Google Groups is makes easier to send emails to many addresses. However, it seems that the tool is not being used properly.

Many Gmail users report that their addresses are being added to groups without their consent. Because of this, they receive hundreds of spam emails. Also, they can’t leave the groups.

Google Groups users unable to leave groups they didn’t join

Multiple user reports indicate their disagreement with their email addresses being added to groups without consent (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7).

My hotmail email address has been subscribed to four google groups so far in the last week. Since then, I receive about 200+ emails a day that are sent to these google group addresses. I did not consent to the subscriptions. Since my gmail account is not subscribed, I cannot see them in My Groups on the Google Groups website which I did not know existed until I received emails saying I was subscribed to these groups. How can I leave these groups and prevent my hotmail address from being subscribed in the future?
Source

I am receiving junk and spam from a Google Group account to my msn outlook email account on my mac that I cannot stop. I did not knowingly join the Googlegroup sending the spam. Have changed the settings in Google groups as suggested but this has not worked. I have also used Microsoft Outlook rules for screening emails but it does not work.
Source

But, what is worse, is that some also cannot leave the groups to which they were added. This is because, as they have not subscribed themselves, the groups are not listed on their ‘My Groups’ page.

A problem reported since 2020

This problem is not exactly new. There are reports of users complaining about the same thing since last year 2020.

When I try to leave a group, I get the message “you can’t leave this group because the group’s settings prevent members from leaving.”

I’ve read that “If you’re signed in to a work or school account, you can’t leave any group that your administrator has set to include all members.”

But this is a personal account, and is neither school nor work. Any ideas?
Source

In addition, the reports continue to emerge until a few days ago. Therefore, it does not appear that Google has resolved the matter yet.

google-groups-cant-leave-groups-they-didnt-ask-to-join-1
Source

It is also not known if Google is aware of the complaints, since there is still no official pronouncement at this day.

If there is any new development in this regard in the coming days, we will update this article. So, stay tuned with us.

PiunikaWeb started as purely an investigative tech journalism website with main focus on ‘breaking’ or ‘exclusive’ news. In no time, our stories got picked up by the likes of Forbes, Foxnews, Gizmodo, TechCrunch, Engadget, The Verge, Macrumors, and many others. Want to know more about us? Head here.

Jean Leon
1613 Posts

A tech enthusiast since ever. I like to always be up to date on the latest news in the industry and write about it. Twitter: @jean_ERdC

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