Is Google Scanning Your Emails Really a Privacy Concern?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the legality and ethics of Google scanning emails for advertising purposes. Participants express differing views, with one user arguing that as long as Google does not link keywords to personal identities, scanning emails is acceptable. The conversation highlights the perception of email ownership and privacy, suggesting that users willingly give their emails to Google for storage and services. The comparison between email scanning and ads displayed in private forum messages reinforces the argument that such practices are not inherently invasive.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Google’s email services, specifically Gmail.
  • Familiarity with online advertising models, particularly contextual advertising.
  • Knowledge of privacy laws and regulations regarding data usage.
  • Basic comprehension of email security and data ownership concepts.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the implications of the GDPR on email scanning practices.
  • Explore the differences between contextual and behavioral advertising.
  • Learn about email encryption methods to enhance privacy.
  • Investigate user agreements and terms of service related to data privacy in cloud services.
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for privacy advocates, digital marketers, and users of cloud-based email services who seek to understand the implications of data scanning and advertising practices.

aychamo
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So.. According to this link:

http://www.ircspy.com/comments.asp?mode=view&id=1216

The senator says it should be illegal for Google to scan the contents of email for advertising, even if you agree to it by aggreeing to a terms of service. I disagree. If you know Google will scan your email and put in ads, but do nothing else with your emails contents, why should this be illegal?

Let's be honest. It's *just* e-mail. Why is it so sacred? Looking at it, if I email you at Google's gmail, is that e-mail really yours? Hell, is it mine? If I send an e-mail to your address at google's computer, I created the e-mail, so I kinda "own" it, and I gave it to google. But I did give it to google to "hold" for you. It's almost like an employee having a desk drawer that they keeped locked, preventing access from the boss.

I just really don't have a problem with this. It seems like google would just scan the text of the e-mails and use whatever algorithm they have to rank the words and find the most suitible advertiser (that I would probably never click on.) I'm sure it works just the same as the Google ads on these pages. Hell, if it makes Google money, and I get a free, 100% reliable 1gig of email storage that I can most likely use *for the rest of my life* I will gladly let them make money off of my emails. AS LONG: as they don't ever draw a connection between key words and usernames. That is wrong. And they honestly shouldn't take any personal information. I don't see why they'd need *any* information from you beyond your username and password. Would recording your IPs be invading privacy?

BY THE WAY, something you may all find interesting is that the Google Ads on this forum display when you are *reading your private messages!* That is the exact same thing that will happen when Google scans your email for ads. It's not a big deal. I don't see a difference between an e-mail and a private intraforum message.
 
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aychamo said:
BY THE WAY, something you may all find interesting is that the Google Ads on this forum display when you are *reading your private messages!* That is the exact same thing that will happen when Google scans your email for ads. It's not a big deal. I don't see a difference between an e-mail and a private intraforum message.

:) Just wanted to emphasize this.
 
umm? how? ur e message become ads?
 
expscv said:
umm? how? ur e message become ads?
It only becomes ad when someone actually sent it out to make fun of others.

I sent Mr A some emails, Mr A sent to some of his friends and they laughed.
Thats fun ?
I thinkit is fun.
 
Fun of the cruel !
 
Sigh ... ...
 
If you don't want google reading through your email, just send pdf files. Google can only "read" plain text.
 
Yeah, I'm saying that I'm not even concerned about it. I don't see what the big deal is.
 
pdf ? god

hoho i don't mind le, my life should as simple as it can be

wait how about I zip it?
 

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