Is AIM safe/private? NO!

Merika · 03-15-2005, 07:40 AM

Part of the New Terms of Service agreement for the chat program reads as follows:

Ã¢â¬ÂAlthough you or the owner of the Content retain ownership of all right, title and interest in Content that you post to any AIM Product, AOL owns all right, title and interest in any compilation, collective work or other derivative work created by AOL using or incorporating this Content. In addition, by posting Content on an AIM Product, you grant AOL, its parent, affiliates, subsidiaries, assigns, agents and licensees the irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide right to reproduce, display, perform, distribute, adapt and promote this Content in any medium. You waive any right to privacy. You waive any right to inspect or approve uses of the Content or to be compensated for any such uses.Ã¢â¬Â

Someone sent me this in email. I guess it means folks better be careful what they do and say on AIM...because AIM owns the rights to it. Web cams ...geez! I wonder if that would include swapped files?

Stone · 03-15-2005, 07:51 AM

I have never used it, I fuigure I am to addicted to Fourms to get in to any chat rooms or I'll never leave my house

Star · 03-15-2005, 08:24 AM

i wonder if that is all true. If so, then it's a little scary to think that they can reproduce your conversations.

darkangelism · 03-15-2005, 11:41 AM

yeah, they have been able to do that for years, they just didnt say so. But due to the number of conversations, i doubt the recordings are stored more then a few months. I save all my aim conversations anyway.

Vautrin · 03-15-2005, 11:49 AM

Well, I am not the most enlightened source on American legislation. But due to the events of 9/11, I know legislation on these things has become much more stricter.

Even in Europe, that is what is happening. And I don't get it. If someone was interested in committing a terrorist act, you make for a good cover.
The focus is a lot on people from the Middle-East / Muslims.

So what do terrorists need to do? Download a lot of p0rn, and appear as a well-adjusted men and women. Get maps of the internet of various sites, and make plans. But the last thing may not be done on the internet. Big deal.

Over here in Europe, terrorism is not understood at all, by the various government agencies, which are supposed to protect us.

Merika · 03-15-2005, 11:55 AM

Wow V.....I didn't even put the two together. You may have a point there. I thought they simply had the right to reproduce whatever they could use as far as advertising or jokes.

Star....I don't have AIM downloaded right now. Perhaps I should and see if that's what the agreement actually says. LOL!

DA....Why do you save conversations? I never saved any....when I used to use IM's frequently.

darkangelism · 03-15-2005, 12:04 PM

Im sure they keyword scan also, so if you say certain words then the conversation is sent to the government.

I record because i am paranoid, when i was in high school i almost got in trouble for "stalking" but the girl was faking conversations, so now i save all of them, so i have counter evidence, in addition being able to quote somebody is helpful.

Duke · 03-16-2005, 12:18 AM

I think all chat software has similar guidelines including MSN, Yahoo, IRC, etc.

Merika · 03-16-2005, 07:40 AM

That made me laugh DA! Only YOU would have a stalking problem in high school! I guess you are right...maybe you SHOULD keep a good record of your conversations online.

Duke · 03-17-2005, 05:20 AM

Apparently they do the same thing on your phone line. Your conversations are monitored by banks of computers that look for keywords. I'm not 100% sure if this is true but I wouldn't doubt it at all.