Google and GMail

I didn't write about it for a while, but now, there is a lot of concern going around that GMail by Google would invade your privacy. It might - we admit that, although the service is not yet out. But then, if you are concerned about privacy, sign up somewhere else? There is Yahoo Mail with 6 MB and Hotmail with 2 MB. Are you sure they don't read your mail? Access it? How do they know it is Spam or not and filter it out? Have you customised your own personal Yahoo webpage? According to your profile? Do you feel secured and is your private issues safe? Uploaded pictures to your online photoalbum? Signed up for Friendster or any other dating service? Remember the discussion about the Passport feature in Microsoft?

I wrote earlier, that SMS is being saved by telecommunication companies. How do you know, they don't read and measure the text for clues with their CRM software?

I also wrote earlier that employers snoop on employees and their habits of browsing the Internet or even read their mails - where is the uproar here?

Sun Microsystems CEO once said something about privacy in the Internet - I am not getting the full quote back from my memory, but it was stating that users of the Internet can forget about privacy.

As sad as it is, Big Brother knows a lot about you already. May be the discussion about GMail is good - but may be we should widen the net - I mean, the discussion to include other issues as well. Or start with GMail and work our way up the line.

(By Asia Business Consulting)