Exactly <a href=’/migrating-to-xmppjabber-and-aim-woes”>three months ago I wrote that I’m migrating to XMPP/Jabber and slowly leaving all proprietary IM protocols. In that blog post is also an example message I’m leaving my contacts why I’m doing it.
Today I’m happy to announce that I’ve also dropped ICQ. This leaves me only with MSN/WLM… but I think in three months’ time I’ll be XMPP-only already. :)
Without digging too deep, I found the following issues:
- MSN/WLM — I already mentioned in a comment that MSN/WLM keeps full chat logs forever and analyses them at times. Oddly though I found deleting a MSN/WLM/Live account pretty easy.
ICQ — being the first non-UNIX IM protocol I expected from ICQ a lot less dirt that I found. For starters, by accepting its EULA/ToS you agree to give ICQ all the copyright and some other rights over the information posted to ICQ, which implies that ICQ may publish, distribute etc. any messages sent through the system that could to be private. Stretching it a bit, ICQ may even use your brilliant idea you had in a private chat with your coworker. Relevant excerpt from their EULA/ToS:
You agree that by posting any material or information anywhere on the ICQ Services and Information you surrender your copyright and any other proprietary right in the posted material or information. You further agree that ICQ Inc. is entitled to use at its own discretion any of the posted material or information in any manner it deems fit, including, but not limited to, publishing the material or distributing it.
Also there is no way to delete your ICQ account. There’s even two FAQ entries to tell you that — for ICQ 7 and for ICQ 6.5.
- AIM — as I already wrote, AIM complicates deleting your account in some cases (e.g. mine) to such extent that in practice you cannot delete it.
- YIM — I still use my Yahoo as a spam mail account and there is an option to turn off YIM. It is nice to know that you can delete your account on Yahoo! If you’re interested there’s also a leaked Yahoo! Complience Guide for Law Enforcement that clearly states which private data Yahoo stores for about its users, for how long, who may get access and how much access costs.
In any case, do not count on just deleting your account to delete all your already collected private data, chat logs, etc.
To be fair, even if you use XMPP you have to keep an eye on which provider you chose. E.g. Also in Google the chat logs (GTalk is just a XMPP server) were read and misused by one of its employees.
So repeat after me: Reading the EULA, ToS and PP before signing is a smart thing to do. (Actually in general it’s a smart thing to read what you sign!)
To conclude, I’d suggest either joining a trusted XMPP server or better yet run your own server. Personally I’m very happy with Gabbler since they promise not to log any data about you and would recommend them (sadly they don’t accept new accounts at the moment). There are quite a few XMPP servers though that provide a smilarly sane privacy policy out there.
hook out → listening to music on my new AKG K330 headphones :3
It‘s always great to see someone switch to a free infrastructure, especially if it‘s a fellow. :) I just recently did this myself, leaving Google Talk behind.
If you are looking for a (or rather the best) platform-independent XMPP client, check out Jappix, which is web-based free software – it can also handle Identi.ca, IRC and even MSN to help you make the transition.
I quit icq a long time ago. tried to quit hotmail but came back when a friend’s dad died and he wouldn’t answer to my email from gmail. the losing of contacts is my biggest issue.
Yeah, that’s the biggest problem. But to be honest pretty much everyone nowadays has a GMail account (and with that GTalk).
So even if it’s an evil server they’re on, at least they’re not forcing you to be on it and once you get them on XMPP you can explain to them that even if they switch their server, the contacts are still the same. Sure, you have to re-add them, but that’s still nothing compared to what it takes to switch from let’s say ICQ to MSN
Hmmm, a migrating tool from GTalk to other XMPP servers would be cool ;)
Wooo, looks nice, thanks :)
Now that’s a fine example of how XMPP is cool and hip and can kick the current proprietary IM protocols in the bollocks any time of the day :D
It was back in 2002. I’ve installed ICQ light, didn’t like it and decided to install it. It asked me if I want to remove my accounts details (from my computer, right?) at the end and I agreed. Instead, I’ve lost my golden 6 numbers account. ICQ support was not able to help. I’ve switched to linux soon after that, started to use jabber (gmail) and never looked back.
F%ck all proprietary protocols.
Your blog entry reminds me on the Open Discussion Day initiated in 2006 on http://www.deepdarc.com/2006/02/27/goodbye-legacy-im/. At this time I wrote a letter showing explicitely the proprietary software licences parts corresponding to the spying of user, data retention, copyright… It’s in French, but the licences cuts are in English : http://fbianco.opensourcewizards.org/odd/
I welcome you in a free instant messaging world !
Wait wait wait …you’re saying it’s possible to delete your ICQ account by accident in a way that ICQ can’t resurrect it, but you can’t do it on purpose? I am following this madness correctly? O_o
Oooo, nice, thanks for the links! :D
Hmmm, is the Open Discussion Day still alive? It’d complement Document Freedom Day and Software Freedom Day perfectly! If not we could start it. I think if we nudge the FSFE Fellowship, other FSF* groups, April, La Quadrature, etc. we could make it a global thing in a short-ish time ;)
P.S. Yay, a chance to practice my French again, thanks :3
“Please note that the ICQ service is not for use by children under 13 years of age. If it comes to ICQ’s attention through reliable means that a registered user is a child under 13 years of age, ICQ will cancel that user’s account.”
How can a 13 year old child read AND understand the whole License Agreement?
“You agree not to (1) create or use any software other than the Software provided by ICQ, or any affiliate thereof, to enter your ICQ number and password or to access the ICQ Services, without the express written authorization of ICQ”
That’s just sick.
“ICQ owns all intellectual property in the ICQ Services and the proprietary ICQ databases, including but not limited to ICQ components and algorithms, and access to the ICQ Services’ server complex.”
No comment. —> http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/not-ipr.html