This is not new, Google is known for violating privacy policies. Recent information from Google’s own lawyers reveled that Google is scanning student’s mail content even when the ads are turned off for better ad targeting. Google is claiming that they are_using this data from students to target them with ads. Microsoft has clearly said that they don’t mine user data for ad targeting. Whether or to what degree these last two conditions are actually met by specific services such as Gmail or Outlook.com is of course a pertinent question. Currently Google faces legal challenges to its use of consumer data mining in both the U.S. and the European Union. EU data protection authorities in particular have determined that Google fails to inform consumers properly of its conduct or obtain their consent, while a major class action law suit in California advances similar accusations. Although Outlook.com appears to have avoided such challenges to date, we should certainly expect that regulators and courts will hold it to the same high standards...

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