I don't want to kick up a huge fuss, but as topic title suggests,

 

Is monitoring the private chat, legal?

 

Is it moral?

What do the terms of service you agreed to say?

I don't want to kick up a huge fuss, but as topic title suggests,

 

Yes you do.

 

Yes, it is legal, we give you warnings all over the place including the very page that you post the PM from, and yes, it is moral. You know how many users we have banned for making threats of violence, pedophilia, sexual advances, pirating, etc.? That makes it very moral in my opinion. If you disagree, you have the freedom NOT to use the PM system.

 

Btw.... If you think any of us have the time to sit there and monitor PM's 24 x 7, you would be wrong. We occasionally do key word searches, but most often rely on users to report PM's that they have received that violate our ToS'.

Legal: Yes, their website, their rules, you agreed to the T&C's.

Moral, I'd say so, I doubt they go around looking up people and the PM's they've sent just for the heck of it, I'd say it's only when someone reports a message that was sent.

Moral is something that's down to the individual doing it and how they conduct themselves. What one person may see as immoral, another may see as a neccesery step...

 

Ró.

One other point... The notice for PM's has been around for as long as these forums have been in existence and offering PM's. They weren't just introduced yesterday (or whatever). And... not to put too fine a point on it, if you think your privacy is protected in places like Facebook, Skype, Twitter, etc., break the law and you will find out how NOT private those places are.

One other point... The notice for PM's has been around for as long as these forums have been in existence and offering PM's. They weren't just introduced yesterday (or whatever). And... not to put too fine a point on it, if you think your privacy is protected in places like Facebook, Skype, Twitter, etc., break the law and you will find out how NOT private those places are.

 

I know,

 

It is a damn shame though that it seems like no where is private anymore, what has humanity become?

 

I also totally 100% believe in freedom of speech, people should be able to say what ever they want, and only have moral consequences to deal with,

I also totally 100% believe in freedom of speech, people should be able to say what ever they want, and only have moral consequences to deal with,

 

Yes, and we have crossed swords on that matter too. I suggest you read the ToS' again. THAT clause has been there since before these forums...

It is a damn shame though that it seems like no where is private anymore, what has humanity become?

 

Yeh, but if you see what type of things Tom and the team are searching for in the PMs, then I don't think freedom of speech or privacy comes into it.

 

Pedophilia, sexual advances and piracy? I don't think anyone who engages in above mentioned activities deserves their right to privacy, they surrendered it when they decided to commit the above offences.

 

Again though, you're not forced to use it, and if you want you could always email, or if you feel overly paranoid, good old fashioned face to face talking still works a treat, and there's no internet lag... :P

 

Ró.

Tom's house, Tom's rules. Simple as that. This is not public space, it's his property. It's not actually inside your house just because you see it on your screen, so of course he does have the right to monitor whatever he wants to within his own site's infrastructure.

 

You can always make your own site and chat with your own guests about anything you'd like. Or follow Ronan's advice for a simple solution.

 

IMO.

Tom's house, Tom's rules. Simple as that.

 

Got your point, but it really isn't that simple. It is the home for 45+ volunteers and over 90,000 community members. The rules are intended to protect all of our members and volunteers and to enable them to enjoy a safe and reasonably hospitable environment in this community. Not everyone can see beyond their "entitlements" and sometimes we are required to remind them, or if necessary, remove their ability to shout from the roof tops what they are entitled to (free speech at all costs comes to mind).

It is a damn shame though that it seems like no where is private anymore, what has humanity become?

 

Several options I can think of...

Private forum on your own domain.

E-mail.

Snail mail.

Phone calls.

Meeting in person.

 

For all those, use encryption if you are serious about privacy. It's harder for the last one, of course.

 

Public venues like open forums, or any form of indirect communication, has never been truly private, and it's not going to start now.