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Report: Gmail Germany May Shut Down

By BetaNews Staff, BetaNews

June 25, 2007, 5:45 PM

With a law that would force Google and other Internet service providers to disclose the identity of consumers using its services within Germany now moving through the German parliament, the Mountain View, Calif. company is threatening to shut down its Gmail service within the country, German magazine Spiegel reported on Monday.

If the law passes as is, starting next year, anonymous e-mail accounts would become illegal, as would anonymizing services like Tor. Additionally, information on connection data for Internet, phone calls, and SMS usage would also be saved for a period of six months. Google takes issue with the law, saying it cuts into user privacy and would also force the company to go against its own practice of allowing anonymous e-mail accounts.

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By possestrix

edited Jun 27, 2007 - 9:18 AM

I'm using Gmail now for a long time and it is far better than other German eMail providers. E.g. GMX, web.de or Arcor.de are members of United Internet which keep all user information, for example which websites you visited... So now you can decide what is better...

Score: 0

By possestrix

posted Jun 27, 2007 - 9:22 AM

By the way: the sense of that law is defending terrorism.

Score: 0

By bobthegoat2001

posted Jun 27, 2007 - 4:52 AM

Gmail sucks anyway.

Score: 0

By Dsfargeg

posted Jun 26, 2007 - 2:26 PM

Yeah right... as if Google gave even the slightest damn about privacy. They don't. They were quick to hand people over to the Chinese government, for instance.
They're just afraid of getting less money because of people switching to better services and only use "privacy" as an excuse so it sounds good.

Besides, I seriously doubt that such a law would get through - after all, Germany and Canada have the best privacy laws worldwide, according to Privacy International:
http://www.privacyintern...%20and%20Human%20Rights

Google has several bad track records showing that they don't give a damn for privacy, and they're even outed as being hostile to privacy:
http://pi.gn.apc.org/art...l?cmd[347]=x-347-553961

Of course Google didn't like the truth coming out and started a smear campaign:
http://pi.gn.apc.org/art...l?cmd[347]=x-347-553960

More about privacy right on the PI homepage:
http://pi.gn.apc.org/

Score: 0

By JamesClark

edited Jun 27, 2007 - 9:24 AM

Since when have Google handed people over to the Chinese government? Can you provide a link? I do know that Yahoo has done this though.

When it comes to real privacy, Google has a much better track record than Yahoo, Microsoft, etc.

Score: 0

By eclipsingdivinity

posted Jun 26, 2007 - 11:36 AM

I think it has something to do with a much smaller market in Germany and Google's desperation for some feel-good press. However I wouldn't piss on Google for bending over backwards for China. After all, China has been a communist nation for over 50 years and it's really not in Google's best interest to make a stand.

On Germany's part though, that's a Western culture that seems to have a 'Big Brother' bill passing. It would probably be more comfortable for Google to be more vocal. After all, the biggest companies in the world are brought up in Democracy.

Score: 0

By ZenWarrior

posted Jun 26, 2007 - 9:52 AM

Gee, tough call for me on this one. That's especially so after seeing G$$gle's bend-over-backward response to a market of billions over not dissimilar issues. Seems Google might have more than a single set of rules by which it plays. Hmmm....

Score: 0

By dhjdhj

posted Jun 26, 2007 - 7:47 AM

Bet they don't actually shut it down!

Score: 0

By Mystiqq

posted Jun 26, 2007 - 7:21 AM

Just hope this kind of BS doesnt "rub off" to the EU parliament.

Score: 0

By DudeBoyz

posted Jun 26, 2007 - 4:22 AM

Google products are not required to be used. If you don't like Gmail, don't use it. If the terms are not to your liking, fine, there are others. If you do like it, hey, that's cool - keep using it.

The debate is about a country going all nuts and passing laws that may suck. Not the merits of Gmail either way, I would think.

Score: 0

By Babylon2x

posted Jun 26, 2007 - 1:06 AM

Regardless of what people feel about Gmail, if a law was passed like that in my country I'd be rather worried. Surely if anonymity services become illegal, things like proxies are in the same vein too? Now I'm not a strong advocate for either, but the internet is one of the few places you still have some level of anonymity and I don't believe that's a bad thing.

Score: 0

By kashin

posted Jun 25, 2007 - 11:52 PM

Google had no problems bending over backwards and censoring search results for the Chinese government, but they threaten to shut down email services in Germany because they don't like a law being passed? Funny how that works. The fact that Germany is a much smaller market doesn't have anything to do with it, huh? I bet if this was happening in China, Google would keep their mouth shut and do as they're told.

Score: 0

By Ramhound

posted Jun 25, 2007 - 11:40 PM

Google just wants to keep your private information without being told it has to keep your private information.

Sort of like how a child wants a candy when you go to the store, when you tell them in the car "You will not get any candy today, so please don't ask" guess what happens, they at that point want candy.

Score: 0

By marashka

edited Jun 25, 2007 - 8:09 PM

This makes me respect Google that much more. They provide great services that simply make sense and do not discard their principles and policies about user privacy to get more business. Way to go!

Score: 0

By cranbers

edited Jun 25, 2007 - 7:47 PM

I have used gmail for several years now and I love it. I have no idea what you guys who are bashing google are talking about. Have you ever used gmail, really used it? I am going to go with you "heard" about it but never expeienced it first hand. Add in all the other services like calender, documents, photos. I mean it is seamless all in one and nothing else compares.

It takes a alot to get a company to shut down a service over privacy concerns now that is some good stuff.

Score: 0

By dvferret

posted Jun 25, 2007 - 7:51 PM

Its just as good as most other services.

Score: 0

By siryak

posted Jun 25, 2007 - 7:50 PM

I agree. Gmail offers what other services charge for free. For example forwarding and POP access. Also their interface is leaps and bounds faster than both hotmail and yahoo's. I know this from experience because I use all 3 of them all the time.

Score: 0

By The Dave

posted Jun 25, 2007 - 7:03 PM

I hope Google shuts down Gmail in all countries. It's garbage.

Score: 0

By -Wanted-

posted Jun 26, 2007 - 4:47 AM

Please, do us a favor and shut your ignorant a** up.

The 'First' does not apply to the Internet, remember that!

Score: 0

By The Dave

posted Jun 26, 2007 - 1:38 PM

You're eating potatoes with syrup for dinner?

That's insane.

Score: 0

By peter33

posted Jun 25, 2007 - 6:32 PM

fantastic news! finally, we get rid of the gmail spy crap. besides that, we already use web.de or gmx.de, which are lightyears ahead of gmail. hell, even yahoo is better. good bye google crap.

Score: 0

By horsecharles

posted Jun 26, 2007 - 5:56 AM

Fascism is coming back... enjoy the experience.

Score: 0

By siryak

posted Jun 25, 2007 - 7:52 PM

You obviously haven't used both Gmail and Yahoo mail because Gmail is leaps and bounds better than Yahoo.

Score: 0

By Setian^Stalker

posted Jun 25, 2007 - 10:21 PM

I kind of like the new yahoo mail beta. Its a big change and feels very 'friendly'. I think gmail was heaps better than the normal yahoo mail system but not so much now.

Score: 0

By siryak

posted Jun 26, 2007 - 4:06 PM

Yahoo's still takes longer to load up than Gmail. Also the beauty of gmail is if you decide you want to use yahoo. All you haft to do is put a forward on it and viola you are using yahoo, and you don't have to go around and change your e-mail everywhere.

Score: 0

By internetworld7

posted Jun 25, 2007 - 6:19 PM

Wow, what a horrible government. No wonder so many Germs are trying to come to America.

Score: 0

By possestrix

posted Jun 27, 2007 - 11:33 AM

oh really? that's new for me...

Score: 0

By DudeBoyz

posted Jun 25, 2007 - 5:58 PM

I hope Google DOES shut it down and tell the law makers to go fly a kite!

Way to take a stand!

Score: 0

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