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The idea is that Google is using Gmail as a seemingly innocuous way to generate a massive database that links keywords to users. The "keyword-to-user" link is not available to anybody outside of Google, according to their privacy policy, *except* when Google is asked for such information from legitimate government agencies. Thus, it would be reasonable for the RIAA to demand the identities of those whose email included "mp3" and "download," just as they have demanded identities from ISPs for those whose computers were shown to share and access pirated music. (Admittedly, however, the above example might be considered too broad to uphold.)
While I don't think that Gmail is as conspiratorial as many believe, I do not trust data-mining companies in general, since we (the Consumer) are the prime targets. Although I have a Gmail account, I will admit that I don't use it.
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