or AI training may continue.

Step 1: Turn off Smart Features in Gmail, Chat, and Meet settings Open Gmail on your desktop or mobile app. Click the gear icon → See all settings (desktop) or Menu → Settings (mobile). Find the section called Smart Features in Gmail, Chat, and Meet. You’ll need to scroll down quite a bit. Smart features settings Uncheck this option. Scroll down and hit Save changes if on desktop. Step 2: Turn off Google Workspace Smart Features Still in Settings, locate Google Workspace smart features. Click on Manage Workspace smart feature settings. You’ll see two options: Smart features in Google Workspace and Smart features in other Google products. Smart feature settings Toggle both off. Save again in this screen. Step 3: Verify if both are off Make sure both toggles remain off. Refresh your Gmail app or sign out and back in to confirm changes. Why two places? Google separates “Workspace” smart features (email, chat, meet) from smart features used across other Google apps. To fully opt out of feeding your data into AI training, both must be disabled.

Note Your account might not show these settings enabled by default yet (mine didn’t). Google appears to be rolling this out gradually. But if you care about privacy and control, double-check your settings today.

  • freedickpics@lemmy.ml
    2·
    7 hours ago

    This shit should be strictly opt-in. As much as I hate overbearing governments, they should’ve stepped in and made it illegal to use already collected data for a new purpose without first obtaining permission. What about people who lost access to their accounts or who’ve died or something?

  • Em Adespoton@lemmy.ca
    2·
    5 hours ago

    The instructions suggest turning off features in two apps I don’t use.

    Does this mean people only using webmail aren’t having their messages used for training, or just that they can’t opt out?

    [edit] malwarebytes has updated their report— NONE of those settings is related to training data. This whole story was based on a misunderstanding of the settings.

  • ☂️-@lemmy.ml
    15·
    18 hours ago

    and let’s be clear: they always read your emails. the difference here now is the llm training.

  • 14th_cylon@lemmy.zip
    301·
    22 hours ago

    It is mindblowing to me that anyone would think you can really opt out and they will respect that.

  • Zicoxy3@lemmy.ml
    131·
    22 hours ago

    Are you surprised? More than 10 years ago, when you bought a plane ticket and used Gmail, without opening the email, it added the date and time of the flight to your calendar with a reminder…

    If the product is free, you are the product.

    • balsoft@lemmy.ml
      41·
      19 hours ago

      This is an actually useful feature though. I used to have this same setup with dovecot&nextcloud (show invites in the calendar automatically).

    • Businesskasper@feddit.org
      7·
      18 hours ago

      Just do it step by step. I left everything US this year and changing email accounts was definitely the most tedious. But in the end I took my time with it. Switching 3 accounts per day was alright. :) Just start with the most important accounts and change the others when you need them.

      • Bosht@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        12 hours ago

        Appreciate the optimistic positivity. Honestly pretty ready to pull the bandaid at this point I just know it’ll be a process.