Full Disclosure mailing list archives
Re: talk.google.com
From: Daniel Margolis <dmargoli+lists () af0 net>
Date: Thu, 25 Aug 2005 23:18:30 -0400
On Aug 25, 2005, at 8:57 PM, Technica Forensis wrote:
I don't understand the big fuss over google talk.I think the fuss has to do with the 'Privacy' paragraph in the terms of service:"You agree that Google may access or disclose your personal information, including the content of your communications" and "Personal information collected by Google may be stored and processed in the United States or any other country in which Google Inc. or its agents maintain facilities"
Justin already made a good reply to this, but it's worth noting that there was this in the Talk privacy policy:
The Google Talk software stores the most recent lines of your text chats locally on your computer. Google Talk does not archive the contents of your text or voice communications on Google's servers, and we will not archive such contents on our servers without your express permission and clear notification to all our users. We may relay content for users in some cases. Google employees do not access the content of any instant messages, voice transmissions, or files you send or receive, except as described in this policy.
And farther down:
[...] we may record information about your usage of Google Talk, such as when you use Google Talk, the size of your contact list and the contacts you communicate with, and the frequency and size of data transfers [...]
The only place I see the quote you posted ends in "...if Google is required to do so in order to comply with any valid legal process or governmental request." And I gotta tell you, I think AOL, MSN, Yahoo!, ICQ, and probably every big Jabber server in existence has the same policy. Even if they don't, of course, it doesn't mean anything--if the Feds come to their door with a search warrant, they can't well say, "Sorry dude. My privacy policy says I won't let you in."
I'm not trying to come off as a Google apologist (heaven forbid!), but I really think the tinfoil hat types haven't been paying attention. "Oh no! My personal information is on the Internets!" Welcome to ten years ago.
Cheers, Dan _______________________________________________ Full-Disclosure - We believe in it. Charter: http://lists.grok.org.uk/full-disclosure-charter.html Hosted and sponsored by Secunia - http://secunia.com/
Current thread:
- Re: talk.google.com, (continued)
- Re: talk.google.com José María Mateos (Aug 24)
- Re: talk.google.com Tyler Davis (Aug 24)
- Re: talk.google.com Stuart Carter (Aug 24)
- Re: talk.google.com Stuart Carter (Aug 24)
- RE: talk.google.com Geo. (Aug 24)
- Re: talk.google.com Brian Dessent (Aug 24)
- Message not available
- talk.google.com Mohit Muthanna (Aug 24)
- Re: talk.google.com Technica Forensis (Aug 25)
- Re: talk.google.com Justin Allen (Aug 25)
- Message not available
- Re: talk.google.com Justin Allen (Aug 25)
- RE: talk.google.com Geo. (Aug 24)
- Re: talk.google.com Daniel Margolis (Aug 25)
- Re: talk.google.com James Tucker (Aug 25)
- Re: talk.google.com James Tucker (Aug 26)
- Re: talk.google.com Ill will (Aug 26)
- Re: talk.google.com n3td3v (Aug 27)