Google says Gmail users have no expectation of privacy

[silicon_toad2000]

http://www.abine.com/blog/2013/google-says-gmail-users-have-no-expectation-of-privacy/

This week, the consumer advocacy group Consumer Watchdog got a lot of press over their publication of Google’s statement in a court document that Gmail users–and anyone who emails them–can’t expect any privacy in their email.

The paragraph that everyone’s talking about is as follows:

“Just as a sender of a letter to a business colleague cannot be surprised that the recipient’s assistant opens the letter, people who use web-based email today cannot be surprised if their communications are processed by the recipient’s ECS provider in the course of delivery. Indeed,“a person has no legitimate expectation of privacy in information he voluntarily turns over to third parties.” Smith v. Maryland, 442 U.S. 735, 743-44 (1979).” (emphasis added)

It seems like a shocking admission, but it’s really nothing new. Google has done automated scans of Gmail since it launched in 2005. And because Google offers Gmail as a “free” (translation: you pay with your data) service, it monetizes it through tracking and advertising. Any free email service comes with privacy violations, including Outlook.com (formerly Hotmail) or Yahoo! Mail.

[GhostShip]

I think its pretty disgusting myself, they gain their userbases trust then bring out the lawyers with their legal mumbo jumbo in an effort to backtrack on what they persuaded folks to sign up to.
Privacy is important to most folks and to pretend otherwise and hide behind legal clauses that where not made more than clear at the time of signing on the bottom line simply means that they wont have my trust and I'm sure the trust of many others.

[Trestor]

Are there any email services that don't spy on their users?

[silicon_toad2000]

only way you can expect any privacy is to use encrypted email services

[White Stripes]

PGP over gmail would work... google would just see gibberish...