Microsoft's Ballmer: Google Reads Your Mail

Anonymous writes "A piece of video has emerged in which Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer says of Google, 'they read your mail and we don't.' Evidently, it was part of a lengthy discussion on the future of the software business model, and whether advertising could support free consumer software. Ballmer said it doesn't work, at least when it comes to email. '"That's just a factual statement, not even to be pejorative. The theory was if we read your mail, if somebody read your mail, they would know what to talk to you about. It's not working out as brilliantly as the concept was laid out." Ballmer isn't the first to fire salvos at Google's Gmail privacy policy. Privacy advocates have been critical over the policy almost since the beginning, but the popularity of the service has skyrocketed nonetheless.'"

so...

[cosmocain]

From TFA:

Microsoft and Google have been gearing up for a major war over software as a service and web-based applications, with Google offering Gmail and Google docs, and Microsoft offering Hotmail, Office and preparing for Windows Live Office.

it's just the last sentence and it contains every justification of mixing up the verbs "to read" and "to process". reading is something done by humans, not some word-sensitive processing for freaking advertisements. everyone a bit tech-savvy knows about googles somehow strange interpretation of privacy - so: if you don't like it, don't ******* use it.

talking through his back.ORIFICE as usual ..

[rs232]

"When you register for certain Microsoft services, we will ask you to provide personal information. The information we collect may be combined with information obtained from other Microsoft services and other companies. We use cookies and other technologies to keep track of your interactions with our sites and services to offer a personalised experience" http://privacy.microsoft.com/en-gb/default.aspx [microsoft.com]

Re:What a crock

[rtb61]

Here you go, http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/07/17/1536230 [slashdot.org], perhaps you can ask them for proof ;).

Re:What a crock

[GPL Apostate]

There is a big difference between something 'reading' your mail and equipment that processes it. Otherwise, it could be said that a typewriter 'reads' the writing of what somebody types on it. All those whirring mechanical gears must be getting smart.

The difference, and it is a big one, is that google is processing the text you transport through their mechanism to discern information to use against you. Yes, I view advertisers and advertising as primarily being targeted to be used against the consumer. It isn't uncommon for people to view advertising as intrusive and a bad thing. Even in this new world of google-worship.

It's kind of shocking, to be frank, how much some people lick the boots of the advertisers these days.

Sending mail in the clear is nutty

[Zigurd]

Back in the day when networks were all wired, and mail servers were all on the premises, and computers had 80286 CPUs, it might have made sense for mail to be sent and stored in cleartext. Nowadays, storing mail and documents that way, and sending them over unprotected WiFi access points, is a huge privacy and security hole. It's a bit shocking that not even open source mail clients and servers still, by default, don't secure payload with encryption.

As for Webmail, Web-based backup services could not even be sold without encrypting payload. How is it that lack of encryption is still acceptable in Webmail?

Re:Pot, meet Kettle

[incabulos]

They did. When the big controversy blew up they quietly changed the Hotmail EULA to exempt North American users from the "we own everything you see and do through hotmail" policy as it was blatantly illegal and was likely to provoke more anti-trust issues. As far as I know it _still_ applies to all other countries.. use Hotmail to develop software and Microsoft say they own the software you author or collaborate on.. heartwarming.

Re:Pot, meet Kettle

[incabulos]

"Surely you jest!" you say. And how I wish it were so:

http://www.aaxnet.com/news/M010512.html#rights [aaxnet.com]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2001/03/30/all_your_data_and_biz/ [theregister.co.uk]

http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=01/04/03/1535244 [slashdot.org]

Re:What a crock

[LWATCDR]

Yep and frankly anyone that thinks Email is any more private than a postcard is an idiot.
Just a news flash but your email is sent across the internet as plain text! It is not secure in any way shape or form.
If you want email a private massage then you should encrypt it and send it as an attachment.
I don't care if it is hotmail, gmail, or outlook.

Re:What a crock

[LWATCDR]

Only if the server, recipient, and, you are all on the same network. And nothing would stop the network admin from reading it.