Privacy

Google Makes Sweeping Anti-Privacy Argument In Gmail Case

August 14, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>When Google first rolled out Gmail in 2004, the company's decision to monetize the service by serving targeted ads raised concerns of privacy watchdogs.</p> <p>The Electronic Privacy Information Center questioned Google's practice, as did a coalition of other organizations. At one point, a California lawmaker proposed legislation to ban email providers from scanning emails. The measure never gained any traction, and concerns about the privacy implications of serving ads based on keywords in messages largely faded.</p>

Gmail Users Do Not Have A Reasonable Expectation Of Privacy, Says Google

August 14, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>Google denied that it violates consumers' privacy when it reads e-mails, according to court documents</b></p> <p>Gmail users and their contacts have no reasonable expectation that their correspondences will not be scanned for the purpose of targeting advertising, according to a <a class="inform_link" href="http://www.csmonitor.com/tags/topic/Google+Inc." rel="nofollow noopener" target="_self" title="Title: Google Inc.">Google</a> <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/resources/googlemotion061313.pdf" target="_self" rel="noopener">court document</a>.</p>

Gmail Users Have “No Reasonable Expectation” Of Privacy

August 14, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>Google admits in filing that email users should not be surprised that the company processes communications</b></p> <p>As <a href="http://www.salon.com/2013/06/11/the_dangerous_ethics_behind_googles_transparency_claims/">I have noted here before</a>, it is worth remembering that as recently as 2009, Google CEO Eric Schmidt said, “If you have something that you don’t want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn’t be doing it in the first place.”</p>

Oh Google. Of Course Email Users Expect Privacy — You Promised It To Them

August 14, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>The California-based advocacy group <a href="http://gigaom.com/2012/08/31/why-google-shouldnt-have-to-admit-its-privacy-sins/">Consumer Watchdog</a> has this week <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/newsrelease/google-tells-court-you-cannot-expect-privacy-when-sending-messages-gmail-people-who-care">highlighted</a> an interesting claim emanating from Google’s legal team, with which it is doing battle over data mining. In a motion to dismiss Consumer Watchdog’s class action lawsuit against it, Google said no email users can expect privacy.</p>

Google Says Gmail Users Have ‘No Legitimate Expectation of Privacy’

August 14, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Lavabit <a href="http://business.time.com/2013/08/09/snowden-fallout-compels-email-service-to-shut-down/">is no more</a>. Silent Circle has <a href="http://www.zdnet.com/the-truth-about-why-silent-circle-silenced-their-secure-email-service-7000019300/">shuttered its secure email service</a>.

Google Inc.: Is Microsoft Corporation Right, and Will This Affect Gmail Use?

August 13, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><strong>Google Inc (NASDAQ:<a href="http://www.insidermonkey.com/insider-trading/company/google+inc/1288776/">GOOG</a>)</strong> may be proving <strong>Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a href="http://www.insidermonkey.com/insider-trading/company/microsoft+corp/789019/">MSFT</a>)</strong> right after all? Is everything copasetic with the Samsung Galaxy S4 that runs on Android 4.3 Jelly Bean? Is it really true that the Moto X will truly have a stock Android "Google Edition" device? We address each of these three questions below in a Monday afternoon update of news about Google.</p>

Google: Gmail Users Have No ‘Legitimate Expectation’ Of Privacy

August 13, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Those who fear the Google machine, get ready to be more scared at the search engine. In a recent filing unearthed by a California-based consumer advocacy group Consumer Watchdog, Google has said that users should never expect that their communications should be kept private – ever.</p> <p>The comments were made in a brief by Google in its application to dismiss a class action lawsuit against them.</p> <p>According to the filing:</p>

Google: Gmail users ‘have no legitimate expectation of privacy’

August 13, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>As tensions worsen among privacy-focused email users amid the escalating scandal surrounding government surveillance, a brief filed by attorneys for Google has surfaced showing that Gmail users should never expect their communications to be kept secret.</p> <p>Consumer Watchdog has unearthed a July 13, 2013 motion filed by Google’s attorneys with regards to ongoing litigation challenging how the Silicon Valley giant operates its highly popular free email service.</p>

Gmail: You Weren’t Really Expecting Privacy, Were You?

August 13, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><strong>The Internet is in a panic over a Google legal brief that claims Gmail users have no expectation of privacy when they use the service. Good headline, but let's be honest: that's the entire point of Gmail.</strong></p>

Google Filing Says Gmail Users Have No Expectation Of Privacy

August 13, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><strong>In motion to dismiss a data-mining lawsuit, Web giant says people have "no legitimate expectation of privacy in information" voluntarily turned over to third parties.</strong></p> <p>s 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.</p>

Concerned About Privacy? Don’t Use Gmail

August 12, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Google’s attorneys told a federal judge that its practice of reading Gmail users’ emails to pick which ads it shows is like a secretary opening a business letter.</p> <p>Consumer Watchdog posted <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/resources/googlemotion061313.pdf">Google’s filing</a> at the U.S. District Court of Northern California, which says in part:</p>

The Controversial, Toothless, ‘Landmark’ Mobile Transparency Code

August 2, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><strong>"My guess is this is seen as either a starting point or just enough to placate the more vocal proponents of privacy protections," said developer Steven Bristol. "I'd say it's more to placate than anything else." Legislation to ensure consumer privacy is needed, he suggested, because "Americans aren't very good at thinking through hard problems and choosing what's best for them and their children."</strong></p> <p> </p>