@Ayzacoder: Attention if you have a Gmail account:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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@Ayzacoder: Attention if you have a Gmail account:
Google's AI now scans your emails and attachments, bank statements, tax files, medical letters, all of it. It turned on by default, and there's a class-action lawsuit over how.
Here are 5 moves to shut it off, the switch is hidden in two places:
As a self-hoster, I keep hoping there was a reliable way to change the e-mail address to send some of my mails to... Many accounts use the address as the account identifier, so you must effectively delete your account to have mails sent elsewhere. -
@Ayzacoder: Attention if you have a Gmail account:
Google's AI now scans your emails and attachments, bank statements, tax files, medical letters, all of it. It turned on by default, and there's a class-action lawsuit over how.
Here are 5 moves to shut it off, the switch is hidden in two places:
@dbattistella
Thank you for these tips.
Much appreciated.
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@dbattistella Uninstall Google . Uninstall Google , Uninstall Google, after you uninstall google don't use google
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@Ayzacoder: Attention if you have a Gmail account:
Google's AI now scans your emails and attachments, bank statements, tax files, medical letters, all of it. It turned on by default, and there's a class-action lawsuit over how.
Here are 5 moves to shut it off, the switch is hidden in two places:
@dbattistella
Is it very arrogant to assume that everybody who still relies on Gmail in 2026 is either not capable of or not interested in following your instructions anyway? -
@dbattistella Uninstall Google . Uninstall Google , Uninstall Google, after you uninstall google don't use google
@dbattistella Or bing or firefox
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@Ayzacoder: Attention if you have a Gmail account:
Google's AI now scans your emails and attachments, bank statements, tax files, medical letters, all of it. It turned on by default, and there's a class-action lawsuit over how.
Here are 5 moves to shut it off, the switch is hidden in two places:
@dbattistella Yay! I've already done all these!
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@Ayzacoder: Attention if you have a Gmail account:
Google's AI now scans your emails and attachments, bank statements, tax files, medical letters, all of it. It turned on by default, and there's a class-action lawsuit over how.
Here are 5 moves to shut it off, the switch is hidden in two places:
@dbattistella Fffffffffuuuuuuuuu.....
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@Ayzacoder: Attention if you have a Gmail account:
Google's AI now scans your emails and attachments, bank statements, tax files, medical letters, all of it. It turned on by default, and there's a class-action lawsuit over how.
Here are 5 moves to shut it off, the switch is hidden in two places:
@dbattistella Is there a concern if I do not use the Gmail app, or web app? I get all my email [gmail, outlook, etc.] downloaded to my Apple Mail client
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@jfmblinux @dbattistella Apart from the obvious reason, it’s definitely a better solution since there is nothing that says the buttons that Google implemented actually do anything.
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@dbattistella
Is it very arrogant to assume that everybody who still relies on Gmail in 2026 is either not capable of or not interested in following your instructions anyway?I personally know people who belong to neither of those categories, but still rely (for reasons I'll not go into) on Gmail. Some struggle to stay informed on such matters, some just struggle. Fedi is a tech savvy folks' bubble, plenty more life forms in the world.
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@dbattistella Is there a concern if I do not use the Gmail app, or web app? I get all my email [gmail, outlook, etc.] downloaded to my Apple Mail client
Everything which passes through google servers and is not end-to-end encrypted, can technically be read, scanned and analyzed by google. I personally assume that it will be, regardless of checkboxes.
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@dbattistella Thank you. I'd already done the first one for all my accounts on my phone, but didn't notice the "Workspace smart features" section. Turning those off now.
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@Ayzacoder: Attention if you have a Gmail account:
Google's AI now scans your emails and attachments, bank statements, tax files, medical letters, all of it. It turned on by default, and there's a class-action lawsuit over how.
Here are 5 moves to shut it off, the switch is hidden in two places:
@dbattistella Zeroth move: delete your account.
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@Ayzacoder: Attention if you have a Gmail account:
Google's AI now scans your emails and attachments, bank statements, tax files, medical letters, all of it. It turned on by default, and there's a class-action lawsuit over how.
Here are 5 moves to shut it off, the switch is hidden in two places:
@dbattistella
Thank you for the reminder. I'd already turned them all off, but it's good to recheck them every few months in case the corporatists decide to "accidentally" switch them back on. -
@Ayzacoder: Attention if you have a Gmail account:
Google's AI now scans your emails and attachments, bank statements, tax files, medical letters, all of it. It turned on by default, and there's a class-action lawsuit over how.
Here are 5 moves to shut it off, the switch is hidden in two places:
@dbattistella Thanks a ton for this info. I'll need to check my settings and make any necessary changes.
️ Settings → See all settings → Smart features and personalization → Uncheck "Turn on smart features in Gmail, Chat, and Meet" → Save Changes.
