A criticism of Gmail and a call for encryption everywhere [priv]

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

Delivered-To: dfarber+ () ux13 sp cs cmu edu
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 2004 08:04:02 -0400
From: jordan pollack <pollack () cs brandeis edu>
Subject: Re: [IP] Fwd: [Politech] A criticism of Gmail and a call for
 encryption everywhere [priv]
To: dave () farber net

Encrypting your mail to refuse Google its ad revenue will be rejected as an 
exploit for free storage, as will be only sending email to yourself, 
sharing your password so others can download the Gig of  MP3's or Porn, 
taking multiple accounts, etc.

There hasnt been a free storage on the internet scheme which hasn't 
collapsed because the
porn and warez pirates are so diligent at inventing exploits. Even reading 
scrozzled text
won't stop someone from setting up 100 free accounts. Google will have to 
telephone you
or take a credit card or get some other strong human ID.

I do think that a private lifetime online message archive (with search and 
a desired email brand)
backed by storage rental by the megabyteyear is a viable business model and 
proposed it to
Google in June '02.

But the untenability of Google's spymail  and "free 1Gig" was a surprise to me.

I made a joke that when the fake Kerry sex scandal came out on Drudge, it could
leave him girded against "the prostate issue" with a fake media "virility 
halo".
The masses like leaders with extra maleness, like Clinton and Schwarzenneger.

Gmail's flaws have led to extreme media coverage, "pumping up" the stock 
candidate
"virility halo" prior to its IPO.

Jordan

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