(ML) Internet Responsibility

I have two reactions for what I heard of the discussion for this week:

First, I find it reasonable. When you write something and publish it online, you must assume that it can be accessed by other people whether legally or illegally.

The fact that you publish means that other people can read it, so there is a certain responsibility that comes with that power. If you intend to avoid insulting or causing harm or any such effect on other people, it is important to make sure that you do not mention last names, if at all. Assuming the fact that you publish "for everyone" and not anonymously (without chance that it would be traced to you), you are responsible and should be able to answer for what you write.

Second, it kind of appalls me a bit. If somebody publishes something online and classifies it as "friends only" or "private viewing", then the website should maintain its agreement that it posed upon the creation of the account to uphold the author's privacy setting.

Had something that was posted under a specific privacy setting leaked out where they should not have been viewed, it would seem a little bit like an invasion of privacy. (Although, the reality of the internet does effectively comprimise this term.)

I think though, it should not be excusable if the information was searched for and distributed without the consent of the author/creator.

Facing reality, I suppose that every person should simply be careful of what they say, write, or do, if they do not want to risk question or objection or anything of the sort.