Why don't you send confidential mode messages?

I am stunned by the absolute lack of Confidential Mode messages in my inbox. This was one of the most requested features and one of the longest running, most time consuming projects so far - and when it hit, nobody really cared! Here is some stimulation and who knows, maybe I get my very first confidential mode message from one of you.

Trust stops when you forward my stuff.

Introduction: What is Confidential Mode?

"Confidential mode" is a new-ish feature in Gmail that lets you send emails that expire. Indulge me for yet another metaphor. Do you remember the annoying virtual greeting cards from the 2000s? Bluemountain.com and so on?

When you got such a greeting card, you never got the actual card in your email. You would always get "Holger has sent you a greeting card. Click here to view it. But hurry, it will expire tomorrow!" This is Confidential Mode and its expiration, and this is why the content is secure and can expire. It's also why Confidential Mode is annoying.

Now to the interesting part. What can you do with Confidential Mode? Why is it awesome? Here is also a different look at the features of Confidential Mode.

Feature: Expiration/non-archiving

Confidential mode messages always expire (5 years is their maximum life span), which means they cannot be permanently archived.

You can, at most, take a screenshot and file that away. But as every e-discovery professional will tell you, that is worthless.

Information that will become obsolete: Directions that should no longer be followed after day X.
Information that will be replaced: Access codes that will be replaced by something else.

Feature: On-demand expiration/self-destruction

When you send a Confidential Mode message, you can shorten the lifespan of that message to zero immediately.

Sending passwords: After confirming that the recipient has successfully used the password, you can destroy the email.
Actionable information sent to multiple people can be expired once the first person takes action.
Activation: If you are really fancy, you can do the reverse: You can send a Confidential Mode message, expire it immediately and then un-expire it when it suits you. (Un-expiring is possible until the email's final expiration date, after that the email is gone.) This amounts to poor man's scheduled email perhaps? You could send somebody a birthday card that you will magically reveal, or your digital will (that would be harder to pull off, though).

Feature: Non-forwarding, non-printing

Confidential mode messages cannot be forwarded nor printed.

(unless the recipient goes to great lengths to do so, which would be akin to sharing screenshots or having another person sit in front of the same computer - you cannot prevent that human factor).

Sending data that must absolutely not be shared, such as critical business data. The level of protection is equivalent to sending "can view only, cannot share, cannot print" files on Drive.
Protecting non-Google files, such as PDFs. Drive protections apply only to proper Google files, such as Docs/Sheets/Slides.
Protecting files you email to people outside of PwC, who cannot open files stored on Drive.

Feature: Attachment showcase - look, don't touch

Confidential mode protects your attachments. They can be looked at, but not downloaded, printed, forwarded, opened in any way. Google will show them in a special online viewer, which means that only a limited number of file types are permitted (the usual ones: text files, spreadsheets, presentations, PDFs etc.).

Sending a file you don't want copied because it took you all night to create.
Sending a sensitive document to somebody who doesn't have G Suite (say a client). If that document must not be copied to - say - a USB stick, Confidential Mode makes sure the file stays in Google's container and can only be looked at.

Feature: Guaranteed recipient/micro-targeting

When you delegate your inbox to an assistant, the delegate cannot read any Confidential Mode messages you receive.

Sending sensitive voting information to PwC partners - which their EAs with delegate inbox access must not see under any circumstance.
Sending HR data, such as payroll information, that email delegates should not see.
Sending "for your eyes only" information. If you would print that person's name on it, you should send it via confidential mode.

This was good - we should perhaps be sending more Confidential Mode messages, don't you think? The downside of this is that Confidential Mode messages can be inconvenient, especially for people who are stuck with inferior email clients. So now you understand my puzzlement - while Confidential Mode caused massive waves, I have yet to receive my very first Confidential Mode message. In over half a year, I have received zero (!) and we will have to talk about that in a follow-up post. Until then, feel free to flood me with your confidential feedback. I will reply with read receipts. Thank you for reading!

#gmailPublished 2020-01-09 by Holger Matthies.Modified 2020-10-10 by Holger Matthies.Written listening to Key 4050 & Plumb - I love you

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