QUOTE (sweetthing @ Mar 19 2003, 11:07 PM)
Attorney or not it does not matter, if someone discuss your personal business without your knowledge it is illegal ...... Gee why is there a privacy act ??? Why are they posted all over the Internet ?????
Duh !!!!!! Get real ......
Privacy is voluntary in most cases except for certain circumstances regarding social security numbers, tax information, veteran status, credit data, HHS HPAA benefits, and if a website actively collects personally identifying information in the normal course of business and cannot conduct business without the collection of such data. The Federal Trade Commission provides guidelines on privacy.
If you willingly supplied personal information to the owner of a website without insisting on seeing if they had a privacy policy, then you have no expectation to a right of privacy. The only minor exceptions are as noted above, and if information displayed was inaccurate -- even if it was bad information, as long as it was accurate and you didn't challenge a posted privacy policy, you have no recourse.
As well, the 1st Amendment does not apply to private entities such as corporations, businesses, including privately owned websites. The 1st Amendment was written to protect people if they chose to speak out about the government, practice a different religion, and for the press to publish accurate information without fear of retribution.
Is this stuff even TAUGHT in the schools anymore? It amazes me at how misinformed folks are, and I don't say that to offend anyone, because folks SHOULD know what their rights are and are not, and feel comfortable knowing what protection they do and don't have.
LOL - I'm quite real. DUH back to you, dear

And since you're such a veteran internet user, I'll take it one more -- I've been on this mess since it was ARPANET. Were you even born then?
P.S to KensLuv -- wish granted, and I'm a she