"Matchcode" technology sparks privacy flames.....

[Declan McCullagh]

At 14:02 -0400 9/23/97, nospam-seesignature at ceddec.com wrote:
>> Which law, specifically, would gossiping with (or about) your neighbors
>> violate?
>
>Slander.
>
>Were I to maliciously spread a rumor, and you got fired, or suffered
>economic loss because of my gossip, you could sue me.

Not quite. Truth is an absolute defense against slander and libel. If the
gossip is true, which was my hypothetical, what's the cause of action?

>I can be damaged by information - which may be either wrong or out of
>context.  Should I have no right to recover or correct such things?  If no\

No, you should have no right to "recover" what I know about you. This is a
common beginner's misunderstanding. What you seem to be arguing for is
property rights in information. But that is misguided. To grant you such a
right would be to let you muzzle others who say truthful things, violating
their free speech rights.

That is why many "privacy laws" are censorship in disguise.

-Declan


-------------------------
Declan McCullagh
Time Inc.
The Netly News Network
Washington Correspondent
http://netlynews.com/