Abstract
Information technology is evolving at an unprecedented rate; new forms of communication appear so often that it is difficult to keep track of them all. This presents a difficult problem for attorneys, who must carefully consider whether using new technology to communicate with clients is consistent with the duty of confidentiality. Google’s Gmail scans the content of e-mails to generate targeted advertising, a controversial practice that raises questions about whether its users have a reasonable expectation of privacy. The New York Bar responded to this issue in Opinion 820, which states that using an e-mail provider that scans the e-mail content to display relevant advertising does not violate a lawyer’s duty of client confidentiality. This article explains the controversial nature of Gmail, the evolution of e-mail in ethics opinions, and Opinion 820’s content and implications.
First Page
83
Recommended Citation
Kevin Raudebaugh,
Trusting the Machines: New York State Bar Ethics Opinion Allows Attorneys to Use Gmail,
6 Wash. J. L. Tech. & Arts
83
(2010).
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.law.uw.edu/wjlta/vol6/iss1/7