Gmail integrates scan emails in its conditions of use

A new update conditions Gmail states that the service now automatically scans incoming and outgoing mails to better target advertising. An approach that is not new but was previously not openly discussed by the service.

Since 2010, Gmail regularly attacked in court because of his habit emails scanner users to better target advertising present on the service. For a long time, this practice was totally in the back of the web, and was nowhere explained in the courier. Now, it appears in its conditions of use.

Google has indeed updated document on April 14, to inform users that the incoming and outgoing emails are scanned automatically by software loaded to target advertising. "We want our policy is simple and easy to understand for users. These changes will provide clarity to users, and are based on the feedback we have had in recent months, "says Matt Kallman, a spokesman for the company.


The fact of the scanner also allows Gmail mails to identify spam and detect malware circulating through emails.

Last month, a U.S. judge has decided not to group several class actions by disgruntled users. Google argued that people had implicitly consented to this activity using Gmail. Now that this aspect of the messaging service is fully integrated with the conditions of use, Google will be able to strengthen his defense in such cases.