FC: Will new "spam reduction" service result in... more spam?

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

Naturally Mailblocks has every right to draft these terms of service -- 
heck, sending ads to its users may be the only way it can afford to provide 
accounts and tech support at ~$10 a year -- but we have every right to say 
"no, thanks."

Nowadays it's not just RTFM. It's Read The Fine Terms Of Service Agreement 
(RTFTOSA).

Also:
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/24/technology/24PHIL.html
> On Monday, Phil Goldman, whose career as a software designer has included 
> stints at Apple, General Magic, WebTV and Microsoft, will introduce a 
> service that he says will permanently end e-mail spam for consumers who 
> are being driven to distraction by unsolicited pitches for diet schemes 
> and offers of great wealth from Nigeria. [...]

-Declan

---

From: Kyle Maus
To: declan () well com
Subject: New "spam-reduction" service may yield more spam.
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2003 12:26:15 -0600

Declan, please remove my e-mail address. Thanks.

CNET (among other news sites is touting Mailblocks, a "new class of email 
service that completely rids your Inbox of spam and offers the powerful 
features you want in your web mail." After reading the ToS and privacy 
policy, I certainly will not recommend the service.

CNET's article here: http://news.com.com/2010-1071-992911.html

Mailblocks link: http://www.mailblocks.com

These are taken from the site's privacy policy and ToS:

"Mailblocks furnishes our members, and permits third parties to furnish our 
members, through the Services and otherwise, with information, promotional 
materials and solicitations, from time to time. You may not "opt out" of 
the receipt of such promotional materials from Mailblocks and/or its 
affiliates, advertisers or other business partners if you wish to use the 
Services. The receipt of such promotional materials is an inseparable part 
of the Services that Mailblocks provides. If you decide that you would like 
to discontinue receiving such promotional materials, you must stop your use 
of the Services and terminate your account with Mailblocks."

"Mailblocks reserves the right to release any personally identifiable 
registration information regarding you to third parties who provide goods 
or services that we believe may be of interest to you. Some third parties 
furnishing you with promotional materials may permit you to "opt out" of 
receiving such communications from them. However, Mailblocks is not 
responsible for any such party's failure to comply with its own "opt out" 
policies."

"Mailblocks uses individual data to "target" advertising - to decide which 
advertisements and sponsor messages to send to which members. As an 
example, if Sponsor Co. wishes to send their advertising only to Mailblocks 
members residing in California, Mailblocks uses member registration data to 
ensure that Sponsor Co.'s ads are sent only to members residing in California."

"Mailblocks may use individual members' data to "pre-populate" forms which 
are displayed for the purpose of collecting individual data by Mailblocks 
and/or its sponsors. In no case does pre-populating a form automatically 
transfer any data to any advertiser or third party. Only if the member 
voluntarily requests that such data be transferred will any transfer take 
place - for example, if/when a member clicks a "submit form" button or 
other button."

So, these people expect me to pay them to fix one spam problem while they 
create another?

I don't think so....




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