Mass Exodus from U.S. Email Providers?

RunboxCustomer · 23 Aug 2013, 05:44 AM

With it now being common knowledge that essentially no U.S. based email provider can provide any degree of privacy and often, as in the case of Google, have no respect for user's privacy, does anyone anticipate a mass exodus from using U.S. based email providers?

Personally, I view the general public as ignorant sheep who will likely remain oblivious to the situation while a few of the more intelligent, tech savvy types will opt for an off shore service or use PGP.

DIscuss...

kaptitsky · 23 Aug 2013, 06:58 AM

I agree with your conjecture: people concerned about concealing their communications, for practical or political reasons, will go out of their way to find ways to conceal their communications, while others will not.

But where do you see that Google has "no respect for user privacy?" Do you have any evidence that they violated their own privacy policy?

I do know that Google has warned that e-mail senders have no expectation of privacy in communication, but that is because of potential insecure transfers and government surveillance. But they have not said that they violate their own privacy policies.

Sure, Google may not have as much respect for user secrecy as you would like, but does that mean they have "no respect for user privacy.?"

I think not.

jeffpan · 23 Aug 2013, 10:38 AM

I like google and gmail, for privacy, who cares that much. No absolute security on internet.
But for non-US email I have gandi.net (FR) and Mail2000.us (RU) as my primary accounts.

David · 23 Aug 2013, 11:37 AM

I am addressing the OP here. Personally, I do not believe that there will be a mass exodus from U.S. email providers.

FredOnline · 23 Aug 2013, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RunboxCustomer

Personally, I view the general public as ignorant sheep who will likely remain oblivious to the situation while a few of the more intelligent, tech savvy types will opt for an off shore service or use PGP.

Also, the ignorant sheep who consider themselves intelligent, tech savvy types who believe moving accounts offshore will make a difference.

ioneja · 24 Aug 2013, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

I am addressing the OP here. Personally, I do not believe that there will be a mass exodus from U.S. email providers.

Agreed. There will not be a mass exodus. Maybe a tiny percentage will move, but for the most part, people are too comfortable with all the features and free goodies they get with their current accounts. They will accept the corporate and government platitudes and excuses, and stay where they are.

I know some very liberty-privacy oriented people who are highly educated, and very aware of the news -- many have gmail accounts, for example, and they are appalled at what is happening, and yet, they have done *nothing* to change to a different provider.

roberth · 24 Aug 2013, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaptitsky

But where do you see that Google has "no respect for user privacy?" Do you have any evidence that they violated their own privacy policy?

The thing is, Gmail's (Google's) 'Privacy Policy' is a total joke when it comes to privacy. See: http://www.google.com/intl/en/policies/privacy/
No real need to violate their policy as it hardly has the users privacy as the number one concern to start with.

Runbox and even EuMX are much better in this regard, as are many of the other alternatives not hosted in the US.

Will there be a mass exodus? Unlikely, but a portion of society certainly took note. I personally will not be having my email hosted in the States from now and and will be wary of companies that are based in the States.

just1acc · 24 Aug 2013, 03:26 AM

Privacy concern is very important. But for an average joe / advanced joe, more important question is -

Quote:

How well that service is functioning today?
How well you see the service will function in next days (say 5 years)?

There will be a shift of business and advanced users who have great knowledge about email handling, plus will to pay a small fee for their mailbox. But most of the world's population not. So this portion will not shift unless a shutdown.

For me...I'd rather let Google scan and read(!) my mails than have an empty mailbox in a fine morning.

beeboy · 24 Aug 2013, 05:30 AM

" For me...I'd rather let Google scam and read(!) my mails rather than have an empty mailbox in a fine morning."

Exactly.

Dutchie007 · 24 Aug 2013, 07:12 AM

Do NOT overestimate the quality of a regular Gmail box!...there are allready thousands of people that were locked out from their own account (including my person) for several days up untill like forever!! And no...they are NOT all spammers or hackers...just normal regular people like you and me. And then...on one day...you can´t get into your own account...just like that. I was very happy I could arrange that I was able to re-enter my account after several days...other people weren´t that lucky....

If you look on this forum (or elsewere on the net) you´ll find reading material on that matter.

just sayin´....

Dutchie.

RunboxCustomer · 24 Aug 2013, 08:01 AM

Not to mention the availability of real tech support. That alone is enough to make one go with a smaller but stable and trusted provider.

beeboy · 25 Aug 2013, 03:42 AM

No one really likes the big email services. I'm no fan either.

I know they will be around in five years. Too many lesser known services come and go. I had a lavabit account and what happened there? Lavabit was not that small.

In defense of Gmail, I will say they do provide a higher level of security than many others. As far as being locked out, I have never had this issue and I was an early user. If you access your account via tor or other proxy server software the chances are high you will be locked out.

I would never trust Gmail(or anyone else for that matter) with anything sensitive. I do store some private files which are uploaded or sent encrypted before they leave my machine.

Mass exodus? Not going to happen anytime soon.

It will take a mighty big player to provide us with unquestionable privacy and security for free. For money? Maybe. I wonder if Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, etc. are thinking of ways to capitalize on the situation.

I know Startmail is making big promises with their upcoming service. If they keep the price low, the security and functionality high, who knows, could be a home run.

Tom Gallagher · 25 Aug 2013, 06:27 AM

Mass exodus, don't be silly. Where are you going to go, Russia, China, the European Union...LOL.

just1acc · 25 Aug 2013, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Gallagher

Mass exodus, don't be silly. Where are you going to go, Russia, China, the European Union...LOL.

Thats another (DO NOT USE SWEARING OR PROFANITY ON THIS FORUM) point.

chrisretusn · 26 Aug 2013, 02:24 PM

I'm not even considering switching the accounts I have. Some are US based, some are not. I just don't see the point and I honestly doubt it will make much difference.

From the very beginning, many years ago, when I started using email and the Internet, I have always gone with the concept there is no privacy in email, nor the Internet. I have never expected it and really don't understand why some do expect it. While it is true that today a lot of email travels within a secure layer, but there is no guarantee that all your email will travel from sender to receiver in that layer.

23 Aug 2013, 05:44 AM	#1
RunboxCustomer Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 29	Mass Exodus from U.S. Email Providers? With it now being common knowledge that essentially no U.S. based email provider can provide any degree of privacy and often, as in the case of Google, have no respect for user's privacy, does anyone anticipate a mass exodus from using U.S. based email providers? Personally, I view the general public as ignorant sheep who will likely remain oblivious to the situation while a few of the more intelligent, tech savvy types will opt for an off shore service or use PGP. DIscuss...

23 Aug 2013, 06:58 AM	#2
kaptitsky The "e" in e-mail Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 2,186	I agree with your conjecture: people concerned about concealing their communications, for practical or political reasons, will go out of their way to find ways to conceal their communications, while others will not. But where do you see that Google has "no respect for user privacy?" Do you have any evidence that they violated their own privacy policy? I do know that Google has warned that e-mail senders have no expectation of privacy in communication, but that is because of potential insecure transfers and government surveillance. But they have not said that they violate their own privacy policies. Sure, Google may not have as much respect for user secrecy as you would like, but does that mean they have "no respect for user privacy.?" I think not.

23 Aug 2013, 10:38 AM	#3
jeffpan The "e" in e-mail Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Macao Posts: 2,140 Representative of: tls-mail.com	I like google and gmail, for privacy, who cares that much. No absolute security on internet. But for non-US email I have gandi.net (FR) and Mail2000.us (RU) as my primary accounts.

23 Aug 2013, 11:37 AM	#4
David Ultimate Contributor Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Canada. Posts: 10,355	I am addressing the OP here. Personally, I do not believe that there will be a mass exodus from U.S. email providers.

24 Aug 2013, 05:30 AM	#9
beeboy Cornerstone of the Community Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 551	" For me...I'd rather let Google scam and read(!) my mails rather than have an empty mailbox in a fine morning." Exactly.

24 Aug 2013, 07:12 AM	#10
Dutchie007 Essential Contributor Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 388	Do NOT overestimate the quality of a regular Gmail box!...there are allready thousands of people that were locked out from their own account (including my person) for several days up untill like forever!! And no...they are NOT all spammers or hackers...just normal regular people like you and me. And then...on one day...you can´t get into your own account...just like that. I was very happy I could arrange that I was able to re-enter my account after several days...other people weren´t that lucky.... If you look on this forum (or elsewere on the net) you´ll find reading material on that matter. just sayin´.... Dutchie.

24 Aug 2013, 08:01 AM	#11
RunboxCustomer Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 29	Not to mention the availability of real tech support. That alone is enough to make one go with a smaller but stable and trusted provider.

25 Aug 2013, 03:42 AM	#12
beeboy Cornerstone of the Community Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 551	No one really likes the big email services. I'm no fan either. I know they will be around in five years. Too many lesser known services come and go. I had a lavabit account and what happened there? Lavabit was not that small. In defense of Gmail, I will say they do provide a higher level of security than many others. As far as being locked out, I have never had this issue and I was an early user. If you access your account via tor or other proxy server software the chances are high you will be locked out. I would never trust Gmail(or anyone else for that matter) with anything sensitive. I do store some private files which are uploaded or sent encrypted before they leave my machine. Mass exodus? Not going to happen anytime soon. It will take a mighty big player to provide us with unquestionable privacy and security for free. For money? Maybe. I wonder if Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, etc. are thinking of ways to capitalize on the situation. I know Startmail is making big promises with their upcoming service. If they keep the price low, the security and functionality high, who knows, could be a home run.

25 Aug 2013, 06:27 AM	#13
Tom Gallagher Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Jersey, USA Posts: 195	Mass exodus, don't be silly. Where are you going to go, Russia, China, the European Union...LOL.

26 Aug 2013, 02:24 PM	#15
chrisretusn Cornerstone of the Community Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Philippines Posts: 846	I'm not even considering switching the accounts I have. Some are US based, some are not. I just don't see the point and I honestly doubt it will make much difference. From the very beginning, many years ago, when I started using email and the Internet, I have always gone with the concept there is no privacy in email, nor the Internet. I have never expected it and really don't understand why some do expect it. While it is true that today a lot of email travels within a secure layer, but there is no guarantee that all your email will travel from sender to receiver in that layer.