Gmail Users Alarmed as Gemini AI Auto-Accesses Inboxes

Written by Aaron S.,

Editor-In-Chief

Last Updated: November 21, 2025

Key Takeaways

Gmail users discovered a default setting that let Google’s Gemini AI access their emails and calendars without direct consent;
The feature is part of Google’s Smart Features, which were enabled automatically and required users to opt out manually;
Google claims no change in data handling but admits these tools rely on reading Workspace content.

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Google is facing criticism after users discovered a Gmail setting that allowed Gemini, the company’s artificial intelligence (AI) assistant, to read their emails and calendar events.

This issue came when several users noticed that a feature linked to Google’s Smart Features system had been automatically enabled.

The setting gave Gemini permission to access content, such as messages and scheduling details, unless the user manually switched it off.

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Many users said they had not been notified of this change and had never agreed to have their data used in this way.

In a post on X, Dave Jones, an electronics engineer, wrote:

You have been automatically opted in to allow Gmail to access all your private messages & attachments to train AI models.

Google explained that this setting is part of its Smart Features, which operate across Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Chat, and Meet. The company said these tools are designed to save time by using information already in a user’s account to help with routine tasks.

Google said the recent update was meant to give users more choices about how their data is used. They also said that no changes were made to how data is handled behind the scenes.

However, they acknowledged that these tools need access to emails, calendar entries, and files in Workspace to function.

On November 18, Google launched Gemini 3, the latest version of its large language model (LLM). How does it perform? Read the full story.