The Wall Street Journal detailed how third-party app developers read your Gmail messages and Google responded
The Wall Street Journal wrote a story in which it explained that third-party app developers are able to read the contents of users Gmail messages. Even though they did not offer any new insights into this well-known practice, Google outlines all the measures that a user can do to protect their privacy and security. Even more, Google also reminds its commitment to vet these third-party apps that may have access to sensitive Gmail data.
“A vibrant ecosystem of non-Google apps gives you choice and helps you get the most out of your email. However, before a published, non-Google app can access your Gmail messages, it goes through a multi-step review process that includes automated and manual review of the developer, assessment of the app’s privacy policy and homepage to ensure it is a legitimate app, and in-app testing to ensure the app works as it says it does,” the Wall Street Journal blog post says
Suzanne Frey, the author of the blog post, also shares a few tips to make sure that users data does not leave trusted sources. They include:
- Reviewing the permissions screen before giving access to an app that is now owned by Google
- Using the Security Checkup tool to check what devices have logged into your account
Moreover, she added that the company’s review process is meant to make sure that people and companies do not misrepresent themselves.
Last year, in order to make the G Suite offering more appealing, Google said it would stop scanning the contents of users’ messages.
“The practice of automatic processing has caused some to speculate mistakenly that Google ‘reads’ your emails. To be absolutely clear: no one at Google reads your Gmail, except in very specific cases where you ask us to and give consent, or where we need to for security purposes, such as investigating a bug or abuse,” Frey added
Source: theverge.com
