Be Excellent To Each Other

In their own words:

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2 ... il-lawsuit

Christ almighty.

Um... If this applies to their business apps users that means that we can't use them due to the data protection act - and I think that goes for anyone in the UK that communicates with their clients / users via email.

Bums.

I always assumed Gmail did pretty much whatever they wanted with my emails, the custom advertisements alone make it clear they're analysing the content. Besides which, isn't the fact it's all free a pretty big clue?

From a business perspective however I can see it being a problem.

I think the "no expectations" thing could referring to what the US law sees as non-private data. There was something about it a month back or so when the Snowden thing happened.

For personal use, that's fine, they can carry on. Not so much for businesses (which isn't free).

Ahhh right, I didn't realise they charged for business use.

We've explicitly ruled out using cloud services for any of our services, we own all the tin ourselves, precisely because we always know exactly who's doing what with our data, and where it is.

There was an article in PC Pro 18 months or so ago which was about how Microsoft's cloud services move data around the world for their own convenience (server load, capacity, storage, whatever), so your stuff could end up in India for example, completely breaking various EU privacy laws in the process, something like that anyway.

Not entirely true, you can be put in exception so your data stays in the UK or Europe..

Do you rack the tin yourselves, too?

We rack it ourselves in one data centre (which we own), and rack it with a 100% trusted partner (entirely on-island) in the other two data centres. (The idea is that we can survive the loss of two data centres, if all three go we're a bit fucked but then again we've probably been hit by a nuclear bomb so have other things to worry about.)

This partner is good enough for the likes of major international banks and online gaming companies, and we've been working with them for fifteen years and more, so it's a solid arrangement.

Their biggest data centre is quite a sight to behold, and the security on some of the server cabs (which are already in their own locked, segregated and multiple-CCTV protected cages, in a manned 24/7 secured facility surrounded by a high fence and locked gates) is proper James Bond shit

I love going there to visit our cage, it makes me feel like I'm in a science fiction film.

That's a new development since the original piece then, because the MS guy the PC Pro dude was interviewing was incredibly evasive.

I can see cloud services working for SMBs, but once you get to a certain size I really think you want to be looking after all your own shit as much as possible.

There are private clouds etc.. I know it misses the point slightly.

http://www8.hp.com/us/en/business-servi ... gvKvpLVCxU

Why would you expect google to open your email? Well, they say they do, for one. Duh. I think if people got free stamps in exchange for targeted walksort ads they'd jump at it, too. The shit comes through the door and straight into the recycling anyway, may as well get some benefit from it.

This is a non-story, The Verge's Nilay Patel (an actual lawyer) has a rebuttal. He tweeted the tl;dr: "Google's argument is simply that you can't be surprised that your recipient's email service processes your email when you email them."

email = postcard.

If you don't want people to read your emails, use pgp or something, it's really quite simple.

Malc

I know, but it's no fun if you call it out before DavPaz has a chance to reply.

Is DavPaz a Google hater of particular reknown then?

Not that I imagine anyone believes a word of your line that you only started this thread to troll him.

He's a massive Google bummer. And you're correct, I didn't just start this thread to troll him - I've done others too.

You really do misunderestimate me sometimes.

Well, y'know, hope for the best but plan for disappointment. Maybe one day eh?

You missed my deliberate use of 'misunderestimate' too. I'm wasted here.

Anyway, of course I didn't post it explicitly for DavPaz. However, I did realise it wasn't as much of a big deal as presented once I'd done a bit more digging.

Right again!

No, no; I did see it. It was very cute of you. *pats myp on head*

I'm no google bummer. I despise evangelism and fanboys.

Did you know I'm now the 'Mac Guy' at work? Yep. That's me.

Do they issue you the black polo neck or do you have to buy the uniform yourself?

They're included with retina display macbooks

Mine was jammed under the lid so the screen didn't get scratched.