update Gmail is a free web-based email service that will be offered by Google, roughly analogous to Hotmail.

I agree it's a stupid bill, but Aaron is missing the point:

A (being charitable) confused California Senator has proposed a bill to outlaw Gmail because of the ads it includes in email.

It's not just because there are ads — after all, Yahoo! and Hotmail already do this — but because of how the ads are determined: by searching through the content of your messages.

Of course, this is still your typical example of a heavy-handed law designed to protect people from their own stupidity; I'd prefer Google just be up-front about what you're trading in exchange for a free email service and let people make their own informed decision (like TiVo users whose viewing habits are carefully monitored).

Also, it should be noted that it was only a California State Senator; this wasn't clear in the cited post.

Note: if Google Weblog allowed comments, this post would have been unnecessary. (Hint, hint.)

No more comments! Either someone has violated Godwin's Law, I'm tired of the discussion or, most likely, the ten-week window has closed. You can, however, contact me through email.