In the article “On Potential Privacy Problems With Gmail Buzz Exposing Email Contacts,” we find that this newly christened social network has some potential flaws. This isn’t news; it’s been all over the Internet. But as Google keeps making fixes, you need to be away that a big problem is privacy regarding how your email contacts are distributed among other people you are associated. The opportunity to change is created when Buzz pulls from your Gmail account and suggests friends for others within your network. The example given was: if your friend is your wife, and it suggests that she become friends with Susie, your high school crush, it may cause problems.

In Buzz’s defense, they have installed features where you can turn these options off, but do they really work, and do you know how to make it happen?  You wouldn’t want your boss getting a friend suggestion from your email list and it be a competitor. Awkward and potentially damaging are the images that come to my mind.

Belinda Sissom, March 4, 2010

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