Google Informs Users That it Reads Their Email

Google updated Gmail’s terms of service this week to inform users that incoming and outgoing emails are automatically being scanned to help create targeted ads. Lovely. The update says that Google is using software to scan email when it is in transit or stored on Google’s servers.

“Our automated systems analyze your content (including emails) to provide you personally relevant product features, such as customized search results, tailored advertising, and spam and malware detection. This analysis occurs as the content is sent, received and when it is stored.”

Google’s Gmail users have protested the scanning of personal emails for targeted advertising, accusing the company of violating federal and state wiretapping and privacy laws.