Google's e-mail is an invasion of privacy?

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fs5

Lifer
Jun 10, 2000
11,774
1
0
Originally posted by: Ranger X
Where have you been? GMail announced this back on March 31st/April 1st. That's the whole plan ... they offer you 1GB of storage space and in return, they scan the hell out of your e-mails and send you spam accordingly.

I would be cautious in discussing viagra, enlargements, and diplomas!

they don't send you spam. they put advertisments along side your emails, just like yahoo puts advertising banners at the top of THEIR login page. :roll:
 

thomsbrain

Lifer
Dec 4, 2001
18,148
1
0
Originally posted by: Shelly21
Does it also apply to email that you send to people with gmail?

yes it does, and here is where the privacy concerns are. because unlike the users of gmail, a person who sends their mail to a gmail account has no way of knowning that their mail will be scanned. it's up to them to just magically know this so they can "opt out" of sending that email. considering most people barely know their mouse from the keyboard, you can't expect people to know this on their own. and that means a lot of people are going to have their email scanned and not even know it.

what scares me is that with this technology already in place, it would be the easist thing in the world for the NSA to buy some "ad" words for the scan and use it to keep tabs on emails with "dangerous" subject matter. this is another step down the increasing slipperly slope towards total loss of privacy, and you fools will sell it for 1 measly gigabyte of space. how many gigabytes would it take for you to just bend right over and let them give it to you up the ass?
 

MBony

Platinum Member
Sep 16, 2003
2,990
0
76
Originally posted by: Jeff7181
Originally posted by: Modeps
my favorite button on these forums is the one up top that says "search"

My favorite button on these forums is the one that says "STFU"

That was weak...
 

Kilrsat

Golden Member
Jul 16, 2001
1,072
0
0
Originally posted by: thomsbrain
Originally posted by: Shelly21
Does it also apply to email that you send to people with gmail?

yes it does, and here is where the privacy concerns are. because unlike the users of gmail, a person who sends their mail to a gmail account has no way of knowning that their mail will be scanned. it's up to them to just magically know this so they can "opt out" of sending that email. considering most people barely know their mouse from the keyboard, you can't expect people to know this on their own. and that means a lot of people are going to have their email scanned and not even know it.

what scares me is that with this technology already in place, it would be the easist thing in the world for the NSA to buy some "ad" words for the scan and use it to keep tabs on emails with "dangerous" subject matter. this is another step down the increasing slipperly slope towards total loss of privacy, and you fools will sell it for 1 measly gigabyte of space. how many gigabytes would it take for you to just bend right over and let them give it to you up the ass?
You understand the idea of "plain-text" data transmission, right? The entire way from you to your mail's destination could be "scanning" your email. In fact your mail probably already is scanned automatically with more and more mail servers scanning for spam mail, more and more with integrated virus scanning. This is just the first use of scanning to turn a profit.

If you want private communication then you need to use a secure method, such as PGP encrypted email. That's how it was before Gmail and that's how it is after Gmail. The idea that servers were blindly handing off mail, and no one other than the recipient being able to take a peak is a complete fallacy.

The technology has been in place for years, the only revolutionary idea is the one to use the technology to turn a buck.
 

dmurray14

Golden Member
Feb 21, 2003
1,780
0
0
Yeah, and all the people at google who have no lives and nothing to do but read your email will be sitting there in front of their computers reading exactly what you're going to do this weekend. :roll:
 

slick230

Banned
Jan 31, 2003
2,776
0
0
Originally posted by: thomsbrain
Originally posted by: Shelly21
Does it also apply to email that you send to people with gmail?

yes it does, and here is where the privacy concerns are. because unlike the users of gmail, a person who sends their mail to a gmail account has no way of knowning that their mail will be scanned. it's up to them to just magically know this so they can "opt out" of sending that email. considering most people barely know their mouse from the keyboard, you can't expect people to know this on their own. and that means a lot of people are going to have their email scanned and not even know it.

what scares me is that with this technology already in place, it would be the easist thing in the world for the NSA to buy some "ad" words for the scan and use it to keep tabs on emails with "dangerous" subject matter. this is another step down the increasing slipperly slope towards total loss of privacy, and you fools will sell it for 1 measly gigabyte of space. how many gigabytes would it take for you to just bend right over and let them give it to you up the ass?

Jesus, get out your tin foil hat, the spooks at the NSA want to read your boring ass email about what you had for dinner last night or where you're taking you crumb snatching kids this weekend.:roll:

Besides, EVERYONE knows the NSA already has it's own system. It's called ECHELON, and it knows what you watched on tv last night and when you go to the bathroom.
 

Pliablemoose

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
25,195
0
56
Let's see, the world's best search engine folks with everyone's personal data, anyone see a problem here?
 

upsciLLion

Diamond Member
Feb 21, 2001
5,947
1
81
Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Let's see, the world's best search engine folks with everyone's personal data, anyone see a problem here?

SO DON'T USE GMAIL

*does a cartwheel*
 

Evadman

Administrator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Feb 18, 2001
30,990
5
81
As long as Google's only real rule is, "Do No Evil" I don't see a problem. They will be resonsible. The second they are not, I will burn down their building and pull my stapler from the smoking hulk.
 

Pliablemoose

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
25,195
0
56
Originally posted by: upsciLLion
Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Let's see, the world's best search engine folks with everyone's personal data, anyone see a problem here?

SO DON'T USE GMAIL

*does a cartwheel*

I'm not planning on it, I have a crapload of hotmail accts, my ISP's email acct, &amp; one other that's just too damn cool to show to the forums:D
 

slick230

Banned
Jan 31, 2003
2,776
0
0
Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Originally posted by: upsciLLion
Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Let's see, the world's best search engine folks with everyone's personal data, anyone see a problem here?

SO DON'T USE GMAIL

*does a cartwheel*

I'm not planning on it, I have a crapload of hotmail accts, my ISP's email acct, &amp; one other that's just too damn cool to show to the forums:D

So then there really is NO problem, then is there? Seeing as everyone can do the same as you, and NOT us G-mail. Gee, what a thought.
 

upsciLLion

Diamond Member
Feb 21, 2001
5,947
1
81
Originally posted by: slick230
Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Originally posted by: upsciLLion
Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Let's see, the world's best search engine folks with everyone's personal data, anyone see a problem here?

SO DON'T USE GMAIL

*does a cartwheel*

I'm not planning on it, I have a crapload of hotmail accts, my ISP's email acct, &amp; one other that's just too damn cool to show to the forums:D

So then there really is NO problem, then is there? Seeing as everyone can do the same as you, and NOT us G-mail. Gee, what a thought.

Careful. Thinking like that can be dangerous. ;)
 

Mik3y

Banned
Mar 2, 2004
7,089
0
0
in my opinion, if people have something against gmail, then they shouldnt use it. its as simple as that. i, for one, dont really mind about what gmail is doing, so i will be getting a gmail account when it comes out.
 

Pliablemoose

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
25,195
0
56
Originally posted by: upsciLLion
Originally posted by: slick230
Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Originally posted by: upsciLLion
Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Let's see, the world's best search engine folks with everyone's personal data, anyone see a problem here?

SO DON'T USE GMAIL

*does a cartwheel*

I'm not planning on it, I have a crap load of hotmail accts, my ISP's email acct, &amp; one other that's just too damn cool to show to the forums:D

So then there really is NO problem, then is there? Seeing as everyone can do the same as you, and NOT us G-mail. Gee, what a thought.

Careful. Thinking like that can be dangerous. ;)

Oops, guess I tripped over the big picture...

Corporations owning your personal data, calculating to the minute when you'll live, die, spend your money on for the rest of your freaking life.

But I guess it's cool to be a commodity, weighed, measured, calculated, ever feel like a freaking animal raised in a factory farm to be sold when you're fat enough?

Sounds like you guys will be standing in line for chip implants when they're released, corporations can track your every move, purchase, &amp; bowel movement, and tailor the Ex Lax ads to your bowel patterns.

But that's cool because it's voluntary.

My saving grace is that you'll be paying through the nose to fund my massive retirement &amp; Social Security checks with 50% of your income when you enter the working world &amp; corporations are picking your carcase over for the last penny they can extract before you die.
 

gopunk

Lifer
Jul 7, 2001
29,239
2
0
Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Originally posted by: upsciLLion
Originally posted by: slick230
Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Originally posted by: upsciLLion
Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Let's see, the world's best search engine folks with everyone's personal data, anyone see a problem here?

SO DON'T USE GMAIL

*does a cartwheel*

I'm not planning on it, I have a crap load of hotmail accts, my ISP's email acct, &amp; one other that's just too damn cool to show to the forums:D

So then there really is NO problem, then is there? Seeing as everyone can do the same as you, and NOT us G-mail. Gee, what a thought.

Careful. Thinking like that can be dangerous. ;)

Oops, guess I tripped over the big picture...

Corporations owning your personal data, calculating to the minute when you'll live, die, spend your money on for the rest of your freaking life.

But I guess it's cool to be a commodity, weighed, measured, calculated, ever feel like a freaking animal raised in a factory farm to be sold when you're fat enough?

Sounds like you guys will be standing in line for chip implants when they're released, corporations can track your every move, purchase, &amp; bowel movement, and tailor the Ex Lax ads to your bowel patterns.

But that's cool because it's voluntary.

My saving grace is that you'll be paying through the nose to fund my massive retirement &amp; Social Security checks with 50% of your income when you enter the working world &amp; corporations are picking your carcase over for the last penny they can extract before you die.

well yes, it is okay because it is voluntary. who are you to tell people that you know what is best for them?
 

Chebago

Senior member
Apr 10, 2004
575
0
0
marcyes.com
I'm just curious, do people think that compaines like yahoo and Hotmail roll dice or something to decide if a certain email is spam? There is a reason I get such beautiful poetry as this in my hotmail inbox:

"A few lunatics, and stalactite toward girl scout) to arrive at a state of turkeyUnlike so many cream puffs who have made their childlike ball bearing to us.
stewart troupe bashaw radiogram manumit nitric canadian"

and it has to do with emails being scanned by hotmail, yahoo, etc. to find spam.

I for one will die laughing when my adwords for google have an ad for viagra, a shiny new diploma forma non accredited university and a new home loan.
 

Fingolfin269

Lifer
Feb 28, 2003
17,948
34
91
Why do people continue to say 'If you don't like it then don't use it' and completely ignore the fact that there are going to be people sending email to those who have these accounts and know nothing about their mail be scanned.

Either this place is full oF GMAIL OMG AUTOGRAPH fanbois or you just don't mind if people sift through your net tendancies in order to classify you as something.
 

Pliablemoose

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
25,195
0
56
Originally posted by: gopunk

well yes, it is okay because it is voluntary. who are you to tell people that you know what is best for them?

sigh...

Harmlessly passing your time in the grassland away;
Only dimly aware of a certain unease in the air.
You better watch out,
There may be dogs about
I've looked over Jordan, and I have seen
Things are not what they seem.

What do you get for pretending the danger's not real.
Meek and obedient you follow the leader
Down well trodden corridors into the valley of steel.
What a surprise!
A look of terminal shock in your eyes.
Now things are really what they seem.
No, this is no bad dream.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want
He makes me down to lie
Through pastures green He leadeth me the silent waters by.
With bright knives He releaseth my soul.
He maketh me to hang on hooks in high places.
He converteth me to lamb cutlets,
For lo, He hath great power, and great hunger.
When cometh the day we lowly ones,
Through quiet reflection, and great dedication
Master the art of karate,
Lo, we shall rise up,
And then we'll make the ah heck's eyes water.

Bleating and babbling I fell on his neck with a scream.
Wave upon wave of demented avengers
March cheerfully out of obscurity into the dream.

Have you heard the news?
The dogs are dead!
You better stay home
And do as you're told.
Get out of the road if you want to grow old.


Sheep lyrics by Pink floyd
 

Kilrsat

Golden Member
Jul 16, 2001
1,072
0
0
Originally posted by: Fingolfin269
Why do people continue to say 'If you don't like it then don't use it' and completely ignore the fact that there are going to be people sending email to those who have these accounts and know nothing about their mail be scanned.

Either this place is full oF GMAIL OMG AUTOGRAPH fanbois or you just don't mind if people sift through your net tendancies in order to classify you as something.
Because your email is already being scanned by anyone and everyone!

Do you not understand what anti-spam scanning at the server is doing? How about the anti-virus scan? Your email is scanned, and could be read by any number of people already. Gmail is doing nothing innovative except for using the scans that are already occuring to make a profit.

It is already true that if you do not want someone other than the intended recipient to read an email you need to use some method of encryption, it has been that way since the beginning.

Do you just not understand what happens between the time you click "send" and the time your intended recipient clicks "read?"
 

gopunk

Lifer
Jul 7, 2001
29,239
2
0
Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Originally posted by: gopunk

well yes, it is okay because it is voluntary. who are you to tell people that you know what is best for them?

sigh...

Harmlessly passing your time in the grassland away;
Only dimly aware of a certain unease in the air.
You better watch out,
There may be dogs about
I've looked over Jordan, and I have seen
Things are not what they seem.

What do you get for pretending the danger's not real.
Meek and obedient you follow the leader
Down well trodden corridors into the valley of steel.
What a surprise!
A look of terminal shock in your eyes.
Now things are really what they seem.
No, this is no bad dream.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want
He makes me down to lie
Through pastures green He leadeth me the silent waters by.
With bright knives He releaseth my soul.
He maketh me to hang on hooks in high places.
He converteth me to lamb cutlets,
For lo, He hath great power, and great hunger.
When cometh the day we lowly ones,
Through quiet reflection, and great dedication
Master the art of karate,
Lo, we shall rise up,
And then we'll make the ah heck's eyes water.

Bleating and babbling I fell on his neck with a scream.
Wave upon wave of demented avengers
March cheerfully out of obscurity into the dream.

Have you heard the news?
The dogs are dead!
You better stay home
And do as you're told.
Get out of the road if you want to grow old.


Sheep lyrics by Pink floyd

sigh... it's still the individual's choice, if they want to take this course of action. your lyrics don't change a thing. you never answered my question, who are you to tell people what is best for them?
 

Fingolfin269

Lifer
Feb 28, 2003
17,948
34
91
Originally posted by: Kilrsat
Originally posted by: Fingolfin269
Why do people continue to say 'If you don't like it then don't use it' and completely ignore the fact that there are going to be people sending email to those who have these accounts and know nothing about their mail be scanned.

Either this place is full oF GMAIL OMG AUTOGRAPH fanbois or you just don't mind if people sift through your net tendancies in order to classify you as something.
Because your email is already being scanned by anyone and everyone!

Do you not understand what anti-spam scanning at the server is doing? How about the anti-virus scan? Your email is scanned, and could be read by any number of people already. Gmail is doing nothing innovative except for using the scans that are already occuring to make a profit.

It is already true that if you do not want someone other than the intended recipient to read an email you need to use some method of encryption, it has been that way since the beginning.

Do you just not understand what happens between the time you click "send" and the time your intended recipient clicks "read?"

Someone scanning my email for viruses and/or spam is completely different than a company scanning my email, without my permission, so that they can drive advertising revenue.

So yes, to answer you question, I do know what happens when I click "send" and the recipient clicks "read". This is completely different. You may be okay with a company making you an unknowing participant in their advertising research, however I am not.

And this ONLY APPLIES TO THOSE WHO ARE SENDING EMAIL TO THE GMAIL ACCOUNT HOLDER AND DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THE SCANNING. This part was included because I'm tired of people saying 'you can choose not to participate omg!11!! google is leet and u ar3nt cool unless you go0gle!!211!'
 

Kilrsat

Golden Member
Jul 16, 2001
1,072
0
0
Originally posted by: Fingolfin269
Originally posted by: Kilrsat
Originally posted by: Fingolfin269
Why do people continue to say 'If you don't like it then don't use it' and completely ignore the fact that there are going to be people sending email to those who have these accounts and know nothing about their mail be scanned.

Either this place is full oF GMAIL OMG AUTOGRAPH fanbois or you just don't mind if people sift through your net tendancies in order to classify you as something.
Because your email is already being scanned by anyone and everyone!

Do you not understand what anti-spam scanning at the server is doing? How about the anti-virus scan? Your email is scanned, and could be read by any number of people already. Gmail is doing nothing innovative except for using the scans that are already occuring to make a profit.

It is already true that if you do not want someone other than the intended recipient to read an email you need to use some method of encryption, it has been that way since the beginning.

Do you just not understand what happens between the time you click "send" and the time your intended recipient clicks "read?"

Someone scanning my email for viruses and/or spam is completely different than a company scanning my email, without my permission, so that they can drive advertising revenue.

So yes, to answer you question, I do know what happens when I click "send" and the recipient clicks "read". This is completely different. You may be okay with a company making you an unknowing participant in their advertising research, however I am not.

And this ONLY APPLIES TO THOSE WHO ARE SENDING EMAIL TO THE GMAIL ACCOUNT HOLDER AND DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THE SCANNING. This part was included because I'm tired of people saying 'you can choose not to participate omg!11!! google is leet and u ar3nt cool unless you go0gle!!211!'
How is it different? In all cases a computer program is checking subjects, bodies, recipients, and attachments. Its going through all the words you wrote, its logging what it does, its logging the results, and its doing something based on those results. With some spam scanners its actually adding an additional field to the header information, thus in a way modifying the message you sent.

So you're ok with scanning, you're ok with machines modifying what you write, but you're not ok with a company trying to recoup some of its costs? It just doesn't add up. Scanning of messages is a fact of life, scanning the content of messages to determine if its unsolicited commercial email or not (and tagging that email with the results) is far more intrusive than checking for keywords in an email. However you're ok with spam scans because its directly benefits you where you aren't ok with google scans because it only benefits the company. Is that right?
 

Gurck

Banned
Mar 16, 2004
12,963
1
0
Don't you have to agree to fine print which tells you what they're doing? Only AOL-types would fall for this anyway (or need a gb of email storage) so it doesn't bother me in the least.
 

Pliablemoose

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
25,195
0
56
Originally posted by: gopunk
Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Originally posted by: gopunk

well yes, it is okay because it is voluntary. who are you to tell people that you know what is best for them?

sigh...

Harmlessly passing your time in the grassland away;
Only dimly aware of a certain unease in the air.
You better watch out,
There may be dogs about
I've looked over Jordan, and I have seen
Things are not what they seem.

What do you get for pretending the danger's not real.
Meek and obedient you follow the leader
Down well trodden corridors into the valley of steel.
What a surprise!
A look of terminal shock in your eyes.
Now things are really what they seem.
No, this is no bad dream.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want
He makes me down to lie
Through pastures green He leadeth me the silent waters by.
With bright knives He releaseth my soul.
He maketh me to hang on hooks in high places.
He converteth me to lamb cutlets,
For lo, He hath great power, and great hunger.
When cometh the day we lowly ones,
Through quiet reflection, and great dedication
Master the art of karate,
Lo, we shall rise up,
And then we'll make the ah heck's eyes water.

Bleating and babbling I fell on his neck with a scream.
Wave upon wave of demented avengers
March cheerfully out of obscurity into the dream.

Have you heard the news?
The dogs are dead!
You better stay home
And do as you're told.
Get out of the road if you want to grow old.


Sheep lyrics by Pink floyd

sigh... it's still the individual's choice, if they want to take this course of action. your lyrics don't change a thing. you never answered my question, who are you to tell people what is best for them?

Why are you so upset that I disagree with you? Who are you to ask who I am &amp; why I dare to share a different opinion than you? I'm not here to fight, just share my opinions. Am I not allowed to feel differently than you or have a different opinion? Or must I bow down to gopunks opinions &amp; never dare to disagree with them?