Google Tests New Temporary Email Feature To Protect Your Inbox From Getting Filled With Spam

As per reports, the Shielded Email option was found within the ‘Autofill with Google’ menu in the Settings app on Android devices.

While the concept of using temporary email addresses to protect personal information online is promising, details on how Google intends to roll out and implement this functionality remain unclear.

Source : Unsplash/Arthur Osipyan

As spam emails and messages continue to be a persistent issue, Google is actively exploring new ways to combat them. The company is reportedly developing a feature called "Shielded Email," designed to protect users by allowing them to use temporary email aliases instead of their primary addresses. According to a recent report from Android Authority, this feature was discovered during an APK teardown of Google Play Services version 24.45.33.

Based on the code strings, it appears Shielded Email will generate limited-use or single-use aliases that automatically forward messages to the user's main account.

The report also noted that the Shielded Email option was found within the ‘Autofill with Google’ menu in the Settings app on Android devices. However, selecting the option currently leads to an empty page, suggesting that the feature is still under development. While the concept of using temporary email addresses to protect personal information online is promising, details on how Google intends to roll out and implement this functionality remain unclear.

Will It Emerge As The Leader Despite Tough Competition?

Third-party services like TempMail already provide users with temporary email addresses for signing up on uncertain websites, but Google's Shielded Email feature could prove to be even more convenient. Since Google's autofill service is widely integrated across most Android devices and compatible with nearly every app, it offers seamless functionality that many users will appreciate.

A key aspect to watch is whether these temporary email aliases will adopt the familiar @gmail.com domain or use randomly generated domains, as seen with most temporary email services. If Google opts for the @gmail.com domain, it could make it significantly harder for companies to differentiate between genuine and temporary email addresses, enhancing user privacy and reducing the risk of data tracking.