Yes, Google is scanning email, but your privacy isn't being being put at risk. What they are doing is comparing a digital hash code of any image you send against a database of known child porn images.
http://www.extremetech.com/computing/187521-google-scans-your-gmail-inbox-for-child-porn-to-help-catch-criminals-but-dont-worry-about-loss-of-privacy-yet / man Texas arrested police sending child porn friend email direct tip-off from Google Gmail servers alerted the police Google scan inbox Google scanning everyone’s inbox child porn illegal materials gross invasion of privacy statement AFP arrest Houston man technology identify child sexual abuse imagery doesn’t don't scan email content criminal activity plot a burglary child porn investigators manually searches through Gmail inboxes automated system cryptographic hash digital fingerprint attachment traverses its servers technical details Google’s automated system Dropbox automated copyright piracy prevention system Google maintains a database known indecent images of children compare compares hash fingerprint attachment send against that database match human Google double checks result notifies the authorities Microsoft PhotoDNA software hashing detect child porn images modified original developing system Photo DNA automatically identify child porn donated PhotoDNA National Center for Missing & Exploited Children NCMEC OneDrive Bing Facebook Twitter digital fingerprinting video forms of media detect files tagged as child porn databases Google, Microsoft, NCMEC authorities hundred million examples known child porn images videos creating disseminating new stuff automated detection of child porn criminal activity prevent distribution child porn other crimes detects email correspondence terrorists intervene thieves discussing burglarize home rape scan your Gmail inbox display relevant ads detecting potentially criminal activity Google Microsoft child porn bomb-making guides /
