Not creepy, but still pretty frightening

Security issues at LJ, anyone know further detail? by Laburnum on 2010-10-25 20:08:00 UTC Reply

So, this was posted on a friend's LJ recently:
http://shiokku.dreamwidth.org/363.html
Apparently LJ staff members have been breaking into people's locked posts and deleting their accounts without reason. Can anyone provide further information, and do we have anything to be worried about? If it is likely to be a problem, should we contact any outside legal authorities, since I'm pretty sure this falls under the heading of invasion of privacy?

Most likely legal, but still frightening. by Aeidhryn on 2010-10-26 01:26:00 UTC Reply

Everyone remember to save their stuff in a Word Doc, I guess.

And post nothing that you really need to keep secret. by Wide Eyed Idealist on 2010-10-26 02:17:00 UTC Reply

I'm lucky; I'm fairly sure the worst that'll happen to me is a few awkward questions about the Katara/Azula dub-con*. I hope.

*Disclaimer: No, I wasn't condoning it. Azula = messed up.

... by The 9th Blue Mage on 2010-10-25 21:21:00 UTC Reply

Am I the only one that finds this situation creepy?

Not creepy, but still pretty frightening by TheLowtide on 2010-10-26 04:23:00 UTC Reply

Honestly, I've always just assumed that admins had the power to look into locked posts and such. I mean, sure, I've never seen it happen before, but the suspicion that it could has always been there. Doesn't change that fact that it's pretty weird, unexpected, and quite worrying though.

That's not what bothers me. by Vixenmage on 2010-10-26 06:16:00 UTC Reply

Of course the admins would have a way to get into entries-- that rather makes sense. Even the staff and abuse teams I could see.

The part that's creepy and frightening is where they're blatantly, almost deliberately unprofessional about it. It's not just keeping an eye on things, they're actually vandalising and abusing on their own, and through sockpuppets. And nobody in the LJ hierarchy calls them out, which is also pretty frightening. Especially for people who've been using that site for years and have about half their life (and too much stuff to just copy-paste) up on it.

Very simple answer. by JulyFlame on 2010-10-25 20:37:00 UTC Reply

Online, at any given community, you have little to no rights.

Terms of Services usually outline it well.

"You agree that LiveJournal, in its sole discretion, may terminate your password, journal, or account, and remove and discard any content within the Service, for any reason, including and without limitation, the lack of use, or if LiveJournal believes that you have violated or acted inconsistently with the letter or spirit of the TOS. Any contracts, verbal or written or assumed, in conjunction with your deleted journal and all its parts, at LiveJournal's discretion, will be terminated as well. LiveJournal may also, in its sole discretion and at any time, discontinue providing the Service, or any part thereof, with or without notice. You agree that any termination of your access to the Service under any provision of this TOS may be effected without prior notice, and acknowledge and agree that LiveJournal may immediately deactivate or delete your LiveJournal journal and all related information and files. LiveJournal reserves the right to bar any further access to such files or the Service. You agree that LiveJournal shall not be liable to you or any third-party for any termination of your access to the Service. Paid accounts that are terminated will not be refunded."

"YOU EXPRESSLY UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT LIVEJOURNAL SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, GOODWILL, USE, DATA OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES (EVEN IF LIVEJOURNAL HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES), RESULTING FROM: (i) THE USE OR THE INABILITY TO USE THE SERVICE; (ii) THE COST OF PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS AND SERVICES RESULTING FROM ANY GOODS, DATA, INFORMATION OR SERVICES PURCHASED OR OBTAINED OR MESSAGES RECEIVED OR TRANSACTIONS ENTERED INTO THROUGH OR FROM THE SERVICE; (iii) UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO OR ALTERATION OF YOUR TRANSMISSIONS OR DATA; (iv) STATEMENTS OR CONDUCT OF ANY THIRD PARTY ON THE SERVICE; OR (v) ANY OTHER MATTER RELATING TO THE SERVICE."

You signed any rights you have away to privacy on their site the moment you agreed to the TOS.

Expand this post →

That really doesn't make it right. by Vixenmage on 2010-10-25 22:47:00 UTC Reply

And what's more, that's with the understanding that LJ is going to at least make an attempt to be fair-- that they won't ban out of spite and pettiness. Especially since people pay for accounts there. Quite a few of the incidents mentioned in that post happened to paid accounts-- and for LJ to be acting like that is stupid, dangerous, and also, as mentioned in one of the bullets, legally dubious.