Neowin.net - Lawmaker moves to block Google's Gmail

Lawmaker moves to block Google's Gmail

Posted by malebolgia on 13 April 2004 - 20:47 · 25 comments & 1044 views

A California state senator on Monday said she was drafting legislation to block Google Inc.'s free e-mail service "Gmail" because it would place advertising in personal messages after searching them for key words.

"We think it's an absolute invasion of privacy. It's like having a massive billboard in the middle of your home," Sen. Liz Figueroa, a Democrat from Fremont, California, said in a telephone interview. "We are asking them to rethink the whole product," she said. In late March, the world's No. 1 Web search company announced plans to launch Gmail -- a service that would offer users 1 gigabyte of free storage, more than 100 times the storage offered by other free services from Yahoo Inc. and Microsoft Corp.

But in return for the extra storage, users would agree to let Google's technology scan their incoming e-mail, then deliver targeted ads based on key words in the messages. For instance, a user receiving a message about a friend's flu symptoms might also receive ads for cold and flu remedies. Gmail is now being tested with a limited number of users. Privacy advocates are assailing Gmail even before its formal launch. Google faces heavy opposition in Europe, where privacy laws are stricter than they are in the United States.

News source: CNN

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#1 Posted by [Thrice] on 13 Apr 2004 - 20:50: No different then what neowin does. The ads scan the post and displays ad links in IE.. i don't see the big deal.. it is the persons choice to use the service after all.. there is no obligation.

#2 Posted by shihchiun on 13 Apr 2004 - 20:51: no one said you have to use it

#3 Posted by iczman on 13 Apr 2004 - 20:53: "It's like having a massive billboard in the middle of your home"

what the heck is that suppose to mean? what was she elected for in the first place?

#4 Posted by Xeron on 13 Apr 2004 - 20:55: Great. Does this mean Google will start to advertise viagra, 'enlargements', publishing companies and porn sites.

(2 replies) #5 Posted by SunnyB on 13 Apr 2004 - 22:14: Thirty years ago Microsoft was the white hat, battling against IBM
for the top slot in the DOS race. At that time computers from
manufacturers other than IBM were known as IBM clones.
Microsoft eventually won with their MS-DOS for the PC.

Today Google is the white hat and everybody cheers for them
but in very few years they can be in a position to dictate, to
everybody using a computer, what they can see or what sites
they can visit.

All capitalistic entities will change hats when the dollar is at stake.
They may be white hats now but that will change.

(1 reply) #6 Posted by dannyres on 13 Apr 2004 - 22:34: It's like having a massive billboard in the middle of your home,"

...That you asked for!

#7 Posted by Overlord368 on 13 Apr 2004 - 23:29: well duh! If you dont want ads or it scanning your mail..... DONT USE IT.. but if you do want the 1gig storage i guess its your only option.... you cant just ask for it for free

(2 replies) #8 Posted by WishX on 14 Apr 2004 - 00:00: Ok, so Gmail scans your email and sends targeted ads based on keywords in your email. So be it. It's automated and no human reads what you type. I don't see a problem with that.

What does concern me is how long until some Government agency "in the name of tighter surveillence and fighting terrorism" demands that Google scans for certain "key words" and the next thing you know, your privacy is being breached by Big Brother and you've got a file with the FBI because you said something like, "Man, that chick was the bomb! She's so fine I can't believe she is real! I'd love to get her in the back seat of my car!"

The next thing you know, the feds see key words like Man, car, bomb and Isreal" and the next thing you know you're flagged as a terrorist.

Hey, it could happen. Just a concern... I'm not some loony conspiracy theorists.

#9 Posted by session™ on 14 Apr 2004 - 00:33: when woman comes to politic... she becomes a bitch

#10 Posted by duphus on 14 Apr 2004 - 02:18: And who gives a **** if a computer program scans your email for keywords? whoop dedo, major privacy invasion

#11 Posted by Gergith on 14 Apr 2004 - 02:21: this is the biggest load of ****... its a FREEE service, i really dont understand what the problem is, its FREE, you can choose to use all the other fREEE services out there.. there telling you waht they do with your e-mails and why it will be free for you to use. i wouldnt expect 1 gig of space with out SOME form of ads! like get real, thats the reason you can get something that big for free... people are sooo stupid

#12 Posted by obake on 14 Apr 2004 - 02:24: This is such crap. If you are afraid of being "spyed on" by Google, then DON'T USE THE F'ING SERVICE!!! God F'ing DAMMIT!

#13 Posted by derekge on 14 Apr 2004 - 04:40: How would Hotmail and Yahoo! respond to this? 2 MB and 6 MB (if you got in early) storage capcacities are absolutely dwarfed by the Gmail 1 GB offer. After a while I think they would have to increase their individual storage limits.

Also: that lady should pipe down - I can choose what I want and for some reason I can't seem to not notice those blaring billboards off any freeway I travel on. Spielberg got it right with advertising in Minority Report....scary

#14 Posted by iascoot on 14 Apr 2004 - 06:26: some people just need to f@#K up/off...

#15 Posted by Ized on 14 Apr 2004 - 06:46: I just don't get the problem: If you have a hotmail email account, you will see ads on your web page when viewing emails. If you have a email.com (mail.com) account you will see A LOT of adds on your page. Same goes for almost every major (big) -free- email provider. They need some bone to pay even part of the free service. NOBODY has to use it if they don't want it.

Only thing Google want's todo is to scan the message (automatically, not by a human) and give some tiny text based adds that might relate to the subject of your email. BIG DEAL!?... Jesus. I guess is probably some election time in US. It wouldn't even suprise me if Microsoft has lobbied some people on the capitol hill to attack Google, pawing the way for Microsoft new search engine. Soon you'll see microsofts new logo for their search engine : "MICROSOFT - where do you want to do no evil" ..

#16 Posted by Randall_Lind on 14 Apr 2004 - 06:46: Text ads are great I take them on the right side any day compare to banners that flash or them pop-up in my face.

This lady was on TechLive last night (TevhTV) She also thinks 1 GB is too small and doesn't meet coming tech advances. This is retarded you don't hear her upset at Microsoft or Yahoo!.

Everyone is allow to have free email but, Goggle. I wish these people would stand up for my right to listen to mp3's I copy from Cd's I own and stop worrying about what is in my email.

#17 Posted by Xerus on 14 Apr 2004 - 07:17: I wonder if this idiot has ever heard of one of the 15,000 spyware programs out there.

#18 Posted by Judge Roy Bean on 14 Apr 2004 - 08:39: If you're like me, meaning that you strongly dislike seeing things you didn't ask for, then I've got one word for you - Proxomitron. Learn more at The Proxomitron

Da Judge

#19 Posted by saranya on 14 Apr 2004 - 12:58: send the senator your thoughts

http://democrats.sen.ca.gov/senator/figueroa/

#20 Posted by darksoul on 14 Apr 2004 - 13:33: i wonder their stance on sending encrypted mail over their system? I imagine they wouldn't really care, but i would keep my privacy

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