146 million Gmail users have their incoming and outgoing emails read by Google so targeted ads can be delivered to them. Google even scans the incoming emails sent by non-Gmail users, without the consent or knowledge of those non-Gmail users. In the US, that's called a wiretap, in the UK it's a breach of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act. But those 146 million Gmail users aren't complaining.
I think it's a little late for Americans to say they don't want targeted ads.
It's clear that given a small incentive (e.g. free email) they'll allow marketers to scan whatever the marketer wants to. It's up to the network-based scanners to figure out what that small incentive is going to be.
Slashdot Mirror
146 million Gmail users have their incoming and outgoing emails read by Google so targeted ads can be delivered to them. Google even scans the incoming emails sent by non-Gmail users, without the consent or knowledge of those non-Gmail users. In the US, that's called a wiretap, in the UK it's a breach of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act. But those 146 million Gmail users aren't complaining. I think it's a little late for Americans to say they don't want targeted ads. It's clear that given a small incentive (e.g. free email) they'll allow marketers to scan whatever the marketer wants to. It's up to the network-based scanners to figure out what that small incentive is going to be.