Gmail 'Snooping' Amounts to Eavesdropping, Boston Case Claims

Google can offer Gmail for free because it snoops on electronic messages that non-gmail accountholders send to people with accounts, and sells the information to use in targeted ads, a class action claims. 

Debra L. Marquis filed the case in Massachusetts Superior Court in Boston, alleging that Google's actions violate the Massachusetts Wiretapping Act, Courthouse News Service reported.

The suit seeks to represent all Massachusetts residents who do not have Gmail accounts but who have sent emails to a Gmail account holder.

Marquis charges that she and other non-Gmail users have not given their consent for Google to read their emails and that the practice therefore violates the state's wiretapping laws.

“Google intercepts, discloses or scans emails sent from non-Gmail users to Gmail users … acquires keywords or content from non-Gmail users' emails, and then sends ads related to those keywords or content,” the suit alleges. “For an example, an email exchange between a Gmail user and a non-Gmail user about cars would result in Google sending an ad for a car manufacturer to that Gmail user.”

Marquis said she has used AOL's email since the late 1990s. She seeks damages of $100 per day, injunctive relief and attorneys' fees.