Gmail Proposes Radical Change to Eliminate Spam Emails
Google is said to be working on a new function for Gmail named "Shielded Email." This feature is designed to assist users in managing spam and enhancing their online privacy.
A recent examination of the Google Play Services APK by Android Authority has uncovered several mentions of a feature called "Shielded Email." This new option will enable users to generate distinct, random email aliases that will direct messages to their main Gmail account. The purpose of this feature is to protect the user's real email address, helping to minimize the chances of receiving spam and unwanted messages.
Newsweek contacted Google through email to request a statement.
Shielded Email seems to offer features akin to Apple's "Hide My Email," which was revealed in June 2021 during the WWDC 2021 as part of the iCloud+ introduction. This capability became available to users in September 2021 alongside the rollout of iOS 15, iPadOS 15, and macOS Monterey.
Users can create random email addresses right from the Mail app, Safari, or through their iCloud settings. The "Hide My Email" feature is integrated with "Sign in with Apple," enabling users to register for third-party services while using these distinct email addresses.
Shielded Email could help cut down on spam for the 2 billion Gmail users around the globe and assist in monitoring which services might be sharing user data with outside companies.
This feature seems to be combined with Android's autofill and Google Password Manager, which offers users an easy way to complete forms or register for new services on their phones. But, as Forbes pointed out, the launch may initially be restricted to Android users, and there's currently no update regarding compatibility with Gmail or Chrome on desktop.
Spam emails continue to pose a major problem for email users around the world. However, Google's Gmail has made great strides in tackling this issue, successfully filtering out over 99.9% of spam, as highlighted in a 2023 blog post by Neil Kumaran, who is the group product manager for Gmail Security & Trust.
Nonetheless, implementing Shielded Email has the potential to elevate spam protection by stopping unwanted emails before they even reach users.
The blog also mentioned that the most recent major security update for Gmail came in February 2024. This update introduced new rules for bulk email senders, which require them to verify their emails, make it simple for recipients to unsubscribe, and keep their spam levels below a specific limit.
Kumaran stated, "These updates serve as a kind of maintenance for the email system. By making some adjustments behind the scenes, we can ensure that email continues to operate efficiently."
The launch of Shielded Email on the world’s leading email service, which celebrated its 20th anniversary this past April, is an exciting advancement. However, there are some uncertainties regarding how it will be rolled out. It's not yet clear if Google will make this feature available only to users who pay for a subscription, similar to Apple’s Hide My Email, which requires an iCloud+ plan.
According to 9to5Google, it's uncertain if Google will implement a fee for Shielded Email. While it could motivate users to subscribe to Google One, introducing a cost might also help prevent misuse of the feature.
