Verified Matter

Google Gmail Email Scanning Privacy Class Settlement - Gallo

Court-approved settlement required Google to change Gmail restrictions on pre-delivery and outbound email-content processing for advertising purposes.

Daniel Matera and Susan Rashkis brought a class action on behalf of non-Gmail users who sent unencrypted emails to Gmail accounts, alleging that Google’s automated interception and processing of email content for advertising violated federal and California wiretap and privacy laws. After the court allowed the core claims to proceed, the parties reached a settlement requiring Google to change its Gmail processing architecture and restrict the use of pre-delivery email-content processing for advertising purposes.