Google Workspace Gemini App delete chats and activity history

[myset]

As a business owner/administrator, I can't delete old chats and activity history for Gemini App.

Where the data ownership is? 😎

According with this article - https://support.google.com/gemini/answer/13666746

Important: The article below is for users with a personal account. If you’re using Gemini Apps with a work or school account,  you can’t turn off your activity, delete your activity, or change your auto-delete settings

and

Even when Gemini Apps Activity is off, your conversations will be saved with your account for up to 72 hours to allow Google to provide the service and process any feedback. This activity won’t appear in your Gemini Apps Activity.

Is there any chance to implement a feature for this, or maybe autodelete after 72 hours?

[KevinApodaca · Accepted solution]

This is working as intended in the meantime while admin-level controls are released to customers to manage this setting at a more granular level. It is indeed a roadmap item, though unfortunately cannot share exact dates on this forum.

[hhw2018]

Can you point me to a specific resource that explains how Gemini App can be covered under BAA if even Admins can't even set our user's data retention policies?

What's the timeline for this feature to be added, and is there context for why it's been taken away, given back, and taken away again? 

I am sure it's something technical, but for non-tech career users, it's confusing when we can control so many other things. I've seen replies from GWS/Gemini associated accounts as far back as 8-10 months on this and other forum websites with minimal specific timelines for when we will have this ability. 

[KevinApodaca]

> Can you point me to a specific resource that explains how Gemini App can be covered under BAA if even Admins can't even set our user's data retention policies?

Here are resources that explicitly confirm that Gemini App can support HIPAA workloads (this launched as of December of 2024). (1) (2) (3) (4)

It has passed all the tests, so to say, from the regulating agencies that give the stamp of approval. 

In addition, as of Friday of last week, Google Vault now supports the Gemini App

Additionally, 

[KAM]

@hhw2018 expanding on what @KevinApodaca said, here's the compliance response:

https://support.google.com/a/answer/14130944 has the official language about data protections.

So when a framework such as HIPAA or FedRAMP or CJIS or whatever, Gemini does not have to be listed specifically for the framework because it's built on the Workspace Tech.  This means all data stays within that protection boundary, and no humans review Gemini data in the Workspace version.  And with a license, no training or use of the data other than to support the user ephemerally is done.

In short, Gemini is acting as if they are the user so if the user is handled under the framework, then Gemini comes under that user. 

HTH, KAM

[hhw2018]

@KAM and @KevinApodaca - Thank you both for responding. I think I understand, but HIPAA itself is super confusing at times. I thought that users had to be able to delete data that did not need to be retained, so that there is less risk of a privacy breach should the account be accessed unintentionally or by a bad actor. For example, using Google Docs to write a report, then saving as PDF, uploading to PDF to client's file on EHR (I'm a therapist), and deleting the Doc because it's no longer needed, the official finalized document is in the client's file. Idk if that makes sense? 

[KAM]

@hhw2018 HIPAA can be very complicated.  Because it's self-assessed, it doesn't really push healthcare providers to engage with compliance experts.

If you create any data in Google Workspace, you should have signed the BAA with Google and followed procedures to harden the Workspace instance to meet HIPAA guidelines.

Deleting data that is not needed especially a temporary copy makes good sense though to me.  HIPAA isn't going to have any requirements around that.  There are state medical record retention requirements but you are describing some sort of temporary notes no different than perhaps typing up hand written notes and shredding the handwritten notes.  

However, what I find in most systems like what you describe is more of a risk of accidental deletion to be honest.  Something doesn't make it into the EHR and the temporary copy is removed.  But that's not going to be a HIPAA issue from my perspective.  It might however be a state medical issue and a breach of responsibilities to the patient under your licensing.

HIPAA and related compliance is complex enough that the days of single practitioners are ending because it's too much work.  

HTH, KAM

[thoriume]

Been looking forward to this feature for almost a year now. It's getting to the point where it seems Google could be in violation of California's CCPA/CPRA if it does not allow business owners to control their data.

[KevinApodaca]

Hey!

Can you please share an official link to the specific line item are you referring to here ? A request of deletion of PI data is quite a different topic.

Thanks!

[thoriume]

Thanks for your response, sure thing.

Personal information as CA defines it:

1798.3.  Line (a)

1798.140.  Line (v)

1798.80.   Line (e)

And a business's obligation to provide deletion:

1798.105.  Line (a) and (b)

Workspace users need to have control of their Gemini history because both Gemini prompts and outputs can contain personal information by these definitions, which we're currently unable to request deletion of. Oddly enough, AI Studio does allow prompt deletion, but Gemini does not.

[TDG75]

Any news on this feature ? We'd like to deploy Gemini but i'm not deploying it while we can't delete conversation (as admin or as a user).

Thanks.

[myset]

Appreciate Kevin! A much more specific roadmap or timeline will be helpful 😀

[green-beaver]

We are also anxiously waiting for this feature. I'm worried our uses will use sensitive information in Chat ( such as customer info for example) , that we are unable to delete even as admins. 

[ajs-t3]

Come on, guys, being able to delete irrelevant information is a user's right.
Gemini is an excellent tool! Just a little more usability.
Being able to delete spam chats and group chats into folders by topic is the bare minimum.
We're eager to have better control over our data.

[brendonmccarthy]

It is obviously working as intended, but the intention is flawed. Workspace administrators should be able to determine whether Chats can or cannot be deleted.

As of this week, we now have a setting for Conversation History auto-deletion, there is no good reason provided by Google as to why we cannot also control manual deletion now. Also, the minimum is 3 months – 3 days, 7 days, 1 month should be added options.

At a minimum, we would like parity of features with what a non-paid Google account has already.

[KAM]

@brendonmccarthy comparing things between the consumer and the enterprise solutions is unlikely to be useful. They run almost like different companies and have different T&Cs.

Additionally, those features are only there to pre-configure things so you have a few more weeks likely until you can see what it looks like Workspace.  See https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2025/05/pre-configure-the-gemini-app-conversation-history-ad... for more information.

-KAM

[brendonmccarthy]

The blog is just an extended version of the same new functionality I referenced in the Help article I linked. Neither mention support for manual deletion of chats, which is why I came here to give more support for a feature that should exist.

At a minimum, it ought to be explained why it is not available (rather than simply saying it is not) – but it would be quite exceptional if Google actually communicated its product/feature decisions...so no breath being held 🙂

[KAM]

@brendonmccarthy I don't think you or I as admins have much sway about how Google handles marketing and press releases.  Hopefully, when the capabilities are launched in a few weeks, it will be more like what you are looking for.  

However, have you looked at the info in the privacy hub especially about how they will be retaining it for at least 72 hours?  This link should take you right to the sections: https://support.google.com/gemini/answer/13594961?hl=en#zippy=%2Cwhy-does-google-retain-my-conversat... -KAM