Google’s Gemini AI has raised privacy worries after allegedly examining sensitive papers in Google Drive without user authorization. Kevin Bankston, a Senior Advisor on AI Governance, raised this problem on Twitter, expressing dissatisfaction with Google’s lack of control and openness over sensitive information.
Bankston noticed that Gemini AI was accessing his private papers saved in Google Drive, which is designed to keep user information secure. Although Google support and Gemini AI were unable to give precise explanations, Bankston proposed several causes for this invasive conduct. He said that the problem may be related to Google’s privacy settings, which aren’t as accessible or obvious as they should be.
This problem appears to be tied to Google Drive rather than Google Docs, however Docs may still be affected. According to Gemini AI, privacy settings should guide the AI’s activity, but these settings are either broken or the AI is not following them, raising concerns about Google’s internal systems and their dependability.
Bankston ultimately found the settings that regulate Gemini’s access to Gmail, Drive, and Docs, only to discover that they were already deactivated. The settings were hidden in a different position than Gemini AI predicted, adding to the uncertainty and anger.
The problem appears to emanate from Google Drive and is triggered when a user interacts with the Gemini button on a document, in this example a PDF. This interaction instructs Gemini AI to automatically scan similar papers in the future. Bankston believes that his participation in Google Workspace Labs in 2023 may have contributed to this issue by overriding the desired settings.
Even while this issue only impacts Google Workspace Labs users, it raises serious concerns regarding user permission and data privacy. Despite technical breakthroughs, Google has failed to protect user privacy, particularly when dealing with sensitive information. This event emphasizes the significance of user control and transparency in the use of AI systems.
For a firm of Google’s size, retaining confidence through strong privacy safeguards is critical. The present situation, in which Gemini AI scans private papers without specific authorization, seriously undermines this confidence, highlighting the need for improved privacy procedures and clearer communication with users.
Summary
According to Kevin Bankston on Twitter, Google’s Gemini AI was caught examining private data in Google Drive without user authorization. This issue appears to be related to Google Drive’s imprecise or faulty privacy settings, which raises serious privacy issues. Although Bankston discovered the settings that controlled Gemini’s access, they were already blocked and in an unexpected location. The issue, which might be related to Google Workspace Labs, highlights the need for Google to improve user permission and openness when managing sensitive information. To retain consumer trust, Google must enhance its privacy standards and communicate more clearly following this occurrence.
Original Source: Harper, C. (2024, July 14). Google’s Gemini AI caught scanning Google Drive hosted PDF files without permission — user complains feature can’t be disabled. Retrieved from source. You can check out the full article here.
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