email privacy

[pasusan]

I realize internet privacy issues have been discussed before... I've always felt relatively immune because I do most my surfing with Firefox, I don't sign in to Google, and I don't belong to Facebook. With my phone it's another matter - every app I run I am signed in so they know what I'm doing.

I've had the same AOL email address since 1994 and yesterday I got this message:

New Privacy and Terms

You appear to be a (United States - English) user. If this is not correct, please select the option that applies to you from this list:

AOL is now part of Oath, the media and tech company behind today’s top news, sports and entertainment sites and apps.

By choosing “I accept” below, you agree to Oath’s new Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Below is a summary of some of the key updates. To learn more about our approach to privacy, click here.
How we collect and use data.

We’ve updated some of the ways we collect and analyze user data in order to deliver services, content, relevant advertising and abuse protection.
This includes: analyzing content and information when you use our services (including emails, instant messages, posts, photos, attachments, and other communications), linking your activity on other sites and apps with information we have about you, and providing anonymized and/or aggregated reports to other parties regarding user trends.

Combining data.

We also combine data among our services and across your devices. This will provide you with better personalized services and features across your devices and Oath accounts.

Tampering with US Mail is a federal offense. Why isn't email treated the same way? And why is all this privacy invasion considered acceptable?

I guess I should be asking if there is a different way to do email than through these data collection companies....

[Bumpyroad]

I have the same warning. haven't/wont check it. every time I go to the site it shows up.
bumpy

[wildtoad]

I suspect that simply reading a postcard whether snail mail or e-mail is not tampering with. Opening, destroying, altering a letter is a crime for snail mail. The outside of a snail mail letter is also public information, so at a minimum “they” know who you are writing or who is writing you.

I also suspect if you refuse to accept the new terms and conditions for using a free email system, you will at some point lose that ability. Their service, their rules and if you choose not to accept their rules why should they provide you with free email?

[wa8yxm]

pasusan wrote:
Tampering with US Mail is a federal offense. Why isn't email treated the same way? And why is all this privacy invasion considered acceptable?

From the Constitution of the United States:
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Now understand this applies to GOVERNMENT searches, not private theft but other laws protect you againts THEFT of mail.. When the letter is in transit it is the "property" of the government or at least a quasi government agency (post office) and thus tampering is prohibited Tampering with a letter is teh same as blowing up the White house legally.

But.. Electronic communications are NOT handled by the government so those laws do not, it seems, apply. and the courts have ruled the 4th amendment does not apply to electronic communications as well.

And that is all I can say. Other than this:
There is I a reason I stuck to facts in this post and witheald my opinion.

[ljr]

Tyler0215 wrote:
Never send an e-mail you don't want the world to read.
Why would you think that any e-mail is private?
Once you send it, it's out there somewhere.

Speaking from 30+ years in IT, X2!!!!

Email is not private, never has been, never will be.

There is technology available for encryption. Few are familiar with it and even fewer use it. Without wide scale participation it is useless.

[DutchmenSport]

What happens if you simply do not "click" to say you agree. Just ignore it. See what happens. But ... they are going to collect your data anyway. That agreement is not an agreement YOU have to agree with. All they are doing is informing you of what THEY are going to be doing now ... with or without your consent.

[GordonThree]

Good old Verizon, tentacles everywhere.

[T18skyguy]

If you would like more email privacy you need to pay for it. Go to Hushmail.com They also offer email alias so you keep your main email address for only those you want to have it. It's worth the money in my opinion.

[fj12ryder]

A lot of that type of email comes from outside the US, so why would they even care if email was protected by our laws?

[shum02]

Unless you and the party you are sending it to use encryption consider your email read. That is a fact not a probability. AI programs pore through your email every day, the .gov's do it.

[Sam_Spade]

pasusan wrote:

Tampering with US Mail is a federal offense.

But....publishing your ADDRESS is not illegal.

In fact, the DMVs in a LOT of states (all ?) sells lists of the addresses of vehicle owners.

That is physical addresses. I see no reason that they wouldn't also sell your email address.....if you give it to them.

[Bumpyroad]

email privacy. that title is an oxymoron.
bumpy

[Mortimer_Brewst]

I was given this advice a long time ago when email first gained popularity:
“When you write an email, think of it as a postcard. If you wouldn’t put it on a postcard, don’t put it in the email.”
If you are using the internet, it’s difficult to avoid data collection. I try to avoid posting any information that would be useful to anyone engaging in identity theft. For example, I never give my real birthdate when requested. Clear cookies occasionally and keep in mind that there are millions and millions of people out there in the same situation.

[Tyler0215]

Never send an e-mail you don't want the world to read.
Why would you think that any e-mail is private?
Once you send it, it's out there somewhere.