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Privacy Complaint Against Google's GMail Service

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the that-didn't-take-long dept.

CRCates writes "Privacy groups in the UK have filed a complaint against Google over its new Gmail service. Privacy groups said they were concerned about Google's ability to link a user's personal details, supplied in the Gmail registration process, to Web-surfing behaviour through the use of a single cookie for its search and mail services. "

3 of 447 comments (clear)

  1. Data Protection Act by Aardpig · · Score: 5, Informative

    Look, they aren't charging for the service, nor are they forcing you to use it.

    Whether its free or not is irrelevant. In the UK, there is legislation (the so-called Data Protection Act ) which places tight constraints on how personal data is archived and managed. If the Google mail service falls foul of this act, then it does not matter whether or not the service is free; it is still breaking the law.

    --
    Tubal-Cain smokes the white owl.
    1. Re:Data Protection Act by AlecC · · Score: 5, Informative

      But the DPA prevents usage of personal information for purposes other than that for which it was collected. If anybody explains why they are collecting information about you, and receives your OK to do so (opt-in, not opt-out), it does not seem to me that they are breaking the DPA. Google is very open. If they put all this clearly (as they do) in their Terms and Conditions, and then keep to their word, I don't see that the DPA being involved.

      --
      Consciousness is an illusion caused by an excess of self consciousness.
  2. Re:Microsoft Exchange? by dave420 · · Score: 5, Informative
    The real reason they're keeping the data is the way google's distributed file system works.

    It uses 64mb-chunks of disk space, and instead of erasing data from within the chunk, it just flags it as deleted, thereby not fragmenting the filesystem fantastically. That method means it's practically impossible to delete the email.

    It has to be kept on their filesystem as the inbox is searchable, and 1gb large - raid arrays just wouldn't cope with that stress (and it'd take 3 days to search your mail). The filesystem is the real genius of google - their system is made of hundreds of terabytes of storage on a distributed system. Thousands of servers running redundantly. When one dies (with that many it's a regular occurance) it gets swapped out seamlessly. The processing on the data also requires huge bandwidth throughput.

    To me, it looks like the google boys found a great use for their systems, but the very methods that make them great contradict local law in some areas they're selling in.

    Oh, and the rules are that different in europe ;)