Google Gmail Privacy Issue Overblown?

Privacy advocates are up in arms over Google’s new free email service, Gmail. Their concern? Google plans to “read” each email and add relevant AdSense advertising.

Do you think Gmail raises real privacy concerns?

Google taking the role of Big Brother?

Google claims that they’ll only read incoming mail, though if Gmail users send email to other Gmail users they will effectively read the outgoing mail as well.

They claim they will not log which adds appear to which users, nor will they record the keywords that appear.

Some privacy activists have compared this practice to your phone company listening to your phone conversation and cutting in to pitch products based on your discussion.

Others claim this practice is in violation of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act.

How do you feel about Google reading your email?

Garrett French is the editor of iEntry’s eBusiness channel. You can talk to him directly at WebProWorld, the eBusiness Community Forum.