Bottom line: Google automatically activates AI functions to collect data from Gmail and search services—a practice that Google’s own Gemini chatbot describes as “privacy-violating opt-out fatigue.”
Google is rolling out a new default feature worldwide called Search History that collects user activities, including Gmail contents, for training generative AI models. The opt-out practice is also criticized by Google’s own chatbot Gemini as a violation of data protection principles.
The new Search History feature captures activities by default from Google Search, Images, audio and video recordings, and files. In parallel, Gemini processes emails in Gmail to create summaries of conversations. Google assures users that core AI models are not trained on personal Gmail content and that email data is not stored permanently.
Despite these assurances, the practice remains controversial since both features are active without explicit prior consent. The in-house chatbot Gemini expressed critical feedback when asked: the system describes the strategy as “opt-out fatigue”—a tactic in which privacy-violating AI features are bundled by default on the assumption that most users are too busy or tired to dig through their settings. Gemini points out that two minutes of effort are necessary to flip these switches and regain control of their data.
For CDOs and data protection officers, this practice is relevant as it demonstrates how large platforms interpret regulatory requirements around consent. Competing providers such as Proton Mail are simultaneously leveraging this situation for marketing a service provider switch—a marketing measure that Gemini itself has identified.
Users can manually disable data collection: in the web browser under Gmail Settings in the General tab, turn off “Smart features.” In the mobile app, this is done via Settings → Smart features and personalization. Search History is disabled at myactivity.google.com in the Search History section by unchecking “Save media.”
Source: www.it-daily.net · Published June 29, 2026
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