Being an IT network and systems administrator, one thing I cannot say enough to my clients is that “Everything free on the net comes with a price”, and I say this because many times I am called in to remove viruses and malware because the user downloaded some game, or toolbar and their excuse is, “They said it was free”.
Viruses, malware, and spyware seem to be the least of our problems especially when it comes to “Free Email”.
In one of my law blogs, it has came up that many of the free email suppliers like yahoo.com and gmail.com, have some interesting lingo in there terms of use.
Now honestly, how many of you that have these services, really read the terms of use legal mumbo jumbo that you have to say you agree to before you get the free service from the corporation?
Google:
8.3 Google reserves the right (but shall have no obligation) to pre-screen, review, flag, filter, modify, refuse or remove any or all Content from any Service.
11.1 By submitting, posting or displaying the content you give Google a perpetual, … free … licence to … any Content.
17.1 [a]dvertisements may be targeted to the content of information stored on the Services, queries made through the Services or other information.
http://www.google.com/accounts/TOS
Yahoo
6. You acknowledge that Yahoo! may or may not pre-screen Content, but that Yahoo! and its designees shall have the right (but not the obligation) in their sole discretion to pre-screen, refuse, or remove any Content….
http://info.yahoo.com/legal/us/yahoo/utos/utos-173.html
Makes you wonder if these companies really have your best interest at hand?
Also makes you wonder the next time you open up to a friend about that financial issue, medical problem, or heaven forbid that little crime you committed, you are being watched.
If you’re a doctor, and you use one of these “free” email services, your are going against HIPAA Compliance, or if you’re an attorney, your are in itself breaking the law with client / attorney privileges, and if you are in the financial market, you are breaking the SEC Compliance rules.
To bad they didn’t mention this is the Terms of Service too!