Google added a paragraph to its terms of service, April 14, to tell customers that it
does indeed scan Gmail content, reports ArsTechinca.com.
The action is inspired by a lawsuit filed in 2013 by e-mail users who claimed Google was violating wiretapping laws.
The new language reads:
Our automated systems analyze your content (including e-mails) 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.
It should be noted that e-mails to Gmail users from non-Gmail accounts were also read.