We all seem concerned with protecting our privacy from governments and corporations, but what about malicious individuals?
In September 2006, Jason Fortuny, a 30 something Seattle-area graphic designer posted a fake-ad on Craig’s list (a large “community classifieds” website that posts numerous personal ads). Fortuny pretended to be a woman into serious S&M seeking a man to dominate her and inflict pain. He posted the 178 responses, in full, including identifying photographs and personal contact details on his website, claiming that anyone who would engage in such behaviour deserves to be exposed.
The stunt was publicized and later duplicated, by Michael Crook who went as far as to contact some of the respondents.
http://www.10zenmonkeys.com/2006/09/18/in-the-company-of-jerkoffs/
Dan Savage, the syndicated sex-columnist, who supports individuals exploring their sexual fetishes and fantasies (as long as they pertain to consenting adults) condemned Fortuny for causing the most harm to the most honest individuals who were merely playing by the rules of online dating.
Adding to the debate law professor Jonathan Zittrain argued that, “The men who replied to Fortuny’s posting did not appear to be doing anything illegal, so the outing has no social value other than to prove that someone could ruin lives online.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Zittrai
At the same time, some argue that individuals need to take some level of responsibility for personal information they voluntarily post on the internet.
Although there was some attention given to the issue in alternative media, the mainstream largely ignored the issue. Would our reaction be the same if he had ousted homosexuals in red state America? Would we feel the same if he was exploiting the privacy of teenaged girls?
Questions:
Do you think that Jason Fortuny should be criminally charged for his actions? If so what would be a fair punishment?
Do you think that all 178 respondents should be able to file a class action (law suit) again Fortuny? If so on what grounds?
Do the individual “victims” lose their right to legal action because they willingly supplied their personal details online?
Suggested Readings :
Wikipedia Internet Privacy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_privacy#Jason_Fortuny_and_Craigslist
Dan Savage’s Original Column:
