Google Threatens to Close German Gmail

Google Blogoscoped reports that Google is threatening that they might disable Gmail in Germany, if the German government sticks to the newly passed law on supervision of internet traffic. As per this law, email service providers are force to maintain personally identifiable information attached to every email account. This law would also require email service providers to send postal mail to every user inorder to verify the authenticity of the person. This law doesn’t hold well with Google’s policy to maintain anonymity and privacy.

This time, it looks like Gmail is with the people by boldly threatening German law makers. If German government fails to comply, German Gmail users might not be able to access their emails any more. It’s the German Gmail users who’ll be worst affected by this battle between Gmail and German government. Let’s pray for the best.

This post was published by on June 25, 2007

About the Author: Thilak Rao works as a Social Media Expert. He is one of the first professional bloggers from India, and he loves to write, travel and click photos. Follow him on Twitter @thilak

  • http://sankaranand.com/blog/ Sankaranand

    sending postal verification to all the email subscribers is absolutely impossible either google should ask for postal fee to verify their account or should come with a mutual agreement with government

  • http://www.vincentchow.net Vincent Chow

    Google rocks. I hate it when to government wants to get involve in the internet world. Like those blog censorship etc.

  • http://www.techlivez.com Shashank

    i think gmail will definitely win as most of the people are completely dependent on gmail.

  • http://www.avirtualexit.com Gili

    I think that giant companies like Google need to protect the web and not give in to governments, no mateer it’s Germany, China or others…

  • http://www.helloashok.com Ashok

    Asking for postal verification is ridiculous

  • http://www.heavymist.com Privacy Protection

    I made a proxy site myself, I believe the right to privacy on the internet is important, new ruling about the police in britain being able to hack into people compmuters without warrant is crazy. Anyone remeber george orwells 1984?