The popular internet search engine Google is proposing to introduce a new free e-mail service dubbed ‘Gmail’ to compete with its major rivals, Yahoo! and MSN’s Hotmail. Gmail is currently in the testing stage, with its formal introduction planned for some time in the near future. However, Gmail has already created much media interest – some of it controversial.
The controversy stems from Google’s plan to programme its computers to scan the subject matter of both incoming and outgoing e-mails. Google will use this information to deliver text-based adverts to customers relating to the subjects discussed in their e-mails. For example, an e-mail from one friend to another discussing a football match might prompt Google to advertise a link to a sports website or other sports product. These new proposals have inevitably raised a number of important legal issues.
