Google Is Testing A Self-Destructing Email Feature In Gmail

Photo credit: TechCrunch

Google recently began to redesign Gmail and is now set to make the mail platform smarter by adding a "self-destructing" email feature. Just like Telegram, Signal, Line and Snapchat, this new feature is expected to help users to time their mails and set an expiration date for those mails that they don't want to be available after some time.

According to a leaked screenshot by TechCrunch, the ability to build self-destructing emails will be available vai a "confidential mode". The confidential mode will prevent emails from being downloaded, copy/pasted, printed or forwarded. Also, users will be provided with an option to add a passcode that will be generated by Google and will provide a two-factor authentication for private messages.


Google has available different expiration periods for self-destructing emails which be a week, month, a year or even multiple years. Recipient of self-destructing emails will receive a link to view the confidential content, though they will be required to log in to their Google account to view the email at their own end.

As expected, the contents of the self-destructable email will be stuff that can't be copied or pasted by the receipient. Though recepients will still be able to take screenshots.

TechCrunch reports that the confidential mode has been made available to a group of small users. This feature might come alogside the redesigned Gmail that has been showcased in the Early Adopter Program.

Google hasn't made any official plans to bring the self-destructing email to Gmail.