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Google Will Stop Reading Your Emails for Gmail Ads

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Re: Google Will Stop Reading Your Emails for Gmail Ads

#341

Post by roganp »

chicob wrote: post #204
jikeo wrote: post #164

I know I shouldn't be surprised, but it seems weird that the reporter nor any of the 140+ comments so far seemingly don't mention the recently published proposal for a new ePrivacy directive in the EU that will make it a lot harder for Google to scan e-mails in the first place. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-privacy-idUSKBN14U1FL https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/jan/10/whatsapp-... http://www.kempli…

That directive might be related to what's happening. But let's not be naive: if Google will stop reading our emails in order to send us personalized ads, that's because it doesn't really need to. People share just enough outside their email environment for Google to do its thing. Another sign of which those worrying about privacy should be aware.

Or, maybe: the extra information gleaned from reading your emails is just not that valuable. Not because they have this via other means, but its just not that valuable, period - whether it comes from reading emails or scrutinizing your browser history. We like to imagine that if advertisers knew enough about us, they'd be able to direct our spending, but I think that is far from true.

Re: Google Will Stop Reading Your Emails for Gmail Ads

#342

Post by fnj »

gpm wrote: post #152
dom0 wrote: post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Actually RF shielding paint is very poor. Manufacturers advertise them with "99.5 %" or so, which equates a measly 20 dB. Additionally, correctly applying these is quite difficult, and incorrect application greatly diminishes the shielding. (You also need to cover everything, including ceiling and floor, not just the walls). Even when correctly applied, the attenuation is so weak, a cell phone will still work. Shield…

> RF dead chambers are bloody expensive for a reason: you can't emulate them by pasting some paint on a wall. Couldn't you just stick yourself in a metal box (with a metal door that is careful to get a good seal)?

How do you propose to breathe in there?

Re: Google Will Stop Reading Your Emails for Gmail Ads

#343

Post by piaste »

roganp wrote: post #341
chicob wrote: post #204

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That directive might be related to what's happening. But let's not be naive: if Google will stop reading our emails in order to send us personalized ads, that's because it doesn't really need to. People share just enough outside their email environment for Google to do its thing. Another sign of which those worrying about privacy should be aware.

Or, maybe: the extra information gleaned from reading your emails is just not that valuable. Not because they have this via other means, but its just not that valuable, period - whether it comes from reading emails or scrutinizing your browser history. We like to imagine that if advertisers knew enough about us, they'd be able to direct our spending, but I think that is far from true.

I'm pretty sure scrutinizing your browser history is still extremely valuable. But I find it quite plausible that email in particular has lost value as marketing information.

People still use email for all kinds of business, of course. But their day-to-day personal activities, the kind that marketers care about ("I've taken up kayaking!", "I'm pregnant!") don't usually show up in emails any more, they get posted on social media.

Re: Google Will Stop Reading Your Emails for Gmail Ads

#344

Post by CamperBob2 »

dragonwriter wrote: post #333
CamperBob2 wrote: post #331

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Corporations didn't murder a hundred million of their own customers in the last century alone. It takes a government to do that. Consequently, governments have to be held to higher standards, not lower ones.

> Corporations didn't murder a hundred million of their own customers in the last century alone. Yes, they did. Probably just tobacco companies alone. > It takes a government to do that. Since corporations are creatures of government, that's true by definition of everything corporations do.

Yes, they did. Probably just tobacco companies alone.

A response as silly as it was predictable. Show me a Gulag Archipelago written about the tobacco industry and we'll have some grounds for further discussion.

Since corporations are creatures of government, that's true by definition of everything corporations do.

Ditto.

Re: Google Will Stop Reading Your Emails for Gmail Ads

#345

Post by crazygringo »

bootlooped wrote: post #302
drusepth wrote: post #297

Will there still be a way to opt-in? This seems like one of those decisions that is a net negative for functionality in favor of quelling some misguided privacy concerns. Hopefully this doesn't lessen the quality of ads by much.

This is the first time I've ever heard a person worry about the quality of the ads that are served to them.

I've often wondered why nobody brings this up more.

If you're going to see ads for things, why on earth wouldn't you want them to try to better target you? The whole point is for you to find out about things that might be useful for you.

Why would I want less of the useful things? Why would I want worse advertising?

Re: Google Will Stop Reading Your Emails for Gmail Ads

#346

Post by dragonwriter »

CamperBob2 wrote: post #344
dragonwriter wrote: post #333

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Corporations didn't murder a hundred million of their own customers in the last century alone. Yes, they did. Probably just tobacco companies alone. > It takes a government to do that. Since corporations are creatures of government, that's true by definition of everything corporations do.

Yes, they did. Probably just tobacco companies alone. A response as silly as it was predictable. Show me a Gulag Archipelago written about the tobacco industry and we'll have some grounds for further discussion. Since corporations are creatures of government, that's true by definition of everything corporations do. Ditto.

> Show me a Gulag Archipelago written about the tobacco industry and we'll have some grounds for further discussion.

So if no one writes world class literature about your crimes, they didn't happen?

Re: Google Will Stop Reading Your Emails for Gmail Ads

#347

Post by gub09 »

piaste wrote: post #343
roganp wrote: post #341

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or, maybe: the extra information gleaned from reading your emails is just not that valuable. Not because they have this via other means, but its just not that valuable, period - whether it comes from reading emails or scrutinizing your browser history. We like to imagine that if advertisers knew enough about us, they'd be able to direct our spending, but I think that is far from true.

I'm pretty sure scrutinizing your browser history is still extremely valuable. But I find it quite plausible that email in particular has lost value as marketing information. People still use email for all kinds of business, of course. But their day-to-day personal activities, the kind that marketers care about ("I've taken up kayaking!", "I'm pregnant!") don't usually show up in emails any more, they get posted on s…

This makes sense. Possibly the value of increased corporate sales of G Suite is worth more than the loss of the information gained from reading diminishing numbers of personal emails, as people turn more and more to social media and phone apps for personal communication.

Re: Google Will Stop Reading Your Emails for Gmail Ads

#348

Post by CaptSpify »

fserb wrote: post #319
CaptSpify wrote: post #295

Earlier quoted context omitted.

why does it matter? Google has access to read my email, and if they want (or are pushed to), they can single me out and then go and read them. Sure, 9/10 times it's a bot reading my emails, but there's nothing stopping them from doing it.

it matters exactly because of what you are saying. You do have protections against someone reading your email at Google. Both from a expectation of privacy, but also from a company perspective. You also do have some non-expectation of privacy (if, for example, the US government wants to read your google email, they can ask for it and they eventually will). The day someone with a brain and an opinion on Kim Kardashian…

> You do have protections against someone reading your email at Google.

And those protections are bullshit.

I have no guarantee that they are not reading my email. If a bot has access, a person has access, and people abuse their access all the time.

In fact, there have been cases of googlers reading peoples email. And I'm not blurring any line, I'm stating: Gmail can, has been, and will be abused. To pretend that is not the case is, frankly, naive.

Re: Google Will Stop Reading Your Emails for Gmail Ads

#349

Post by gub09 »

vaishaksuresh wrote: post #173

I very recently switched to fastmail and couldn't be happier. For $90 a year, I don't have to deal with people snooping and tracking me around for ads. I know google is trying to give me value with all their facial recognition and recommendations, but I don't think it is going to end well. When it does end badly, it will be too late for the user because we would've given up all the data. I don't want Google to build…

$5/month and an afternoon to set up unlimited email accounts on unlimited domains on one server. There are a few scripts/services out there that limit the pain.

Re: Google Will Stop Reading Your Emails for Gmail Ads

#350

Post by gub09 »

vaishaksuresh wrote: post #173

I very recently switched to fastmail and couldn't be happier. For $90 a year, I don't have to deal with people snooping and tracking me around for ads. I know google is trying to give me value with all their facial recognition and recommendations, but I don't think it is going to end well. When it does end badly, it will be too late for the user because we would've given up all the data. I don't want Google to build…

Does fastmail let you use your own domain?
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