Man Jailed for Gmail Invite to Ex-Girlfriend

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    Man Jailed for Gmail Invite to Ex-Girlfriend


    Posted: 10 Jan 2014
    In what one expert on Internet privacy calls "a worst-case scenario," a Massachusetts man was jailed for sending his ex-girlfriend (who had a restraining order against him) an email invitation to join Google+.

    But Thomas Gagnon contends he didn't send it; Google did, without his knowledge or consent.


    When his ex-girlfriend received the invitation, according to the Salem News, she went to the police, complaining Gagnon had violated the restraining order by sending her the email. Police agreed and arrested him, the News reported. He was jailed then released on $500 bail.
    ~~~
    Attorney Bradley Shear of Bethesda, Md., an internationally recognized expert on Internet privacy, told ABC News it's entirely possible Gagnon is telling the truth -- that he did not intentionally or knowingly send the invitation. "If he didn't send it -- if Google sent it without his permission and he was jailed for it -- Google could be facing major liability," Shear said.
    Google Invitation Sends Man to Jail - ABC News
    Posted By: UsernameIssues
    10 Jan 2014



  1. Posts : 7,466
    Windows 10 Home Premium 64bit sp1
       #1

    Sounds like someone got caught with their hand in the cookie jar
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  2. Posts : 9,600
    Win 7 Ultimate 64 bit
       #2

    It sounds plausible. Many websites will send automatic invitations from people's mailboxes. I got one once, ironically enough, from a website that claimed it was from an exgirlfriend of mine. She was completely unaware that the parenting website she had joined would snoop into her email list and do that.
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  3. Posts : 6,292
    Windows 7 64 Bit Home Premium SP1
       #3

    Linkedin does the same thing. But they ask you if you want to share your address book. (Not me!) If you do then everyone on the list gets an invite to connect with you on Linkedin.

    So if Google asks, and he clicks yes, and his ex is on the list, then I think technically/legally Google is off the hook.
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  4. Posts : 9,600
    Win 7 Ultimate 64 bit
       #4

    TVeblen said:
    ...So if Google asks, and he clicks yes, and his ex is on the list, then I think technically/legally Google is off the hook.
    The key word here is "if".
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  5. Posts : 6,292
    Windows 7 64 Bit Home Premium SP1
       #5

    I agree! The whole practice stinks. I can't believe people click "yes".
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  6. Posts : 1,030
    Linux Mint / XP / Win7 Home, Pro, Ultimate / Win8.1 / Win10
       #6

    If history is any indicator, Google may be the cause. If the gentle readers recall, Google pulled a similar stunt a few years ago when they rolled out Buzz. That resulted in a lot of problems and law suits.

    I got burned on that fiasco when my private GMail contact list was made publicly available to everyone on my list - not good when my boss could see email contacts with other companies.

    Do a DuckDuckGo search with the words Google Buzz Legal and read some history.

    After that happened I deleted all GMail emails, contacts, closed my GDocs and will never trust Google again. I still have an account so I can update my Android table only.

    Regards,
    GEWB
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  7. Posts : 4,776
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
       #7

    Related topic


    Coming very soon. Anyone can email your gmail account if you're a Google+ user - even if they don't know your email address.

    New Gmail feature allows any Google+ member to contact you; how to opt-out - National Technology | Examiner.com
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  8. Posts : 9,600
    Win 7 Ultimate 64 bit
       #8

    Yet another reason I won't use G-Mail (and avoid Google).
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 4,049
    W7 Ultimate SP1, LM19.2 MATE, W10 Home 1703, W10 Pro 1703 VM, #All 64 bit
       #9

    I was "spewing" when I had to create a Gmail account to complete one of my TAFE subjects (last semester).
      My Computer


 
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