Depends on how they are stored - if stored in standard RFC2822 format
their lifespan should be quite long and if not tools to read
proprietory formats are likely to be around for a while. Having said
that in my personal emails I can't find a thing older than 9
years.....
What are you prepared to wager :-)
On Fri, Feb 27, 2009 at 05:27:43PM +0000, Lawrence Serewicz wrote:
> I would wager that it will be nigh impossible to find individual emails
> written today in five years. The changes in technology and compatibility
> will make it difficult and retention policies, even those that are
> followed, mean emails will disappear relatively quickly.
>
> Each system upgrade or change between systems raises questions about
> backward compatibility and storage as many orgs ask staf to keep accounts
> under a certain size or to delete their emails after x months.
>
> I would be more worried about the green inked letter to the editor than a
> hasty email to robert peston. :)
>
> Best
>
> Lawrence
>
> P. S. Yes it is ironically inteded that this is sent from a blackberry :)
>
>
> This was sent from my Blackberry device.
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Tim Trent [[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 27/02/2009 17:04 GMT
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [data-protection] Email is a wonderful medium
>
>
>
> Is "tampering with history" also"the Grandfather Paradox"?
>
> Jethro R Binks wrote:
> >On Fri, 27 Feb 2009, Tim Trent wrote:
> >
> >
> >>Email needs an "oh lord, NO!" button
> >>
> >
> >Some clients offer it (although funnily enough it isn't labelled like
> >that). That's why you see "Jane Bloggs wishes to recall the message
> >'Something Really Personal'" messages shortly afterwards. Unfortunately,
> >users are usually not adequately trained, so they don't realise that the
> >function does not work outwith their own mail system, and just serves to
> >compound the problem ("what was so interesting in that mail that they now
> >don't want me to see?").
> >
> >Which is why I am writing this response, to point that fact out :).
> >
> >It's a good point about removing things from the public archive though --
> >although some might argue it is tampering with history!
> >
> >Jethro.
> >
> >
>
> --
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> *Tim Trent* - Consultant
> */Tel/*: +44 (0)7710 126618
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