Privacy group steps up Gmail complaints

London-based Privacy International has broadened its attack on Gmail, announcing Monday that it has filed complaints in 17 countries against the soon-to-be-launched e-mail service.

The story "Privacy group steps up Gmail complaints" published April 19, 2004 at 6:46 AM is no longer available on CNET News.

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[bjbrock]

Google tells their customers...

exactly what to expect. If privacy is an issue, the customer can pay someone to deliver their mail. There is no question about the lack of privacy but the choice is the Google customer's to make. This privacy group needs to protest real problems where the customer is not told the whole truth.

Google's new service is not for those concerned about privacy. But there are plenty of consumers that will find this service perfectly acceptable.

This privacy group needs to get a life.

[kieranmullen]

Boo hoo

If you dont like it dont buy it. I cant beieve what people do with their time. File lawsuits? This is just plain silly. Did anyone file lawsuits to prevent credit cards from being created? Did the people who stuff money in their matresses file lawsuits? Last time I checked my mailbox is still being flooded by credit card request and all ads for all sorts of products I dont need fill my mailbox because the credit card companies sell your info unless you request to opt out which is only good for 2 years.

Fix that first!

Sigh...

I'm getting sick of all these people filing complaints about Gmail to everyone except Google. I mean Google makes it very clear that they are interested in the public's help in making their services better! Why doesn't Privacy International ask for a beta account and then work with Google to make the Gmail service better? Working against Google, Privacy International will never get anywhere...

/agree

/agree

[mobiman]

Do not let the bureaucrats run and ruin our lives

I believe it is absolute nonsense to regulate how something will work, if the potential user has a choice to use it or not. The service should spell out clearly what it does, and inform the potential consumer. It is the consumers choice as to their desire to use the service or not. As to the point that the privacy 'advocates' are saying the sender of the message may not wish to have his e-mail 'sniffed' then that is the choice of the sender. From what I have seen regarding the service, the user is shown information that may be relevant, yet his email's are not shared with anyone else. I do not believe anyone wants anonymity, they just want privacy. Having a system adapt to serve the user is a service. If the system were to post the most 'amusing', 'sad', 'funny' private emails, that would be an invasion. But to adapt to the users needs?
The ultimate regulation is the free market. If the system is unwanted, then it will not be used.

[best103]

How can a gmail user get away with sending false emails about someone to coworkers.
doesn't gmail have rules or laws against that???
What can be done ???

[antihackerjonny]

He is Hacking Google G-mail e-mail accounts at will.

Reynhardt van Blommenstein - - Klein Brakriver - Garden Route
South Africa

Email: [e-mail]

Contact Number: Fax: [phone] Tel: [phone]

This author made many complaints with no response.

[TherapyDogGal]

This is crazy. Just as allowing Yahoo to view all my contacts (that I do not have), Gmail is worse.

I know using the internet is invasive whether seen or unseen AND gmail takes it to the obvious max (which is my good reminder of this). The gmail program tells me what appears to be important by reading the text I type and making suggestions as to who else should be on my distribution list based on email addresses I entered, why an email should be flagged important, and the list goes on ad nauseum.

Should I move off gmail? Not yet but I'm getting there. As a retired IT person, the global reality is the internet means you're allowing your information to be used... somehow. One day, I will stop using the internet. If cloud computing takes over, that will definitely end my use.