Google Will Stop Scanning Your Emails to Show Personalized Ads in Gmail - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Google Will Stop Scanning Your Emails to Show Personalized Ads in Gmail

by

Google today announced that it will stop scanning the emails of its free Gmail users for the purpose of delivering personalized ads later this year.

gmail logo
If you've recently received a lot of emails about photography or cameras, for example, currently Google may show you a deal from a local camera store that it thinks might be interesting to you. On the other hand, if you've reported those emails as spam, then Google would take steps not to show those ads.

Google users may still see personalized ads while using Gmail and the company's other services, depending on their account settings, but the contents of a user's inbox will no longer factor into the ads that are shown.

Tags: Gmail, Google

Top Rated Comments

826317 Avatar
117 months ago
I still don't trust Google.
Score: 41 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macduke Avatar
117 months ago
Many years ago I had my Gmail hacked because I stupidly used the same password on a few websites (not all) and this Ubuntu forum I used to frequent before becoming a Mac user was hacked and they used that to access my Gmail. This was before two-step and stuff like that. And apparently my backup email, which was Yahoo back then, had shut down my email because I hadn't used it for so long. I couldn't find anyone at Google or anywhere on their site that could help me.

It was around that time that I was getting into Macs and iPhones and I had the realization that if you're not paying for it in some way, you're the product being sold. I think this was also around the time Google started doing creepy stuff like this and becoming more invasive with tracking, throwing their "don't be evil" motto to the wind, as well as blatantly copying the iPhone functionality in their new Android OS. I started removing myself from everything Google, such as Docs and Calendar that I used all the time, and moved everything over to Mobile Me when that came out. It was a bit of a cluster, but I liked paying for it instead of selling my soul to the devil, and it has gotten a lot better over the years. I just can't trust Google to not betray my trust or to have my back if something goes wrong.

That realization led to me eventually shutting down things like FaceBook, as I realized that I was just giving them all of this information for free so they could make money off of me while massively wasting my time. I wish there were a paid social network that doesn't have all that crap, but the nature of people and getting them to part with their cash means that you'd never get the network big enough to be worthwhile. They tried that with app.net a few years ago and it failed.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
117 months ago
Ok, what's the catch ?
There isn't one directly. They are trying to sell Gmail as an "enterprise solution" to companies which don't want to run their own email infrastructure. It's part of what they call "G Suite". Corporate customers' email has never been scanned, but there has been a lot of confusion from them. To remove the confusion, the G Suite team pressured the Gmail team to remove content scanning entirely.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
117 months ago
Google is garbage look at Nexus Pixel the next update will be in Oktober 2018!
I disagree. The Pixel was surprisingly a really nice phone with a solid build. I think Google did a nice job with the Pixel and it offered some nice features.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
slimothy Avatar
117 months ago
Still won't use. Such a creepy company.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
EdT Avatar
117 months ago
Ok, what's the catch ?
After enough new people start using Google Mail they'll revert back to their old policy.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

gemini for mac app google

Google Maps for CarPlay Getting Gemini AI

Monday May 11, 2026 4:25 pm PDT by
The Google Maps app for CarPlay could soon include support for Gemini, based on code that MacRumors found in the Google Maps app. Gemini integration would allow CarPlay users to get detailed directions and information from Gemini. Strings in the app suggest users will be able to tell Gemini to navigate to a specific location after agreeing to new Terms of Service in the iPhone version of the ...
google gemini intelligence

Google Previews Android 17 With 'Gemini Intelligence' a Month Before Apple's iOS 27 Reveal

Tuesday May 12, 2026 12:21 pm PDT by
Google today previewed Android 17, the next version of Android that it is bringing to smartphones and other devices. Android 17 includes multiple new AI features, and it comes about a month ahead of when Apple plans to unveil iOS 27 with new AI capabilities. Google is now calling the AI features on Android "Gemini Intelligence," branding similar to Apple Intelligence. Google said it is...
android iphone airdrop quickshare

Google Makes It Easier to Share Files Between Android and iPhone

Tuesday May 12, 2026 2:48 pm PDT by
Google today said it is introducing updated file sharing features that will make it easier for Android users to send files to iPhone users. Quick Share is already compatible with Apple's AirDrop feature on select Android devices, but Google says the feature will expand to Samsung, OPPO, OnePlus, Vivo, Xiaomi, and HONOR devices in 2026. On Android devices that are not compatible with...