Opinion: Political emails may be spam, but Gmail wants to set them free

If a candidate or party sends a message that the algorithm doesn’t approve, into the spam box it goes. Google’s proposal is that emails from verified political groups, whether or not they pass they algorithm, will go to Gmail inboxes. — Dreamstime/TNS

Lots of people are hopping mad about Google’s proposal to allow political campaign emails to bypass the spam folders of Gmail users. The dispute arose earlier this summer after Google asked the Federal Elections Commission for advice on the legality of a “pilot program” to make it easier for political organisations to contact voters. The FEC has extended the deadline for public comment until Aug 5, and the responses so far make plain that the idea has few fans among Gmail users.

A sampling: