Private Messages

Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2003 7:42 am

Hello,

While surfing the internet seeking out mods, addons and blocks to improve my site I ran across this addon "Admin read PMs." Wow! Who took the word "private" out of private messages. Doesn't private mean just that private?

I wonder if the site owners who utilize this addon have a privacy policy statement on their website. Invading a user's privacy? That is the most trifling addon I've seen. Well, thats one addon I bypassed because I do have a privacy policy statement on my website that guarantee my member's their privacy is protective.

Now I'm leary about receiving private messages from several websites, one never know whose invading their privacy.

To end I must say, Private Messages are no longer private if one is utilizing this addon (highly unfair to your members).

Whew! I had to vent my humble opinion about this ISpy addon. Laughing

Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2003 8:30 am

Good point, i for one would not use that mod. Rolling Eyes

Joined: Jan 31, 2004 Posts: -88

what site did you find this on? This is a good example of invasion of privacy which people have a right to - by law - internationally.

This'll be a good example to post a news article on for my new site.

AI

Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2003 9:43 am

Hello,

(pulling Chatserv's pants leg) - You have this addon in your download section http://www.nukeresources.com/modules.php?name=Downloads&d_op=viewdownload&cid=75

I wish you wouldn't support this addon and if anyone else have this addon in their download section for the sake of privacy remove it. Don't support this addon it's a violation to a person right to privacy.

This is the mods copyright

Code:

$author_name = "Nivisec";
$author_homepage = "";
$author_user_email = "nivisec@hotmail.com";
$porter = "Mighty_Y";
$porters_website = "http://www.anorscorner.com";
$porter_email = "webmaster@mighty-y.nl.eu.org";
$license = "GNU/GPL";
$download_location = "http://www.anorscorner.com/modules.php?name=Downloads";
$module = "Read Private Messages Mod";
$module_version = "1.2.1";
$module_description = "With this mod you can read all the PM's storedd in the database";

General Joined: Mar 22, 2003 Posts: 5233 Location: USA

There is no 'right to privacy', per se. Courts have stood solid in cases of corporations, employers, etc. Now don't misunderstand me - I'm not saying I agree. It's just that you need to understand that there is no inalienable 'right'. Unless stated otherwise, anything and everything that I allow on my site, and that includes what passes through my sight, is controlled through and owned by me. I have the copyright, per se. It's my equipment and I pay for the service to host it. There is absolutely nothing legally that can prevent that. In fact, it's just the opposite - I have the rights, rightly or wrongly, ethically or morally, but legally - yes. And that is also why I can be held legally responsible for things that are on my sight that shouldn't be. It works both ways.

Joined: Jan 31, 2004 Posts: -88

the US constitution guarantees a citizen's right to privacy.

in the UK, the data protection acts apply.

AI

General Joined: Mar 22, 2003 Posts: 5233 Location: USA

In there own home. Nowhere else. And federal wiretaps are legal and overrule that.

General Joined: Mar 22, 2003 Posts: 5233 Location: USA

I think the best way to interpret the Constitution is that it is a right to privacy, but not guaranteed inclusive. You cannot break the law and hide behind that.

Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2003 10:37 am

Hello,

Since I am a member of eTruste my website has a privacy policy statement. I will not under any circumstances invade my member's privacy unless the law feel there are some form of illegal activity taking place on my website, in which is stated within the privacy statement

Code:

Women Against Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Organization abides by the safe harbor framework as set forth by the U.S. Department of Commerce regarding the collection, use, and retention of data from the United States of America. Upon reading this privacy statement, you will know: (then the statement)

Women Against Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Organization is the sole owner of the information it gathers on its site. The Organization will only share your information with outside parties in ways that are described in this privacy statement or if we are required to do so by law or in the good-faith belief that such action is necessary in order to conform to the edicts of the law, cooperate with law enforcement agencies, or comply with a legal process served on our Web sites.

Just because one is the "sole owner of the information gather on the site" doesn't give them the right to invade a user's privacy. What good is it to have a community website if you're invading their privacy?

Joined: Jan 31, 2004 Posts: -88

the same things apply to system administrators of networks (this is somewhat of a speciality of mine, so don't argue with me here).

A system administrator may not, at any time, open the files or directorys belonging to other users, unless they have reason to suspect illegal activity by that user, and have obtained the manager of that companies permission.

AI

Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2003 10:56 am

foxyfemfem wrote:

(pulling Chatserv's pants leg) - You have this addon in your download section

Correction ... Had Wink

General Joined: Mar 22, 2003 Posts: 5233 Location: USA

ArtificialIntel wrote:

the same things apply to system administrators of networks (this is somewhat of a speciality of mine, so don't argue with me here).

A system administrator may not, at any time, open the files or directorys belonging to other users, unless they have reason to suspect illegal activity by that user, and have obtained the manager of that companies permission.

AI

No argument, just fact. Not so in the USA. Companies can, at any time and for any reason, monitor and read any users email. I know this for a fact and it is clearly stated to every employee.

Sergeant Joined: Feb 27, 2003 Posts: 94

If you want to know, we at portedmods.com have it in our downloads and I ported it like the copyright statement some msg up says, but I ported it because someone requested it and we just put it in our downloads just in case someone else wants it too. It is the webmasters decision if he wants to put it on his site but I do think they should mention it somewhere. I don't use it at my sites and we also don't use it at PortedMods.com either.

Mighty_Y

Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2003 11:41 am

There's always two sides to every argument and i can understand both still i'd like to point out that if i removed the mod from resources it had nothing to do with the author or anor/Mighty_Y whom i respect for all the great ports they have worked on, i even host the ports i carry at resources, the only reason i took it out is that i myself would hate knowing my PM's were being read by someone whom i did not send them to. I will continue to carry and promote every other mod as usual.