CA Legislator Wants to Block Gmail

CA State Senator Liz Figueroa (D-Fremont) is drafting legislation in response to the privacy concerns over Google’s new e-mail service, Gmail. According to Sen. Figueroa, “We think it’s an absolute invasion of privacy. It’s like having a massive billboard in the middle of your home.“

April 13, 2004 by Uncategorized 8

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8 Responses

  1. mdoneil says:
    April 13, 2004 at 8:05 am

    What is wrong with these people?
    Who is forcing anyone to use Gmail? Do we really need legislation to protect us from ourselves? Can Californians really be this out of touch with the rest of the planet, or is it some sort of performance they feel some need to put on. I really wonder; for years I thought they just pretended to be that far out there, but I am afraid that they have started to believe their own nonsense.

    Reply
  2. mcbride says:
    April 13, 2004 at 8:13 am

    Re:What is wrong with these people?
    >Do we really need legislation to protect us from ourselves?

    Apparently…

    Gun laws.
    Cigaratte warning labels.
    Nutritional labels on everything.
    Alcohol warning labels.
    Air bag stickers.
    Helmet laws.
    Little paper things on all my furniture (thanks, CA).
    I even have a warning label on the side of my box of bandaids telling me to see a doctor if bleeding doesn’t stop.

    In reality, I’m happy to see someone actually take an interest in a very scary tool that could potentially jeopardize hundred, nay millions, of people’s financial security. Imagine in 1GB of email for millions of people the number of identity theft opportunities. If Google isn’t careful with who has access to the search technology that reads these emails, a problem could eventually be catastrphic.

    On the other hand, this may bring to the forefront the insecurity of the internet and finally force an encryption scheme for the internet.

    Reply
  3. mdoneil says:
    April 13, 2004 at 9:06 am

    Re:What is wrong with these people?
    Long before I earned my wonderful MLS (MILS actually) I was an RN.

    All bleeding eventually stops, the warning on the bandages is not needed.

    Who is forcing people to use Gmail?

    Reply
  4. Fang-Face says:
    April 13, 2004 at 4:33 pm

    Re:What is wrong with these people?
    Who is forcing people to use Gmail?

    It is almost certain that the marketplace will. By offering this service Google has opened a can of worms that other services are going to have get messy with to remain competitive. Odds are that in next couple of years every e-mail service is going to follow suit. If they don’t, they’ll simply disappear. Off the top of my head I’ll give five years before all new e-mail accounts are of the Gmail type and you won’t be able to not get the kind of service we currently can. If that sounds apocalyptic, then think about this: how many places can you buy blank videotapes now-a-days when everything is going DVD and you can buy units to burn your movies?

    Reply
  5. Fang-Face says:
    April 13, 2004 at 4:37 pm

    Re:What is wrong with these people?
    and you won’t be able to not get the kind of service

    “Won’t be able to get”, damnit

    Reply
  6. Walt says:
    April 13, 2004 at 7:49 pm

    Re:What is wrong with these people?
    “These people”? “Californians”?

    Let’s see. You’re labeling 32 million people because one California legislator proposes something you disagree with.

    Sounds fair to me. Not, perhaps, a touch of absurd overgeneralization…

    For that matter, it’s one of us crazy folk out here (the world’s sixth largest economy) suggesting a regulation for a service proposed by more of us crazy folk out here, since Google is headquartered about half a mile from where I work and about 10 miles from Fremont.

    Reply
  7. mdoneil says:
    April 13, 2004 at 9:16 pm

    Re:What is wrong with these people?
    These people referred to California legislators, and if I wish to generalize I would think that is my pererogative– unless of course you want to tell me how to think as well.

    The fact that Google and Gmail are based in California really is not particularly germane as they are used worldwide. The UK has MPs complaining about this as well and I often wonder about ‘those people’ too.

    The idea of the government regulating things to protect us from ourselves is anathema to me. I have to agree with Darwin on this, let the adaptable ones survive.

    It is a free email service, no one will ever be forced to use it. Sometimes things just have to be left alone. If someone is worried about privacy then they should evaluate Gmail for themselves and make an informed decision, not wait for the government to step in an treat them like a child.

    I still think Californians are nutty, but at 32MM to one, I’m not sure my opinion matters to California.

    Reply
  8. Walt says:
    April 13, 2004 at 9:39 pm

    Re:What is wrong with these people?
    Right. Here’s what you said:
    “Can Californians really be this out of touch with the rest of the planet, or is it some sort of performance they feel some need to put on. I really wonder; for years I thought they just pretended to be that far out there, but I am afraid that they have started to believe their own nonsense.”

    I assume the qualifier “legislators” was swallowed up by bad HTML.

    And, you know, I don’t see a word in my reply saying you don’t have the right to generalize. I was just suggesting that your generalization was asinine. (Which is my prerogative.)

    To get back on topic, fact is, I agree that a legislative approach to Gmail isn’t called for. So, I’d guess, do most of us nutty folks out here. I wouldn’t sign up for Gmail, and I think it’s important that users understand just how much intrusion they’re authorizing, but that shouldn’t require legislative remedies.

    Anyway, it’s probably good to have the CA legislature to serve as a butt of jokes, not like those serious and upstanding legislatures in other states, such as Texas.

    Reply

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