digitalv - 6:14 pm on Apr 13, 2004 (gmt 0)

Robino,

There is nothing good that could come of it. We already have laws that force full disclosure. If someone is too lazy/stupid to read the terms of use before signing up (or installing software) then that's their own fault.

If Google wanted to store every e-mail message for eternity and pay minimum wage workers to do nothing but read them and memorize them and use the information to boost their own sales, they should have that RIGHT - as long as they're honest about it. Which they have been.

It's THEIR network, THEIR drive space/memory, THEIR bandwidth, and they're giving you a freebie in exchange for letting them use whatever data you receive there in a manner consistent with what was disclosed in their policy. Either you like their terms or you don't - either you sign up or you don't. You have that choice ... no one is forcing you to use GMail or interact with users who do.

Frankly, if you want privacy use your own mail client and only send encrypted e-mails. Privacy is YOUR responsibility.

I'm all for legislation that forces companies to DISCLOSE their privacy practices. But I'm not at all for legislation that forces privacy itself - that's my decision to make.