Google pries open YOUR mailbox, invites developer partners

Google gets permissions wrong again!

No doubt after a few years, Google will take these 4 permissions and just roll them into 1, just like they have recently done with Android.

Google just does not seem to understand the idea of privacy.

It's enough for me to give all my email data to Google. I don't want to share every email I've ever had with third parties.

I would only use something like this if:

1. Users could override the permissions. If the app wants full access but I only give it read-only access, it can ask me nicely to increase permissions, but otherwise it should do its best to function anyway.

2. I could optionally set per-label permissions. So I could give an app full-access to emails labelled with "Newsletters" or something. Alternatively, an app could ask for permission to access emails matching a specific search query (e.g. "from:*@appcompany.com").

3. It were possible to see how much data the app had requested and how often, as well as the last N emails it has fetched.

There truly isn't anything as evil as Google

Made all the worse because like all who fall under the Price of Darkness' spell, they delude themselves into thinking they are actually doing God's Work.

truly EVIL!

Gurgle wants to know everything about you, but NOT to help you. If you let this happen, you are screwed.

CRUD?

I think that pretty much sums it up... and not the acronym either.

I wonder

in which component of Android this API resides? If it is part of the gmail process, it should be possible to disable it in the App Manager and use an alternative mail app (like K-9), instead.

Yes Indeed.

"Designed to let you easily deliver Gmail-enabled features, this new API is a standard Google API, which gives RESTful access to a user’s mailbox under OAuth 2.0 authorization. It supports CRUD."

No surprises there.

Sorry

I don't see the point you are trying to make. How is this different from any other email app having access to your email inboxes?? Can't said app send messages, delete messages, etc? And can't said app technically query all your emails and scan them?

Time to drop Gmail?

I use my Gmail account for Google related stuff only. Looks like it's definitely going to stay that way - really don't find handing the keys (that permissions stuff is far too lax for some 'enterprising' developers...) to my box to other apps that appealing. If Google are going to tweak the Android Gmail app to give access non-gmail accounts - that'll be the nail in coffin of the Android Mail app.

So, K9 mail [or similar] + non-Gmail email accounts in future? Perhaps I'll stick to my Orange email account as they don't spaff its access to all and sundry, Ahhh...er ...wait....

Errrr

Now I know why I don't use anything from Google [where possible]. Add to the fact that Google electronically reads your mail so it can place ads in the Gmail pages that uses key words that came from your mail.

And now this.

Remember when Google cheated by creating a Google+ account automatically when you created a Gmail account? Few didn't even know their life was showing up in a Google+ page.

you get what you pay for

Well, it is free.

And using it is not required, yet.

Luddites of the world unite.

Seriously, isn't this just enabling the kind of intelligence that is appearing everywhere and will become completely normal in a decade or two. Do you really think that in 2010 people will still be using email as a paperless version of a box of quill and ink mail kept under the bed? Seriously?

It worries me that people will hand this kind of access out blithely, but that exists? No.

WE ARE GOOGLE! You trust us! hehehe hahahahaha

I use Google a lot, and have for a long time. I've used Gmail exclusively since it was an early beta. I use Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Drive, Google Maps, and probably half a dozen other things that dont even come to mind right now. Some I use on a daily basis, others much less frequently, but I use Google for more than another any other online service. Well, aside from online games anyways.

I think that kind of means that I have over the years come to embrace many online services. But no matter how hard I try, I simply cannot see any benefit to letting Google or anyone else read my email. I mean after years and years of Goggle screaming that NOBODY is reading YOUR email, now they are going to let any Tom, Dick and Harry that claim to be a programmer to ask me if they can access my email accounts?

Has Google even thought about the uproar that is going to come from this? Or are they so blind to grabbing every last penny that they think only of the potential profits from this? Wake up Google. You promised us that NOBODY would read our email. This is the slippery slope where permission is asked for soon, but then a few years later, permission will be added into the terms and conditions of using Gmail, and then eventually anyone will be able to read anyones email, as long as they claim to be a programmer.

Hey Google! I'm a programmer. I want your CEO's email address, and his permission to use this new feature on his account so that I can read, modify AND delete his email. I might even forward some of his email to other people and places. You know my email addresses. Please send all necessary info to me ASAP! Thank you! Oh and while we are at it, why not include the email addresses of all Google executives, and board members along with permissions from each of them as well.

And thanks again Google. You are so wonderful. We will always believe everything you tell us. And now that I have put out the good word to the public yet again, please send me my check for .00000001% of your monthly profits for this month.

*cough* *cough*

your other google account

What's the problem? Just provide access to your _other_ google account. You know, the one with no (accurate) personal information associated with it.