Google still allowing third-party apps read your Gmail: Report
Washington, Sep 21 : After facing a backlash over reports in July that third-party app developers can read your Gmail, Google has once again defended its policy to allow third-party apps to access and share data from Gmail accounts.
According to a CNNMoney report on Thursday, Gmail lets third-party developers integrate services into its email platform.
"Developers may share data with third parties so long as they are transparent with the users about how they are using the data," said the report, quoting from a Google letter sent to the US Senators.
Google also makes "the privacy policy easily accessible to users to review before deciding whether to grant access", said Susan Molinari, Vice President of Public Policy and Government Affairs for the Americas at Google, in the letter.
The Wall Street Journal reported in July that despite assuring users to "remain confident that Google will keep privacy and security paramount", the search giant is still allowing third-party app developers scan through Gmail accounts.
Gmail has nearly 1.4 billion users globally -- more users than the next 25 largest email providers combined.
Later, Google said in a blog post that the company is continuously vetting developers and their apps that integrate with Gmail before it opens them for general access.
According to Google, it gives both enterprise admins and individual consumers transparency and control over how their data is used.
"We make it possible for applications from other developers to integrate with Gmail -- like email clients, trip planners and customer relationship management (CRM) systems -- so that you have options around how you access and use your email," said Suzanne Frey, Director, Security, Trust and Privacy, Google Cloud.
Before a published, non-Google app can access your Gmail messages, it goes through a multi-step review process at the company, it said.
"It includes automated and manual review of the developer, assessment of the app's privacy policy and homepage to ensure it is a legitimate app, and in-app testing to ensure the app works as it says it does," Frey noted.
In 2017, Google had said its computers will soon stop reading the emails of its Gmail users to personalise their ads.
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Dhyan Chand lifetime award to be replaced by Arjuna lifetime
New Delhi, Oct 24: The sports ministry on Thursday announced the discontinuation of the Dhyan Chand Award for lifetime achievement from this year onwards and the introduction of the Arjuna Award Lifetime in its place in a bid to "rationalise" the various sporting honours of the country.
Instituted in 2002, the Dhyan Chand Lifetime Award, named after hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand, is given to individuals in disciplines that are part of the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, among others.
In 2023, the award was given to former shuttler Manjusha Kanwar, ex-hockey exponent Vineet Kumar and kabaddi player Kavitha Selvaraj.
"The various schemes for sports awards have been rationalised wherein Arjuna Award (Lifetime) has been introduced in place of Dhyan Chand Award. To recognise the efforts of coaches at grassroots/development level, they are now eligible for the Dronacharya Award," said a ministry statement.
"The Arjuna Award (Lifetime) has been introduced and will be given for life time contribution to sports development.
"Further, to recognize the Khelo India scheme, the Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy will be given to the University for Overall Top Performance in Khelo India University Games," it added.
The last date for applying for the national sports awards for 2024 is November 14.
