Machines read my mail but it is during transit. Virus scanners do not pass my mail onto advertisers or analyze my mail content for who knows what.
Echelon searches of email and voice calls (although horrendous) is for two specific purposes, finding terrorists/enemies of the United States, and economic gain (by listening in on negotiations of lucrative economic deals that are then passed onto american companies). If Osama farted near a mobile phone, I am sure the americans could use Echelon to chemically analyze the gas and tell you which part of the goat he ate the night before.
On the other hand, Echelon is not used to catch pedophiles, serial killers or Drug dealers (three sick professions), and that is left to others, e.g (FBI, NSA, MI5, MI6 etc.)
So it is these others who I am not going to willingly give my email. Also GMail (from my understanding) has gone a step further than Yahoo and MSN, and the license agreement to use their service owns all the writings on their email servers (which then gives them the legal right to give it to whomever they want. But this is troubling, as if you came up with a brilliant killer-app and emailed the source-code to your mate, Gmail could take it as the copyright is effectively theirs since they own all writing.
Kiggs
On Jun 19, 2004, at 10:54, Paul Bagyenda wrote:
But methinks this argument has been thrown back at you already: Machines routinely read your email: anti-virus scanners, etc. So what's new here? And if a government agency wanted to read your email, really they would not need you to move to gmail to do so. In fact by all accounts they already routinely trawl your email for keywords (you've heard of Carnivore and Echelon no doubt).
If you need privacy, stick to old fashioned methods (pen and paper, good old whisper in the ear), or try stegonography, etc.
P.
On Jun 19, 2004, at 10:10, Kiggundu Mukasa wrote:
I will stick with Yahoo. The privacy issues with Gmail worry me.-----------------------------
Having your mail searched and categorized so that advertisers can target their adds more correctly based on your mail just does not sit right with me. Whom else will be given access to my mail? Will some american government agency classify me as a terrorist sympathiser just because I receive a mail critical of the government from someone called Abdul?.
Having worked in an ISP, I know all admins can read mail, but I still aspire to the traditional notion of not having my letter opened before it gets to me. My mother used to do openmy mail when I was a kid and it drove me up the wall, and yet my mail was free at the time too. So thanks for increasing my limit on yahoo but no thanks to Gmail until their policy changes or they provide an opt-out button.
Kiggs
On Jun 19, 2004, at 09:57, Paul Bagyenda wrote:
Few services have been as heavily anticipated. Even before it is out, the utilities are being rolled out. Like this one that backs up your local email on Gmail.
http://www.marklyon.org/gmail/
-----------------------------
P. A. Bagyenda
Digital Solutions
P.O.Box 23833
58 Bukoto Str.
Kampala, UGANDA
Tel: +256-41-540143
Mob: +256-77-507743
Web: http://www.dsmagic.com
-----------------------------
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential, and may also
be legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, you may not
review, use, copy, or distribute this message. If you receive this email in
error, please notify the sender immediately by reply email and then delete
this email.
---------------------------------------------
This service is hosted on the Infocom network
http://www.infocom.co.ug
**************** *****************************
Kiggundu Mukasa # Computer Network Consultancy###
KYM-NET LTD. # Intranets & Internet Solutions#
Plot 80 Kanjokya Street
P.O. Box 24284 Kampala, Uganda
Tel: +256 77 972255
+256 71 221141
Fax: +256 31 262122
*****************************************************************
P. A. Bagyenda
Digital Solutions
P.O.Box 23833
58 Bukoto Str.
Kampala, UGANDA
Tel: +256-41-540143
Mob: +256-77-507743
Web: http://www.dsmagic.com
-----------------------------
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential, and may also
be legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, you may not
review, use, copy, or distribute this message. If you receive this email in
error, please notify the sender immediately by reply email and then delete
this email.
---------------------------------------------
This service is hosted on the Infocom network
http://www.infocom.co.ug
**************** *****************************
Kiggundu Mukasa # Computer Network Consultancy###
KYM-NET LTD. # Intranets & Internet Solutions#
Plot 80 Kanjokya Street
P.O. Box 24284 Kampala, Uganda
Tel: +256 77 972255
+256 71 221141
Fax: +256 31 262122
*****************************************************************
