New Gmail messaging feature causes privacy concerns

[Jazzy]

Users of Google's Gmail service will soon be able to send messages directly to other Gmail accounts, regardless of whether the recipient has shared their email address.

The new feature will include everyone signed up to both Gmail and Google+, the web giant's social network.

The change has caused concern among some privacy advocates, who say people could be contacted by strangers.

Google says it will make it easier for users to communicate with friends.

But privacy campaigner Marc Rotenberg, of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, called the new feature "troubling", and compared it to a privacy flaw in a previous Google product.

"There is a strong echo of the Google Buzz snafu," he said, referring to an early incarnation of the company's social network, which initially made a list of Gmail users' contacts available publicly online.

Gmail members will see a list of their Google+ connections when they begin to type a name in the 'To' field of their messages, even if they do not know the email address of the person they are attempting to contact.

Source

What are your thoughts about this new messaging feature?

 

[RidleyMclue]

Users of Google's Gmail service will soon be able to send messages directly to other Gmail accounts, regardless of whether the recipient has shared their email address.

The new feature will include everyone signed up to both Gmail and Google+, the web giant's social network.

The change has caused concern among some privacy advocates, who say people could be contacted by strangers.

Google says it will make it easier for users to communicate with friends.

But privacy campaigner Marc Rotenberg, of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, called the new feature "troubling", and compared it to a privacy flaw in a previous Google product.

"There is a strong echo of the Google Buzz snafu," he said, referring to an early incarnation of the company's social network, which initially made a list of Gmail users' contacts available publicly online.

Gmail members will see a list of their Google+ connections when they begin to type a name in the 'To' field of their messages, even if they do not know the email address of the person they are attempting to contact.

Source

What are your thoughts about this new messaging feature?

I don't think it's a good idea. Anyone can email anyone they want. It'll turn into spam central and become downright annoying. Many people I know are not too happy to say the least about these and other changes taking place over there on a regular basis, including myself. I don't recognize the place anymore. Several people I knew have closed out their entire accounts and left. From time to time, I'll have to remove deleted users from my lists on any product that I use their. I've had people tell me that they're just plain sick of it all.

 

[DrLeftover]

5 Google Opt-Out Settings To Check


Google signs you up for more than you think. Are you up to date on these five settings?

Google caused a stir this week when it announced a controversial change that lets those with Gmail and Google+ accounts email anyone who also has both accounts -- even if the sender doesn't know the recipient's email address. Unless you opt out, this means you can start receiving messages from strangers who follow you on Google+.

Though Google's bold move has surprised many, it's not the first setting -- or the only one -- for which Google signs you up automatically. Here's how to opt out of Google's latest change, plus four more settings to check.

http://www.informationweek.com/software/social/5-google-opt-out-settings-to-check/d/d-id/1113405

 

[Evil Teddy Bear of Doom]

5 Google Opt-Out Settings To Check


Google signs you up for more than you think. Are you up to date on these five settings?

Google caused a stir this week when it announced a controversial change that lets those with Gmail and Google+ accounts email anyone who also has both accounts -- even if the sender doesn't know the recipient's email address. Unless you opt out, this means you can start receiving messages from strangers who follow you on Google+.

Though Google's bold move has surprised many, it's not the first setting -- or the only one -- for which Google signs you up automatically. Here's how to opt out of Google's latest change, plus four more settings to check.

http://www.informationweek.com/software/social/5-google-opt-out-settings-to-check/d/d-id/1113405

I find it interesting that it doesn't share the Gmail text ad opt-out. I removed the ads from my account years ago, but I'll be damned if I can remember where that setting is now.

 

[Death]

I really don't like that feature, but then again I don't even use Gmail.

 

[Red Herring]

Google sure has been getting rather bold lately, no?

You can turn those features off, but I am rather unhappy with the fact that they're on by default. I value anonymity on the internet. My inbox receives enough spam as it is.

 

[Evil Teddy Bear of Doom]

You can turn those features off, but I am rather unhappy with the fact that they're on by default. I value anonymity on the internet. My inbox receives enough spam as it is.

Give credit where it's due, at least they do allow it to be disabled. That's a hell of a lot more considerate than sites like Facebook.

 

[Jazzy]

I find it interesting that it doesn't share the Gmail text ad opt-out. I removed the ads from my account years ago, but I'll be damned if I can remember where that setting is now.

You can opt-out of the use of additional information from the Ads Preferences page. If you do opt-out, you may still see contextual ads based on the message you are reading as well as other relevant ads.

If you don't want to see ads in Gmail, you can choose to use Gmail’s basic HTML view, or POP or IMAP.

 

[Evil Teddy Bear of Doom]

I find it interesting that it doesn't share the Gmail text ad opt-out. I removed the ads from my account years ago, but I'll be damned if I can remember where that setting is now.

You can opt-out of the use of additional information from the Ads Preferences page. If you do opt-out, you may still see contextual ads based on the message you are reading as well as other relevant ads.

If you don't want to see ads in Gmail, you can choose to use Gmail’s basic HTML view, or POP or IMAP.

Nope, I don't see any ads at all. I use the standard G-mail interface.

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