New Delhi |November 13, 2025: A major lawsuit has been filed against Google in the state of California, USA, accusing the tech giant of secretly activating its Gemini AI assistant across key platforms — Gmail, Google Chat, and Google Meet — without obtaining explicit user consent. The alleged activation took place in October 2025, potentially giving Google access to millions of users’ private emails, chats, and meeting data.
The lawsuit, filed in San Jose, claims that Google engaged in unauthorized data processing and violated user privacy rights by turning on the AI system automatically, rather than through user approval.
‘Secret Activation’ Sparks Backlash; Settings Buried Deep in Menus
According to the complaint, Google initially introduced Gemini AI as an “opt-in feature”, meaning users could choose whether or not to enable it. However, the lawsuit alleges that the company later made Gemini active by default, automatically integrating it into millions of accounts.
While users technically have the option to disable the feature, the lawsuit states that the control is “buried deep within settings,” making it nearly impossible for an average user to locate. Legal experts argue that this amounts to a deliberate attempt to bypass genuine user consent through deceptive design.
If proven true, these actions could be deemed violations under the U.S. Digital Privacy Protection Act and the Consumer Rights Law, both of which carry severe penalties for unauthorized data handling.
Google’s Response: “Our Goal Is to Improve User Experience”
Google has not yet released an official statement on the lawsuit. However, a company spokesperson told media outlets that Gemini’s sole purpose is to enhance productivity and improve user experience.
According to Google, Gemini processes only the data permitted under its Privacy Policy, and the company maintains that “data usage is strictly limited to the purposes for which users have given consent.”
Privacy experts, however, note that the language in such policies is often highly technical and opaque, leaving average users unaware of the full extent of what they are agreeing to — a loophole that companies routinely exploit.
AI vs. Privacy: A Growing Industry-Wide Debate
Analysts say this case extends far beyond Google, serving as a wake-up call for the entire tech industry. In the race to dominate the AI landscape, many companies appear to be overlooking basic principles of consent and data privacy.
Google has faced similar controversies in the past — including the Location Tracking Scandal (2018) and the User Data Sharing Case (2020). But the Gemini AI controversy represents a deeper issue: the shift from simple data collection to automated decision-making and behavioral analysis through artificial intelligence.
‘User Autonomy’ at Risk, Regulators Watching Closely
Tech policy experts warn that this case raises fundamental questions about user autonomy — the right of individuals to control their own digital data.
The Digital Accountability Forum, a U.S.-based watchdog, remarked that “companies like Google increasingly treat users not as customers, but as data sources.”
California’s Department of Data Protection has also taken note of the lawsuit, indicating that if the allegations are substantiated, Google could face multi-billion-dollar fines and strict regulatory oversight in the future.
A Dual Challenge: Legal and Ethical
The case now presents a two-fold challenge for Google and the broader tech ecosystem — one legal, the other ethical. Legally, the company must prove that Gemini’s data operations were transparent and consent-driven. Ethically, the larger question looms:
Can a company learn from users’ digital behavior without their explicit permission?
Experts believe this lawsuit could set a critical precedent for AI regulation and digital privacy laws in the coming years.
