On Gmail ... then you could be at risk!

US and Canadian privacy law regulators are to investigate Google's new social networking service Buzz, one week after its launch. The Electronic Privacy Information Centre (Epic) complained the US Federal Trade Commission saying that Buzz - which is part of Google's Gmail service - is "deceptive" and breaks consumer protection law.

"This case illustrates a lot about Google's corporate culture where a company is run by computer scientists whose operating method is don't ask for permission when you can always ask for forgiveness," said Consumer Watchdog's John Simpson.

With other social networking sites such as Twitter or Facebook users know what they are signing up for. Users signed up for Gmail expecting only an e-mail service. The new social networking site Buzz has been automatically rolled out to Gmail's 176 million users whether they want it or not. With no opt-in requirement. Including visibility to people on your address book of all your other contacts.

The regulators have been asked to require Google to provide notice to and request consent from Gmail users before making material changes to their privacy policy in future. It is worried that journalists, undercover police and serial adulterers who use Gmail now have all their contacts exposed to the outside world. This could result in divorces, financial losses and even torture or death for users in some countries. Google does not seem to take their responsibilities very seriously.

These worries would seem to be well founded. Recently an accountant was stabbed to death in a frenzied attack after her boyfriend saw her with another man on Facebook Camille Mathurasingh of Bow, East London was stabbed 20 times by her ex, Paul Bristol who travelled all the way from from Trinidad to England in order to get even.

Unfortunately Google seems to be hell bent on using 'private' Gmail address book contacts to make up social networking lists so we can all be sure there will be more cases like this.

Are you at risk? Its probably best to delete your Gmail account now if you are.