U.K. Privacy Group Condemns New Google Email Service As Illegal

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 6, 2004 - 7:09am.

London -- Privacy International, a global citizens group with offices in the U.S. and the U.K., this week voiced concerns about a new Google email service called "Gmail" that stores messages in a place where PC users are unable to delete them. Although the service comes with more than 100 times the free storage capacity offered by Yahoo Mail and MSN Hotmail, Gmail guarantees far less privacy; Google has admitted in its privacy and terms of use sections that it would employ "cookies" and scan users' email accounts in a bid to fine tune advertising. In a statement released earlier this week, Privacy International, which has filed an official complaint with U.K. authorities, claims the service is illegal. "Consumers should be aware that there's a vast violation of European law occurring here," said Privacy International Director Simon Davies.
http://www.privacyinternational.org