If an HTML e-mail is sent on Yahoo!’s service, the word “mocha”
is automatically changed to “espresso”, and the word “eval” becomes
“review,” according to Reuters.
A spokeswoman for Yahoo! told Reuters that the reason for
changing these words is that they are commands in the JavaScript
programming language that can be used to create malicious
programs.
A spokeswoman for rival Hotmail claimed that Microsoft’s free
e-mail service blocks certain words which can be used by hackers
but that it does not alter the contents of messages.
Interference with the contents of e-mail messages could raise
privacy concerns.
Struan Robertson, editor of OUT-LAW.COM, said:
“If Yahoo!'s service is being operated from
the US and its servers are based in the US, it is unlikely that any
successful claim can be made against the company under European
laws.
“However, if its UK operations were amending
the content of e-mail messages, issues may arise under the Data
Protection Act and the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act. The
contents of an e-mail are personal data. To make changes to the
contents of an e-mail without giving notice to users that this will
happen could amount to a breach of the Data Protection Act.
“There are unlikely to be many situations
where harm is caused by Yahoo!'s practice, but it is feasible that,
for example, someone failed to get a job as a result of the
amendment to an e-mail. ‘Please call me when you have reviewuated
my CV’ would not impress any employer. Also, the Regulation of
Investigatory Powers Act creates an offence of unlawful
interception of communications which can apply when e-mail messages
are intercepted and amended without consent.”
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