Yahoo condemned over Plans to snoop on Emails on behalf of Advertisers

Feuer Frei! · 07-12-11, 07:30 AM

Internet giant Yahoo has been condemned over plans to snoop on emails in a 'blatant intrusion of privacy'.
The US company provides an email service for thousands of Britons, including children, who will assume that the system is completely private.
However, it has emerged that Yahoo has changed its small print terms and conditions to get permission to view and scan emails.
At the same time, the firm will also be able to spy on incoming emails from individuals and businesses without permission or warning.
Yahoo is pressing ahead with the change on the basis it will allow the company to identify which celebrities, subjects, sports, hobbies and products a particularly customer is interested in.
In future, it would use the information to target the customer with website advertising and product information that is relevant to these areas.
The Yahoo customer visiting a range of websites would then see pop-up advertisements that are relevant to keywords in outgoing and incoming emails.
Yahoo is among a number of internet companies and email service providers who are able to scan customers emails for key words and phrases.

The sifting of emails is done using computers, rather than individuals, and creates anonymous profiles of the likes and interests of customers which can be used for internet marketing.
The proposal was highlighted by Which? Computing magazine, whose editor, Sarah Kidner, said: 'This is a blatant intrusion of privacy. People should have the right to send messages without Yahoo snooping through them.'
Daniel Hamilton, the director of Big Brother Watch, agreed and called on Yahoo to think again.
He said: 'It's extremely disappointing that Yahoo has opted to intrude on privacy in this way.
'Web users have a right not to see their personal messages trawled through in order to boost Yahoo's advertising revenue.
'Yahoo should abandon these changes before the crucial bond of trust between it and its users is damaged beyond repair.'

SOURCE

STEED · 07-12-11, 10:47 AM

They will not find anything worth bothering with in my ones there so boring.

NTL: They got no right too.

mookiemookie · 07-12-11, 10:51 AM

People still use yahoo email?

STEED · 07-12-11, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

People still use yahoo email?

Yes I do.

August · 07-12-11, 11:11 AM

Did you notice the conflicting statements?

Quote:

...it will allow the company to identify which celebrities, subjects, sports, hobbies and products a particularly customer is interested in.

Quote:

creates anonymous profiles of the likes and interests of customers which can be used for internet marketing.

How can they target particular customers if the profiles are anonymous?

nikimcbee · 07-12-11, 05:01 PM

Yahoo email is my junk email.

07-12-11, 07:30 AM	#1
Feuer Frei! Navy Seal Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Valhalla Posts: 5,295 Downloads: 141 Uploads: 17	Yahoo condemned over Plans to snoop on Emails on behalf of Advertisers Internet giant Yahoo has been condemned over plans to snoop on emails in a 'blatant intrusion of privacy'. The US company provides an email service for thousands of Britons, including children, who will assume that the system is completely private. However, it has emerged that Yahoo has changed its small print terms and conditions to get permission to view and scan emails. At the same time, the firm will also be able to spy on incoming emails from individuals and businesses without permission or warning. Yahoo is pressing ahead with the change on the basis it will allow the company to identify which celebrities, subjects, sports, hobbies and products a particularly customer is interested in. In future, it would use the information to target the customer with website advertising and product information that is relevant to these areas. The Yahoo customer visiting a range of websites would then see pop-up advertisements that are relevant to keywords in outgoing and incoming emails. Yahoo is among a number of internet companies and email service providers who are able to scan customers emails for key words and phrases. The sifting of emails is done using computers, rather than individuals, and creates anonymous profiles of the likes and interests of customers which can be used for internet marketing. The proposal was highlighted by Which? Computing magazine, whose editor, Sarah Kidner, said: 'This is a blatant intrusion of privacy. People should have the right to send messages without Yahoo snooping through them.' Daniel Hamilton, the director of Big Brother Watch, agreed and called on Yahoo to think again. He said: 'It's extremely disappointing that Yahoo has opted to intrude on privacy in this way. 'Web users have a right not to see their personal messages trawled through in order to boost Yahoo's advertising revenue. 'Yahoo should abandon these changes before the crucial bond of trust between it and its users is damaged beyond repair.' SOURCE __________________ "History is the lies that the victors agree on"- Napoleon LINK TO MY SH 3 MODS

07-12-11, 10:47 AM	#2
STEED Lucky Jack Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Down Town UK Posts: 27,695 Downloads: 89 Uploads: 48	They will not find anything worth bothering with in my ones there so boring. NTL: They got no right too. __________________ Dr Who rest in peace 1963-2017. To borrow Davros saying...I NAME YOU CHIBNALL THE DESTROYER OF DR WHO YOU KILLED IT!

07-12-11, 10:51 AM	#3
mookiemookie Navy Seal Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 9,404 Downloads: 105 Uploads: 1	People still use yahoo email? __________________ They don’t think it be like it is, but it do. Want more U-boat Kaleun portraits for your SH3 Commander Profiles? Download the SH3 Commander Portrait Pack here.

07-12-11, 05:01 PM	#6
nikimcbee Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Patroling the Slot. Posts: 17,952 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Yahoo email is my junk email. __________________