Cable Forum - View Single Post - Attention all G-mail users

scrotnig · 14-09-2004, 23:24

I do tire of constant GMail conspiracy theories.

The deal with GMail is stunningly simple: their spider software spiders your mails and they may, or may not, serve a semi-relevant text ad with the mail, down the side a bit like on Google search pages.

It's text only and it's based in theory on words you use in the mail.

It's not passed to the FBI, the US Government, or anyone else other than if an authorised body requests it as part of their investigations into some criminal act, and that part of it is NO different to ANY other email provider.

To some people, GMail's business model represents a gross invasion of privacy and they won't use it. For others, it's really no big deal. I fall into the latter category, and I take privacy very seriously.

If I was planning to bomb Russia or something similarly secret, I wouldn't use ANY email service to discuss it, never mind GMail.

People need to realise there is no one READING your GMail emails. They are simply spidered. People really do overestimate their own importance if they think the FBI is even remotely interested in their personal emails. Sheesh!

14-09-2004, 23:24	#14
scrotnig Inactive Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 2,499	Re: Attention all G-mail users I do tire of constant GMail conspiracy theories. The deal with GMail is stunningly simple: their spider software spiders your mails and they may, or may not, serve a semi-relevant text ad with the mail, down the side a bit like on Google search pages. It's text only and it's based in theory on words you use in the mail. It's not passed to the FBI, the US Government, or anyone else other than if an authorised body requests it as part of their investigations into some criminal act, and that part of it is NO different to ANY other email provider. To some people, GMail's business model represents a gross invasion of privacy and they won't use it. For others, it's really no big deal. I fall into the latter category, and I take privacy very seriously. If I was planning to bomb Russia or something similarly secret, I wouldn't use ANY email service to discuss it, never mind GMail. People need to realise there is no one READING your GMail emails. They are simply spidered. People really do overestimate their own importance if they think the FBI is even remotely interested in their personal emails. Sheesh!