“Private” as in “personal”, as in not his CIA/government email account/government computer and as in his personal computer and or personal smart phone/personal Gmail account.
I always presume that all electronic communications at work, even with my private employer are never, ever “private”; hence from my work computer I never send personal emails, never give my work email to family or friends (or if I do, I tell them to never email me at work except in an emergency – which is irrelevant since they can call or text me on my cell phone or call my work number). From work I never surf any sites that even might be considered the least bit controversial, never post comments on any websites, etc. And at my work, many sites are automatically blocked including but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, Stumble, LinkedIn, YouTube and just about every web based email provider.
And I also never assume that my personal electronic communications are guaranteed to be 100% “private” either – and that is true no matter what email provider you use, not just limited to Gmail, which I use and like a lot.
But that would be especially true of someone with a high level security clearance and their close family and friends and girl freinds. Even if the NSA or FBI snooped my email, they’d find mostly junk mail, retail offers and coupons, reminder notices of bills due, emails from family and friends – harmless chatty stuff like: “here’s some pictures of the kids trick or treating”. If they snooped my text messages, they’d find stuff like: “R U up for a movie 2 night?” “I’m running late, s/b there in 20”, “Happy Birthday!” As I don’t hold a security clearance or work for a government contractor that does, I don’t think the NSA/FBI/CIA has much interest in my emails or text messages unless I do something that would put me under suspicion or associate with someone on their “watch list” or have a personal relationship with someone with a SC.
In the early 2000’s I dated a guy, a naval commander who was attached to the NSA. I don’t know of course exactly what he did, nor did I want to, nor would he ever say, but I do know he was attached to, a commander of a unit named “Information Warfare” and presumably had a pretty high SC. And I presumed that at least after our second date, that I was being “checked out” and by “checked out”, I mean by the NSA. One tip off was when after a romantic evening out, he “casually” worked into the conversation, “so what was your mother’s maiden name”, and “were you born”. So I said, “If it helps, I’ll gladly give you my SSN to make it easier for your “employer” to run a background check on me”. He blushed and looked away and mumbled something to the effect of, “they most likely already have that”. You bet your bottom dollar that I presumed I was investigated and that during the entire time I dated him and probably for some time after we broke up, that my personal email account and text messages, etc., “might” have been subject to some random “looks”. And under the circumstances, I can’t say I had a problem with that.