Google has removed the option to turn off HTTPS by default from Gmail. Every email message will now be encrypted as it moves internally between the company’s data centers. It was previously disclosed by Edward Snowden that the National Security Agency (NSA) is intercepting email messages as they move between data centers and servers using controversial PRISM data mining program. Google has finally realized that it makes no sense to allow unencrypted HTTP connections. “Our commitment to the security and reliability of your email is absolute, and we’re constantly working on ways to improve”
Source: https://thehackernews.com/2014/03/back-off-nsa-gmail-now-encrypts-every.html