Someone Is Likely Reading Your Email

Is someone reading your email? Well, the answer to that is complicated at best. The Wall Street Journal reported that “hundreds of outside software developers scan the inboxes of millions Gmail users.” Well, yes, but supposedly those users have given permission for them to do that. And the users get appropriate desirable information back, such as travel alerts.

Granted, most of the email scanning is done with automated services. However, those can handle a mere 100 million messages per day, according to Google and that just isn’t enough. So, to subsidize that, humans help out from time to time. According to the Journal, a company called Return Path reviewed about 8,000 emails with human eyes a couple of years ago in order to improve its own software. It’s not uncommon for this to happen. But it probably doesn’t make you feel better.

Just note that if you use Google’s Gmail service, for example, you can check which apps have access to your email account. Google’s Director of Security, Trust, and Privacy Suzanne Frey said that no one at the company reads your messages unless you request it in order for them to help with a problem or to fix a bug. But other apps may have access, as long as you gave it to them. And you likely did if you installed their app. Often you do this, but perhaps didn’t realize it because it was buried in the fine print of the privacy terms. So, check which apps do have permissions within your Google account settings. You can revoke permissions there.

Also, make sure you read the terms and conditions when installing apps and software. What they do with your data should be in there. Google requires it to be clearly stated when software developers want to use the data from their users. Make sure to read the fine print and if you don’t want them sharing your information, either click the appropriate option or just don’t use the app.