[mixedmath]

> This was a tough decision, having used Gmail since 2007/2008. However, I had to draw the line and stop giving Google my data for free. > > The problem with email is that everything is transmitted in plain text.

Interestingly, one of my biggest problems with Gmail is that they don't allow actual plaintext. I used to routinely collaborate with developers who were vision-impaired, and the official Gmail phone app wouldn't let me send them plaintext email. Instead, it was some sort of HTML thing. Unfortunately, we sometimes sent code snippets to each other over email, and though admittedly it looked more or less fine, Gmail changed the underlying representation enough that my collaborators' screen readers would mess up on the parsing.

This led to me leaving Gmail on my phone, which led ultimately to me leaving Gmail entirely.

[johannes1234321]

I think you use the term "plain text" differently from the author of the post. I think they refer to the fact that there is no end to end encryption. Google has access to the clear text of all messages and can index/analyze them.

[MobiusHorizons]

The article does call out plain text email without formatting or attachments. Plain text typically refers to visual formatting, while clear text refers to lack of encryption.

[Sniffnoy]

That sounds like a problem with the Gmail webmail client -- I don't think Gmail does that when used over IMAP with an external client?

[arccy]

the web client can send plain text, it's only the mobile client that doesn't have an option to do so

[azinman2]

Use another email client, such as Apple Mail if you’re on an iPhone. I believe it defaults to plaintext.