Google chat

[ffutures]

I'm not a particularly chatty person; don't use any of the standard chat programs such as MSN, nor do I particularly want to. But Google are apparently rolling out Google chat as part of Gmail, and from the information they've provided so far I can't see any way to switch it off. Anyone know differently?

Comments

[mr-wombat.livejournal.com]

You can set it to only allow people you've explicitly approved to chat in the settings at the top of the page. It isn't turning it off exactly but as long as you never approve anyone they can't chat. I'm not sure if that means they see you turn them down though.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Unless I'm missing something, anyone who has me listed as a contact will know if I'm on line and looking at my mail. Ignoring normal privacy, there are all sorts of legal implications; for example, it could be used as evidence that someone had seen a particular item of mail.