Pink Poogle Toy Forum

I was just hop-skipping through the web today, came across this blog with some pretty cool findings on a new AIM policy or something where they can use anything you say that you post in AIM, well read it for yourself: http://www.benstanfield.com/thrash/2005/03/aol_eavesdrops_.html

I do not agree with this. IMs are supposed to be private. If you wish the conversation to be told, wouldn't you tell anyone else who needs to be told in another IM, or in person?

I often talk to team mates from Werewolf on AIM. Does this mean that when we are discussing whom to target, we have to go: "This is a game! Don't sue me or whatever, please!" every other message now?

I really don't like this. It's not good, its not right.

Have they no shame...?

The only good thing about it is we could possibly make the AOL people really mad by saying things too them...

and so we pass from the age of science, into the age of the fall.
may she be swift and terrible in her vengance.
(or in none insomniac words: knew this was coming, i wait paitently for the machines to realise we are weak fleshy things and to make power plants out of us)

I think this is wonderful.

I remember someone saying a while back (this isn't exactly new) that someone confessed a crime to them over AIM, and they were able to use it in court.

And quite frankly, people, it's not like they're going to go through every single message you send. For God sakes, do you know how many IMs are sent per day? One million employees couldn't go through them all.

Eh, noone cares.

It could be useful if someone's trying to use an AIM conversation as evidence against someone, and they needed proof they hadn't faked it.

You are using AIM's server, no matter what type of client you use. Though I'm against it, they have every right to read what's coming through their system. Pretty soon they'll most likely start blocking encrypted messages as the final step to their 'We read your instant messages! ' plan.

Whether you think they have the "right" or not, it was in the contract. I assume you have AIM and if you do, you checked the "I agree" box. So in reality, and under law, they do have the right.

I'm glad I don't use AIM

I don't see how AOL can do that, but like SpiraLethe said, if you accept then it is still legal. :/ Still, it's a bit of an iffy thing to do.

In a month...no one will even remember this anymore.

Same things for email and other IM services. It's not just AOL.

I'm also against the policy. However, if you want to use the service, you have to abide the rules of it's usage. If that means you are open to prosecution for admitting a felony on AIM, then the answer is simple. Don't admit to it on AIM.

At first, I thought
"Bad bad bad! EVIL MOVE AOL!"

Then I thought
"But AOL are the source of all evil"

But finally, I realised
"It's their junk, their stuff and their services. Meh, let em do what they want"


So many people live under the impression that AOL will do everything they can to make sure that your secret love life with Catherine Somebody, or your plans to make a Harry Potter fan site, or anything else you say, will be in the media minutes after you post it.
And then, there's the people complaining about the fact that they can use your messages for advertising and marketing. Big deal! It's not as if you were going to use them for anything else other than a way to fill in the gap during a conversation. Sheesh.

There was a similar problem with Gmail. For those that don't know, Gmail is a google-based email service. The only thing that makes this different from Hotmail, is that Gmail uses programs to read your messages and show you appropriate ads. Sparked a bit of controversy, it did. But it's mostly over and forgotten by now, just as this will be.

I agree, but only because I don't use AIM, which is a vastly inferior messaging service IMO. Thankfully most of my friends use MSN and I don't have to bear with that rubbish (no offence to AIM fans).

I doubt any other email service (in responce to that comment about gmail) and any other popular IM service wouldn't hand over conversations and information about you if the government asked for them.