Google Gemini scans files on Google Drive without permission – can't be disabled

Google's Gemini AI has been reported to scan Google Drive hosted PDF files without user permission, prompting concerns about privacy and control over sensitive information. Kevin Bankston, a Senior Advisor on AI Governance, raised the issue on Twitter after discovering Gemini summarizing his private documents without consent. Despite efforts to disable the feature, users like Bankston have struggled to prevent this automatic scanning. The problem seems to be related to Google Drive and potentially Google Docs, with speculation that enabling Google Workspace Labs may have overridden intended settings. While Google claims the AI's privacy settings should be accessible, users have found it challenging to control the scanning behavior. This incident highlights the importance of user consent and data privacy, especially when dealing with confidential information. The lack of transparency and control over how AI processes personal data raises concerns about privacy violations and the need for clearer user options to manage such features effectively.