Google Gemini accessed Gmail users' private emails without consent, class action filed
Google reportedly activated a Gmail feature in October 2025 that allowed its Gemini AI to read private emails and attachments from all users without their knowledge or consent. An Australian engineer discovered the feature was enabled by default on all accounts and prompted a class action lawsuit against the company.
What happened
Google activated a Gmail feature in October 2025 that enabled its Gemini AI model to read private emails and attachments from all Gmail users.
The feature was enabled by default on all user accounts without explicit user consent or knowledge.
An Australian engineer discovered the feature and identified that users' personal, financial, health, and work-related emails were being accessed to train the AI system.
Reported impact
The unauthorized access to private communications raised serious privacy concerns regarding protection of personal data.
A class action lawsuit was filed against Google over the secret activation of this functionality.
Index analysis
The feature allowed Gemini to read sensitive information including financial data, health information, and personal or workplace correspondence without user authorization.
Governance controls
Users can disable the feature by accessing Gmail settings and turning off 'Intelligent features and personalization' in privacy settings and 'Google Workspace intelligent feature settings'.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
This record was researched and written by the Index from original reporting. Its sources are still being verified by an editor, and they are listed here once that check is complete. Until then the record carries no reviewer.