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Google Vault now supports retention rules and litigation holds for the Gemini app on web and mobile. Previously, administrators were able to use Vault to search Gemini app conversations and export those search results. With this update, administrators can now also create, update, and delete the following for the Gemini app:

  • Default retention rules: Set default retention rules for the Gemini app for a finite or indefinite retention period.
  • Custom retention rules: Create custom retention rules for the Gemini app by organizational unit (OU) or the entire domain for a finite or indefinite retention period.
  • Litigation holds: Place holds on the Gemini app data for a specific OU or a list of users.
Google Vault is an eDiscovery and information governance tool for Google Workspace that enables customers to retain, hold, search, and export users’ Google Workspace data. With this update, customers can expand their regulatory and legal eDiscovery management to include retention and holds for the Gemini app, making it easier to comply with data obligations from a central tool.

Additional details

  • Application scope: This update applies specifically to the Gemini app (on web and mobile) and is not applicable to Gemini in Google Workspace features integrated into other apps (such as "Help me write" in Gmail or Docs), as those specific interactions are not retained in the same manner.
  • Policy precedence: Vault retention rules and holds will always take precedence over Admin console settings, user deletion settings, or user activity settings.
    • Example: If a user deletes a conversation or turns off their activity setting, but an active Vault hold requires retention, the data is hidden from the user but remains fully retained and visible to Vault administrators.
  • API support: Support for Vault API users will be available in the coming weeks.

Getting started

Rollout pace

Availability

  • Business: Business Plus
  • Other Editions: Frontline Standard and Plus; Enterprise Essentials Plus
  • Enterprise: Enterprise Standard and Plus
  • Education: Education Fundamentals, Standard and Plus
  • Other Add-ons: Vault

Resources

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We previously launched support for sending full HD video (1080p) in Meet on the web, and we’re now extending that capability to Google Meet room hardware based on ChromeOS.

Google Meet will use full HD when the additional bandwidth is needed for sharp video from the room, such as:

  • On large screens: When others in the call are viewing the room on large monitors or TVs with a layout that makes 1080p necessary, such as full-screen views in Spotlight mode, 1:1 calls or dual-screen rooms. ​
  • When someone pins your video: If a person in the meeting "pins" the room, Meet will send the highest available quality.
  • ​When the meeting is being recorded: Recorded meetings use full HD from the room for the saved meeting video.
​Full HD is available from devices that use a high-resolution camera and can handle the additional processing over a fast, stable internet connection. Meet will continue to automatically adjust video quality downwards if network constraints are detected to ensure a smooth meeting experience.

Getting started

  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
  • End users: There is no end user setting for this feature; the upgrade happens seamlessly in the background when conditions are met.

Rollout pace

Availability

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers with Google Meet hardware devices

Resources

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The Workspace Policy API provides a centralized, comprehensive view of your security settings, eliminating the need to navigate to numerous pages in the Admin console.

With our latest update, we are introducing mutate endpoints (Create, Update, Delete) alongside existing read-only capabilities (Get, List) for data loss prevention (DLP) rules and detectors. This allows super admins to programmatically manage and fully automate the entire lifecycle of their DLP policies, from initial creation to real-time activation and deactivation.

Note this is an API-only launch for capabilities currently supported in the Admin console.

About DLP

DLP lets Workspace admins control external file sharing to prevent sensitive information leaks. It scans files for violations, triggering incidents and protective actions like content blocking.

How DLP works:

  • Admins define rules for sensitive content across Drive, Gmail, Chat, and Chrome.
  • DLP scans content for DLP rule violations that trigger DLP incidents.
  • DLP enforces the rules you defined and violations trigger actions, such as alerts.
  • Admins are alerted for DLP rule violations.
Summary of capabilities supported by mutate endpoints for DLP

Getting started

  • Admins: You must be a super admin to use the Policy API. See our developer documentation to learn more about the Policy API. You can also use GAM, an open source tool for managing Workspace, which now supports the Policy API.
  • End users: This is an admin-only capability.

Rollout pace

Availability

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers and Workspace Individual subscribers

Resources

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Building on our October launch, Gemini in Google Classroom can now help educators more easily convert rubric files and images into Google Classroom rubrics, right within the assignment creation workflow. Educators can now upload more file types, such as .jpeg and .png files. For example, by uploading a photo of a physical rubric or using existing files, Gemini in Classroom can help educators quickly generate structured, interactive rubrics within the Classroom interface. They can then make edits to the converted rubric before saving it. This Gemini-powered automation reduces manual data entry and helps educators maintain consistent grading standards across their assignments.

With this launch, rubric conversion will be controlled by the Gemini in Classroom setting in the Admin console. If Gemini in Classroom is disabled for your organization, you’ll no longer be able to convert rubrics from documents or images.

This feature is only available in English for users over age 18.

Getting started

Rollout pace

Availability

  • Education: Education Fundamentals, Standard, and Plus

Resources

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Google Drive is introducing alignment approvals, a lightweight mechanism that allows teams to request and record document sign-offs without file changes resetting the approval flow. When a document is in a partially approved state, collaborators can continue making edits without resetting any recorded approver decisions.

Alignment approvals can be initiated via a new checkbox within the standard request dialog across web clients.


When checked, "Require all approvers to review the same content" resets pending approvals if the file content changes. This is the default behavior.


When unchecked, changes to the file content don't reset pending approvals.

This feature serves use cases where strict content locking is unnecessary, making it easier for teams to maintain momentum on fluid projects. While an approval remains pending, individual approvers retain the flexibility to manually reset their approved status back to pending if subsequent content edits no longer match their expectations.

This update follows a series of recent enhancements to the Drive approvals ecosystem, including programmatic approval management with the Drive API.

Getting started

  • Admins: Approval requests are enabled by default and can be disabled at the domain, OU, and group level. There is no admin setting that controls alignment approvals specifically; users can access them if they have access to the broader approval request feature. Visit the Help Center to learn more about managing Drive approvals.
  • End users: Alignment approvals will be off by default and can be enabled by the user. Visit the Help Center to learn more about getting approvals in Drive.

Rollout pace

Availability

  • Business: Business Standard and Plus
  • Enterprise: Enterprise Starter, Standard, and Plus
  • Education: Education Plus
  • Other Editions: Enterprise Essentials and Enterprise Essentials Plus; Nonprofits
  • Education Add-ons: Teaching and Learning

Resources

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