Gmail users have no expectation of privacy

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Stuart
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Gmail users have no expectation of privacy

Post by Stuart »

As if Edward Snowden hasn't done enough to highlight how vulnerable electronic communications are to surveillance, Google has made it clear that people who send or receive e-mail via Gmail should not expect their messages to remain private.

In a 39-page motion filed in June (see below) to have a class-action data-mining lawsuit dismissed, the Web giant cites Smith v. Maryland, a 1979 Supreme Court decision that upheld the collection of electronic communications without a warrant.

"Just as a sender of a letter to a business colleague cannot be surprised that the recipient's assistant opens the letter, people who use web-based email today cannot be surprised if their emails are processed by the recipient's [e-mail provider] in the course of delivery. Indeed, 'a person has no legitimate expectation of privacy in information he voluntarily turns over to third parties.'"

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Re: Gmail users have no expectation of privacy

Post by hamin_aus »

Yahoo and M$ were doing this before Google made it cool.

I happen to agree tho. If you use a free email service then you agree'd t the T&C's when you signed up that specifically mentioned that they will look at your content, so you need to STFU.

Nobody is forcing you to have a gmail account.
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Re: Gmail users have no expectation of privacy

Post by GreyWolf »

That's why I use the safe, private and convenient Facebook for all my electronic communications.
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Re: Gmail users have no expectation of privacy

Post by KALSTER »

Have had the same Yahoo account since about 2005.
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Re: Gmail users have no expectation of privacy

Post by rustypup »

GreyWolf wrote:That's why I use the safe, private and convenient Facebook for all my electronic communications.
precisely...

added to which, smtp is clear-text. it's exposed by default - all the time, everywhere it goes.

although, expecting the majority of users to understand this is akin to expecting them to stop using email as a file-share service...

"but it's only 1.5 thingies!"
"1.5GB :/"
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Re: Gmail users have no expectation of privacy

Post by StarPhoenix »

To be fair, the majority of users' eyes could glaze at the mention of "smtp is clear-text" 'cos they don't have your training/experience in the field.
Some of us are oblivious of what more tech-savvy folks expect us to know that we should know. If that makes any sense. :oops:

Perhaps users should have to pass regular exams to show that they understand what they are doing before being
granted the privilege of using some sort of computer at home and for their own porpoises for a given period? Might make life easier for tech. support.

So far as work is concerned, I hear there is something called Active Directory that we use here to control what staff members can do.
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Re: Gmail users have no expectation of privacy

Post by GreyWolf »

StarPhoenix wrote:Perhaps users should have to pass regular exams to show that they understand what they are doing before being granted the privilege of using some sort of computer at home and for their own porpoises for a given period? Might make life easier for tech. support.
I would say that 90% would not make it passed: "What internet browser do you use?"
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Re: Gmail users have no expectation of privacy

Post by StarPhoenix »

I would say that 90% would not make it passed: "What internet browser do you use?"
Windows?

I have come across people who took it for granted that the full Microsoft Office Suite is part of Windows, and are dismayed to hear that they will have to shell out a hefty sum of money for it. [This is usually where I suggest alternatives to those who are not looking to run a business from home, or who are not pupils/students who have to use MS productivity software on pain of death....or worse.]
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Re: Gmail users have no expectation of privacy

Post by Stuart »

GreyWolf wrote:
StarPhoenix wrote:Perhaps users should have to pass regular exams to show that they understand what they are doing before being granted the privilege of using some sort of computer at home and for their own porpoises for a given period? Might make life easier for tech. support.
I would say that 90% would not make it passed: "What internet browser do you use?"
Or even make it past that question. ;)
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Re: Gmail users have no expectation of privacy

Post by KALSTER »

^^ *Like*

It screamed at me, but I only just resisted the urge to comment about it. 'Till now...
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Re: Gmail users have no expectation of privacy

Post by GreyWolf »

Fair enough. It is only just that a Nazi gets nazied
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