Google Sued For Scanning Emails

Another day, another lawsuit…Google should have been enjoying the build up to the launch of Chrome OS at the end of the year (probably), but as ever, they are in the firing line: this time in a new federal lawsuit for supposedly violating the Electronic Communications Privacy Act 1986…yes more privacy stuff.

Basically a guy from Texas sent an email to a bunch of Gmail accounts which was scanned by Google’s algorithm without his consent. This algorithm is used to target ads towards the Gmail users. The guy, Keith Dunbar, complained in the lawsuit that:

“No consent from non-Gmail account holders is given prior to Google using the content of non-Gmail account holders for the purpose of delivering targeted ads and other related information to Gmail account holders,” the complaint, filed in US District court in Texarkana, Texas, stated. “Google does not inform non-Gmail account holders that it scans the content of their emails for the purpose of delivering targeted text ads and other related information to Gmail account holders.”

The case is seeking damages, but surely all this is old news? Didn’t all this happen in 2004? Obviously Texas didn’t hear about it…

Google have acknowledged but declined to comment on the case, saying:

“Gmail – like most webmail providers – uses automatic scanning to fight against spam and viruses. We use similar technology to show advertisements that help keep our services free.  This is how Gmail has always worked.”

I doubt Google will lose any sleep over this…

If you have any concerns about Gmail privacy, Google have a lot of information on their Gmail privacy page. Or if you are interested you can read the whole lawsuit filing here.

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