It’s about a week since Google added new feature to gmail – Buzz.
And I am sure, that you’ve heard about privacy concerns on this new social networking tool.
I won’t speak here on concerns, this was done perfectly by Ian Paul at MSNBC. But what I do want to speak about is Jewish attitude towards Google Buzz.

Just to narrow my discussion to certain stream, I’d speak about gossiping (loshn oro) in Jewish life. I do consider it’s a big problem, especially in religious sector.
As my rabbi says:
- What is the first sin Jews do just after Neila on Yom-Kipur?
- One speaks to another: Kantor was not in the best form today.

Jewish nation was and is always on public. There is no many privacy possibilities nor inside, neither outside of community. Although, there are special laws on privacy keeping for Jews.
For example, one should close windows’ curtains in case he has an intercourse with his wife. So, there are some aspects of personal life, which should be kept private.
But what in real? About everything should be kept private in frum society, because it might influence children’s future.
Some years ago in Russian speaking Jewish orthodox magazine “Back and White”, there was an interview with a person from religious medical service in Israel. He says, that sometimes people from religious districts don’t want to be brought to the Hospital, due to the fear on gossiping among neighbours. This might influence future marriage possibilities of children.

So, returning to our topic, is there any privacy issues with Buzz from Jewish point of view?
To my mind, as soon as a person entrusted his/her private mailing to Google, this person should forget about privacy as well. Google does reads your mail and it does collects information about your personal preferences. This was described by Douglas Rushkoff in “Exit Strategy” in 2002. Science fiction written on a model of Torah commenting, where one day a big system appears, which collects all possible information about people and provides customary generated advertisements in order make people buy unneeded products and vote against their will.
So, again is it such a big deal, that one’s privacy becomes not that private for one more inch? If you do want to be private close your Windows ™ and shut down the computer.

I don’t want to conclude, because I don’t know how. I expect follow-up discussion will continue my text. Let’s buzz a little about buzz here.

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buzz, gmail, google, loshn oro, privacy