Re:The Embarrassing Naked Photos On Your Stolen Laptop May N...
by cabalamat on Wednesday August 31, 2011 @02:35AM
(#2944575)
> you have the right to hack into your laptop, turn on the webcam, collect evidence necessary to locate and recover the laptop, but you don't have the moral right to exploit the thief beyond that
Unless you do it in an amusing way, humiliating them in front of millions of internet users. This performs a public good by making people laugh, but more importantly by reducing the incentive to steal laptops.
> Shaming the theif by showing their face is reasonable, but only if you know they aren't an accidental victim
If it becomes well-publicised that people buying dodgy laptops can have their privacy violated, it will be harder for thieves to fence them. This will reduce future laptop thefts.
> Sharing the thief's nude photos with the police or with any unnecessary third parties, where the they are not necessary for recovery, is a violation of privacy
Yes, one that can bring considerable publicity, which as I've explained earlier can have the effect of reducing future thefts.
Unless you do it in an amusing way, humiliating them in front of millions of internet users. This performs a public good by making people laugh, but more importantly by reducing the incentive to steal laptops.
> Shaming the theif by showing their face is reasonable, but only if you know they aren't an accidental victim
If it becomes well-publicised that people buying dodgy laptops can have their privacy violated, it will be harder for thieves to fence them. This will reduce future laptop thefts.
> Sharing the thief's nude photos with the police or with any unnecessary third parties, where the they are not necessary for recovery, is a violation of privacy
Yes, one that can bring considerable publicity, which as I've explained earlier can have the effect of reducing future thefts.