THIS IS IMPORTANT: DO NOT TRUST GOOGLE GEMINI, and it may already be enabled in your GMAIL BY DEFAULT.
DO NOT TRUST GOOGLE!
#Google says it may share your interactions with #Gemini #AI with law enforcement, including involving Gemini features in #Gmail. Given Google's CEO Sundar's enthusiastic embrace of the Fascist Trump administration and teaming Gemini with Hegseth's Department of Defense, I NO LONGER TRUST GOOGLE.
Pay attention to this. Google -- as always -- says they do not give user data to law enforcement except with a valid warrant. This has long been true, but I no longer trust Google to honor this position. A quick call from Trump to Sundar could well be enough to bypass those past protections. Discussing an anti-Trump demonstration? Abortion? Helping local immigrants? You can no longer trust Google to not treat your data as fodder for fascist Trump, irrespective of Google's public statements.
VERY IMPORTANT: It appears that if you have "Smart Features" enabled in Gmail -- which has long included a variety of features, you now probably (or soon will) also have Gemini scouring through your email. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND turning this off. Can we be sure Google will really honor this choice given their embrace of Trump? No, but it's important to have specified your choice on the record.
To turn off Gmail smart features (apparently including Gemini, though other ways to ostensibly turn off Gemini in Gmail may also be available):
Enter Gmail
Click the Gear icon at the upper right
Click "See all settings"
Stay on the "General" tab
Scroll down to "Smart features" -- make sure it is unchecked
Just below this (currently) is "Google Workspace smart features"
Click the "Manage Workspace smart feature settings" bubble
Make sure the toggles are OFF (to the left) for everything listed in the pop-up
that appears. Be SURE TO SCROLL DOWN -- there are currently TWO toggles
but the second may be completely hidden if you don't grab the little scrollbar on the right and pull it down. Again, make sure BOTH toggles are off.
Click Save
Now back on the General Tab, scroll all the way to the bottom of the page and click Save Changes if that button is not already greyed out and unclickable.
That's what I have for you for now, based on the information I have right now.
More as I learn more.
It's a terrible situation that pains me greatly. Before you ask, I do not at this time have a recommendation for other major email providers.
How you proceed is up to you, of course.
Take care.
L
