Gmail users should not expect privacy, lawyers for internet giant Google have argued in court.
It said that users had no right to complain if the company used the contents of emails for targeted advertising.
A class-action lawsuit, filed in a district court in San Jose, California, accuses Google of breaching wire-tapping laws by scanning emails sent to Gmail and using the details to dictate advertising.
Google said: “Just as a sender of a letter to a business colleague cannot be surprised that the recipient’s assistant opens the letter, people who use web-based email cannot be surprised if their emails are processed by the recipient’s (email provider).”
John Simpson, of US campaign group Consumer Watchdog, said Google’s analogy made little sense.
He said: “Sending an email is like giving a letter to the Post Office. I expect the Post Office to deliver the letter based on the address. I don’t expect the postman to open my letter and read it.”
Via: Telegraph.com.au