Google Buzz Disclosed Gmail Contacts?

Only after a day from its launch, the new Gmail-based social networking tools from Google; Buzz already raised privacy concerns. The issue at disposal is a feature that compiles a list of Gmail contacts, of which users often e-mails or chats with. Buzz automatically follows them and makes the list public; hence even strangers can see who Buzz users have been in contact with.

The issue has been brought up by the Silicon Valley Insider yesterday. A quote from the web site: “Imagine … a wife discovering that her husband emails and chats with an old girlfriend,” and “imagine a boss discovers a subordinate emails with executives at a competitor.”

However, there are also some mitigating factors such as Buzz only shares information about other people who are using Buzz AND have set up public profiles in Google. Therefore, currently most Gmail users are not publicly listed by the service. Putting that aside, users can still “unfollow” peoples whom they didn’t want to be linked with. Also, even though Buzz requires users to set up a public profile before they can post messages, it does give them an option to hide who they are following and who is following them.

However, Buzz sets the default setting to “make the information public”. Users have to click on “edit” tab to change the setting. This only means many people who have start using Buzz may be publicly linked to other users without realizing it.

Until yesterday afternoon, Google spokesman still had no immediate comment on this.

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