[Offtopic] Google Terms of Service

[stephen at melbpc.org.au]

Colleagues,

One suggests that use of both Google Gmail and Google Docs is unwise.

Using Gmail quote 'you give Google perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, 
royalty-free, and, non-exclusive licence to reproduce, adapt, modify,
translate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute
any Content which you submit, post or display on or through the Service"

So, Google can do what ever it likes with your emails. Certainly one
must conclude a lack of privacy would preclude items of importance to
be sent via Gmail. For example, anything in any way sensitive to your
students & school might well be negligent if sent by Gmail. Certainly
YOU cannot guarantee Gmail privacy.  Google ToS won't let you do that.

Second, have a look at the Google 'Privacy Statement' for Google Docs:

 http://www.google.com.au/google-d-s/privacy.html

"You need a Google Account to use Google Docs. Google asks for some 
personal information .. Google's servers automatically record certain 
information about your use of Google Docs .. Google records information 
such as account activity e.g., storage usage, number of log-ins, actions 
taken, data displayed  or clicked on  (e.g., UI elements, links), and 
other log information e.g., browser type, IP address, date and time of 
access, cookie ID, referrer URL .."

Hmm, so Google is doing this every minute you use Google Docs, perhaps
hours daily while you're writing important documents. Using this above
information Google is collecting about you and you computer, all those 
times you logged in, Google probably knows you better than anyone else.

And this same Privacy Statement says you can delete all your documents
but that they will remain in the Google backups and presumably forever. 

It's the same using Gmail everything you say is quietly stored forever.

And they can use it however they like! And you won't know about it, or
be able to do anything about it. And not only that, they're collecting
a HUGE amount about your internet habits LIVE, while you're online and
writing all those Gmails and Google Docs.  All those google cookies on
your family machine, tracking exactly what you do, and where you go on
line, and reporting it all back to Google every time you log in Google. 

Now sure, i trust Google to search for me, and don't mind SOME cookies
which mean that you and I will never experience the same Internet ever 
again, because, my Google results will be influenced by my cookies and
Google will return different search results for each person, according
to your browser history as recorded by Google cookies, & reported home.

Normal google cookies i can live with.  Google Gmail & Docs seem silly.

Besides which, Gmail is still in beta and will NOT display properly on
the MelbPC club webmail servers and there are heaps better document-on
line-with-email-services than Google. For one example: http://zoho.com

But whatever guys, use Gmail/Docs all you like, one won't say another
word re any choice. But just be aware also ppl of what YOU say and do
while you use them .. eg don't use bomb and America in the same piece.
I'm not concerned for my privacy I'm concerned for everyone's privacy.

Cheers people
Stephen Loosley
Victoria, Australia

'One day my lad ALL this will be yours'
'Wot, the curtains?' Monty Python/Grail


On Thu, Apr 2, 2009 at 3:27 AM, <stephen at melbpc.org.au> wrote:

Hi all,

I've been thinking of opening a Google Gmail account, but am wondering
if anyone else is a little concerned with the following clauses in the
Gmail 'Terms of Service' which one *must* agree to for a Gmail account.

As one can see, although you own the copyright of anything you emailed
to anyone with Gmail, quote, "you give Google a perpetual, irrevocable,
worldwide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive licence to reproduce, adapt,
modify .. publish, publicly perform, publicly display & distribute any
Content which you submit, post or display on or through, the Services."

In other words, Google can do *whatever they like* with Gmail material
virtually. For example, if they enjoy what you write in an email, they
can use it in an advertisement. If they like a photograph of you, sent
via Gmail, then they can send it to 'other companies, organizations or
individuals' as they see fit, without asking you and you can't stop it.

Now although i may write quite boring email and not be an oil painting,
does anyone else have any discomfort with these Gmail terms of service?


Gmail Terms of Service (snip)

11.1 You retain copyright and any other rights you already hold in
Content which you submit, post or display on or through, the Services.
By submitting, posting or displaying the content you give Google a
perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive
licence to reproduce, adapt, modify, translate, publish, publicly
perform, publicly display and distribute any Content which you submit,
post or display on or through, the Services. This licence is for the sole
purpose of enabling Google to display, distribute and promote the
Services and may be revoked for certain Services as defined in the
Additional Terms of those Services.

11.2 You agree that this licence includes a right for Google to make
such Content available to other companies, organizations or individuals
with whom Google has relationships for the provision of syndicated
services, and to use such Content in connection with the provision of
those services.

11.3 You understand that Google, in performing the required technical
steps to provide the Services to our users, may (a) transmit or
distribute your Content over various public networks and in various
media; and (b) make such changes to your Content as are necessary to
conform and adapt that Content to the technical requirements of
connecting networks, devices, services or media. You agree that this
licence shall permit Google to take these actions.

--

Cheers,
Stephen


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