What do you think of Google scanning your E-mail images...?

[dlalonde]

I'm still back and forth wether I care about googles so called invasion of privacy. It's all anonymous data as far as I know. And you do get good services out of it.

It's not anonymous. You have one account for all services that contains your name, birth date, phone number, alternate email, phone type (if you're on Android), IP addresses you log with, your computer type, the browser you use. And this account is related to the the things you search (bank, interests, porn if you're into that, illnesses, etc), your emails and their content, your contacts, the videos you watch on YouTube, the search history on both Google and YouTube (and Google Play if you're on Android), the data you put on Google+, the sites you visit that have a G+ widget or Google Analytics, the sites you open after a search, your mouse position on the screen while you search (as far as I know), the comments you make on YouTube and Google+, etc.

Not much anonymity...

 

[RavenSword]

It's not anonymous. You have one account for all services that contains your name, birth date, phone number, alternate email, phone type (if you're on Android), IP addresses you log with, your computer type, the browser you use. And this account is related to the the things you search (bank, interests, porn if you're into that, illnesses, etc), your emails and their content, your contacts, the videos you watch on YouTube, the search history on both Google and YouTube (and Google Play if you're on Android), the data you put on Google+, the sites you visit that have a G+ widget or Google Analytics, the sites you open after a search, your mouse position on the screen while you search (as far as I know), the comments you make on YouTube and Google+, etc.

Not much anonymity...

I meant as far as info they give to advertisers. They do that to target ads, but the data doesn't have your name on it or whatever. They basically just go "hey, this guy seems to read a lot about coffee, let's suggest him a coffee maker." They don't identify you by name to advertisers though. That's what I meant by anonymous.

And what does it really matter if google knows all that about you? It's not like there going to blackmail you or something? You really thing google cares about a single individual enough to do that. They care about the bigger pool of data more than anything.

 

[fatclue_98]

I meant as far as info they give to advertisers. They do that to target ads, but the data doesn't have your name on it or whatever. They basically just go "hey, this guy seems to read a lot about coffee, let's suggest him a coffee maker." They don't identify you by name to advertisers though. That's what I meant by anonymous.

And what does it really matter if google knows all that about you? It's not like there going to blackmail you or something? You really thing google cares about a single individual enough to do that. They care about the bigger pool of data more than anything.

I don't want anyone knowing that much about me let alone unscrupulous marketers.

Sent from my LG G-Pro via the WPCentral Android app

 

[kencaz]

I meant as far as info they give to advertisers. They do that to target ads, but the data doesn't have your name on it or whatever. They basically just go "hey, this guy seems to read a lot about coffee, let's suggest him a coffee maker." They don't identify you by name to advertisers though. That's what I meant by anonymous.

And what does it really matter if google knows all that about you? It's not like there going to blackmail you or something? You really thing google cares about a single individual enough to do that. They care about the bigger pool of data more than anything.

I don't really care why they are doing it. I don't like that they are doing it at all... I don't need them pushing adds on me. If I need something I will find it myself.

You give a company that much power and they are bound to abuse it.

 

[RavenSword]

I don't really care why they are doing it. I don't like that they are doing it at all... I don't need them pushing adds on me. If I need something I will find it myself.

You give a company that much power and they are bound to abuse it.

Ok, let's say that it is a cause for concern. What else are you going to use that's as good? Chrome is arguably the best browser, google search the best search, gmail the best email, google maps is the best map system, and google docs is slowly becoming the norm in slot of circles. So you can tell me that google is going to use all this info for evil and whatever, but then I'd ask you what services are worth giving up google for? Bing? It's good, but not google good. Outlook.com? It has a better aesthetic and design, but not as many spam and power features. I don't even know anyone with a outlook.com account, there all gmail. I like onedrive a lot and it's the one service I think is better than googles equivalent, but even MS is policing your photos. Chrome is better than IE, I'm sorry. And I'm not going to trust bing maps or apple maps.

And that's the thing, google makes best in class services. And that makes them hard to leave. So really, people can say all they want how much the google stuff may bother them, but I'd doubt it's enough that they don't use those services. And most people don't even know or care.

 

[kencaz]

Ok, let's say that it is a cause for concern. What else are you going to use that's as good? Chrome is arguably the best browser, google search the best search, gmail the best email, google maps is the best map system, and google docs is slowly becoming the norm in slot of circles. So you can tell me that google is going to use all this info for evil and whatever, but then I'd ask you what services are worth giving up google for? Bing? It's good, but not google good. Outlook.com? It has a better aesthetic and design, but not as many spam and power features. I don't even know anyone with a outlook.com account, there all gmail. I like onedrive a lot and it's the one service I think is better than googles equivalent, but even MS is policing your photos. Chrome is better than IE, I'm sorry. And I'm not going to trust bing maps or apple maps.

And that's the thing, google makes best in class services. And that makes them hard to leave. So really, people can say all they want how much the google stuff may bother them, but I'd doubt it's enough that they don't use those services. And most people don't even know or care.

I do like Googles services, however, they are just prying to much into my stuff. I use chrome and bing on my pc but for my phone bing with cortana is just fine. I do have an outlook address and use it with Office as well as webmail. I am totally removing myself from gmail. I have had it since google launched, (back when you needed invites), but just getting to personal.

Ondrive and Google drive to me are the same, accept for maybe AutoAwesome. I have been using Here-maps for awhile and it has never steered me wrong. I know that MS services will get much better as time goes on, I just hope they don't go the google route or let me opt out.j

 

[RavenSword]

I do like Googles services, however, they are just prying to much into my stuff. I use chrome and bing on my pc but for my phone bing with cortana is just fine. I do have an outlook address and use it with Office as well as webmail. I am totally removing myself from gmail. I have had it since google launched, (back when you needed invites), but just getting to personal.

Ondrive and Google drive to me are the same, accept for maybe AutoAwesome. I have been using Here-maps for awhile and it has never steered me wrong. I know that MS services will get much better as time goes on, I just hope they don't go the google route or let me opt out.j

I don't know, maybe I've just used google services for so long. It's weird to think of using bing instead of google (google is even in the dictionary as a verb for crying out loud.)

As far as outlook goes, I do like the way it looks. But I do most email viewing on my phone and tablet, so I don't even get to see that nice design. That when what it does matters a lot more and how we'll it does it. And like I said, I don't know anyone who has a outlook email address. They're all gmail. And I'd be hesitant to put a outlook.com address on a business card. Many put hotmail (now outlook.com) into the same camp as yahoo mail. Where they only use it for their spam mail. And while outlook.com is a great email service I'm sure, there's still that association.

As I said, onedrive I do like a lot. I just don't know how good it is on Mac. Obviously it'll work well on PC. and the apps work well.

And as far as office goes, it's more fleshed out than google docs. But whenever someone wants to share or collaborate on documents, they seem to always use google docs.

I think it's great that Microsoft is pushing services a lot more right now, but they have some obstacles to overcome and perceptions to shift.

 

[dlalonde]

To be honest there are two different answers to your reply. The first one is focused on the individual: if you're willing to pay that much to Google (it's not money but you're still paying it with the information you give them) just to be able to use their products, then it's your choice. But Google isn't a panacea. I don't have a Google account and I don't miss it. I do use their search engine but it is the only product I use.

The second answer though is about the grand scale of things. Like I've previously said, most of us here have nothing to hide. We're not criminals or anything. But the fact remains that one single company holds so much information on millions of people around the world and are always yearning for more. That's when the danger starts.

The obvious consequence if that the government can then tap into that information. This is no longer a truth that only aluminum hat wearing parano?acs talked about since the Snowden revelations. The NSA litterally has its nose everywhere.

There's a reason why we as a society built a line that seperates people from the government and the police. It's because there was (and still are in many countries) abuses coming from up above. If we're thinning the line, it is a slippery slope.

And that's not even counting the fact that EVERYTHING can be hacked. There's always someone smarter than the smartest of us. No matter how secure Google's servers are, they can be hacked and all the info you thought was in good hands could be in not so good hands at anytime.

And I could go on.

 

[Alses]

I agree, ashram. If you don't pay you can't expect privacy. If this is to change then use your free speech and your vote to change things. If you don?t vote you don?t get to complain. IMO.

And now when we are talking about privacy, don?t use tor to torrent, look at pornography or what ever. I?m not running a tor relay so you can break the law or pleasure yourself.

 

[dlalonde]

For your first point, it depends on how the product is offered. If it's offered as a free product that doesn't invade your privacy, then that's what it should be. We should not be the only ones bound by the contract we agree to when we sign up.

For your second part, I don't understand what you mean.

 

[fatclue_98]

I agree, ashram. If you don't pay you can't expect privacy. If this is to change then use your free speech and your vote to change things. If you don?t vote you don?t get to complain. IMO.

And now when we are talking about privacy, don?t use tor to torrent, look at pornography or what ever. I?m not running a tor relay so you can break the law or pleasure yourself.

Voting changes nothing with respect to how a private enterprise conducts it's business. I don't care for Google or how they operate but they are entitled to set their own rules. Don't like it, choose someone else.

Problem is most people don't read the T&Cs then they complain when something goes awry.

Sent from my LG G-Pro via the WPCentral Android app

 

[worldspy99]

Although there was a positive outcome here... I still think E-mail should be private from anyone even service content providers. I personally am going to start using my MS account exclusively. I only hope MS is a little more on par with American Citizen Privacy Rights.

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/08/04/google-gives-child-pornography-email-evidence-to-police/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0

MS also reports child porn stuff to the authorities.

 

[fatclue_98]

MS also reports child porn stuff to the authorities.

These authorities need to visit those offenders with sharp knives and scissors.

Sent from my LG G-Pro via the WPCentral Android app

 

[dlalonde]

MS also reports child porn stuff to the authorities.

As they should.

 

[fatclue_98]

As they should.

Anybody who decries this as invasion of privacy either doesn't have children or doesn't have a soul. When children's safety is compromised, all bets are off.


Sent from my iPhone using WPCentral Forums

 

[Torcher Death]

Course its an invasion of privacy, but its something that has to be done... be it google, microsoft , apple or anyone else.
While I don't mind them being scanned, I do have problems with them being read & being sold to others in the name of targeted advertising.

 

[dlalonde]

Course its an invasion of privacy, but its something that has to be done... be it google, microsoft , apple or anyone else.
While I don't mind them being scanned, I do have problems with them being read & being sold to others in the name of targeted advertising.

Precisely! Like in case of a police investigation, they would tap someone's phone or internet connection and such. I have no problem with that... but not doing it to everyone.

 

[kencaz]

MS also reports child porn stuff to the authorities.

Yes, I am aware of that and they do that to protect their business and servers from illegal content. This is scanning for known images in attachments. It is way different to scan all the text in your E-mail as google does, whether or not it's for Add targeting.

 

[kencaz]

Precisely! Like in case of a police investigation, they would tap someone's phone or internet connection and such. I have no problem with that... but not doing it to everyone.

It's funny that during Google's I/O they mentioned that they know exactly how many selfies are on there servers and what type of pose it was... This means they are scanning for way more then just known images.

 

[dlalonde]

It's funny that during Google's I/O they mentioned that they know exactly how many selfies are on there servers and what type of pose it was... This means they are scanning for way more then just known images.

Oh I'm sure they do a lot more than what they tell us.