<p>I posted on a different threat but this is actually a different subject and wanted to hear others comments…</p>
<p>“Cyber terrorism” is happening. Former spouses or lovers are posting and/or doing “mass emailing” of embarrassing photos and stories to humiliate an ex who has angered them (for whatever reason). </p>
<p>Virtually anyone who has had a lengthy relationship with someone will posses info that would be very embarrassing if unleashed in cyber space. </p>
<p>The fear of having embarrassing info plastered on the internet is going make many people very fearful of 'getting close" to someone and sharing private info. </p>
<p>Who is going to want to share “their most embarrassing story” or other private thoughts to a spouse or lover when a future divorce or breakup could mean such info is posted somewhere or mass-emailed for all to see?</p>
<p>Sometimes, the pics/stories aren’t posted but the people “threaten” to post them to get their exes to reconcile, give in, or whatever. Cyber threats of “exposure” are also used to keep current spouses (or g/b friends) “in line” and prevent them from leaving.</p>
<p>There needs to be better laws about this. What are your thoughts?</p>
<p>It’s interesting. Maybe someone who knows the law on Intellectual Property can suggest something. Meanwhile, I see a parallel to the development of laws against libel and slander, long after the new technology of the printing press. Things moved more slowly in the 1200’s, but if you think about it, people could do a lot more damage to each other after Guttenberg’s greasy invention. Compare one guy running from town to town singing a broadside ballad to any edition of the Sunday New York Times today. The second one goes a lot further and faster (depending on your newspaper delivery person, of course :)</p>
<p>I think it’s bombastic to call it “terrorism” however. Detonating a suicide bomb vest on a Jerusalem street was terrorism. Today is September 11; THAT was terrorism. Terrorism kills. What you’re speaking of does harm to people, but isn’t death. Maybe “Cyber-libel” or “screen slander” is more accurate.</p>
<p>I know a tiny bit of Talmudic law, which forms the basis of a surprising amount of American jurisprudence. There, slander and gossip come under the general heading of stealing, because you “rob” someone of their good name and reputation. Stealing, but not murder.</p>
<p>If the compromising stories or photos are real, then there’s no libel or slander - truth is a defense, and opinion is not actionable. I think perhaps the remedy would be for invasion of privacy of some sort. But yes, the law needs to evolve to handle such matters. That doesn’t happen as quickly as the Internet does.</p>
<p>I didn’t mean to equate “cyber terrorism” with 9/11. I used the word “terrorism” because anyone who if facing having embarrassing info exposed to everyone is feeling terrorized. </p>
<p>I think slander, etc can only be really claimed if the info is false and affects one’s income/employment. A person can tell lies about you, but if you can not demonstrate that the lies affected you financially, I think the slander laws do not apply.</p>
<p>The concern really here is that everyone has “true” embarrassing things about them that only a spouse or lover would know about. It could be sexual dysfunction, a weird habit, a DUI, an addiction, debt, etc, or some other “fact” that would humiliate you if it got out to the world. The threat that a loved one may become an “ex lover” at some point, is going to have a chilling affect on relationships.</p>
<p>This stuff only works if there’s an audience for it. I can’t think of anyone
I respect who would want to be exposed those kind of disclosures. Ick!</p>
<p>It only works as blackmail in certain kind of society. Unfortunately
there’s all too many people in our society that are interested.</p>
<p>So now I have to not only tell my sons “Don’t put anything on the
internet you wouldn’t want Grandma to see” and “Don’t have sex with
anyone you couldn’t stand to have a kid with”, I have to add “Don’t have
sex with anyone who would be sleazy enough to spread around stories
and pictures of you.” Actually, that’s pretty sound and unremarkable
advice.</p>
<p>If it can be interpreted as ‘stalking’ then it is a crime and should be reported to the proper agency. Cyber attack is a growing problem – female bloggers have often been under attack without any personal relationship for instance – and the law is going to have to deal with it.</p>
<p>I like your advice to avoid anyone sleazy enough to spread stories and pictures… BUT, the problem includes people who one would never have suspected to behave in such manner. I saw a report on TV and the people who had posted and/or emailed (in anger) had no history of such behavior or meanness before.</p>