Aussie sues over Facebook photos....

[okosh]

Woman sues over Facebook photos


Article from: PerthNow
Todd Cardy, court reporter

January 10, 2009 06:00pm


A WA woman has launched a defamation lawsuit over humiliating photos that were allegedly posted on Facebook and adult match-making websites.

Court papers lodged with the WA Supreme Court reveal the woman, Nyree Howlett, has made the claim against a number of WA people linked to the popular websites, where users create profiles to post photos and information.

She is seeking damages against four defendants for accessing and publishing private confidential material without her knowledge - believed to be revealing personal photographs of Ms Howlett.

Written posts and photos were uploaded by the defendants on to social-networking site Facebook and adult online services adultfriendfinder.com and redhotpie.com.au and remained online for at least two weeks in January last year, the writ claims.

Ms Howlett alleges the material was defamatory and she wants unspecified damages for defamation, equitable compensation, legal costs and an apology from the defendants.

Detectives from technology crime investigations, a specialist unit of the police force's computer crime squad, have investigated the claims for a year, but no charges have been laid. Ms Howlett's lawyer would not comment specifically on the material alleged in the defamation case, but told The Sunday Times that his client was distressed.

``It is not a pretty thing that has happened,'' said the lawyer, who did not want to be named.

``It's caused a lot of problems for my client who has basically been ostracised by her family.

``She's had to move home, get rid of cell phones and change addresses.''

Defamation expert and Victorian lawyer Brian Walters SC said the number of complaints he had received about defamatory information online, unauthorised posts and accessing personal photos had jumped in the past year.

``A year ago complaints were very rare, but I now hear about them every week,'' Mr Walters said.

``It's new technology and sometimes the pitfalls aren't obvious for people.

``We are still feeling for an appropriate etiquette in interacting with each other and when people overstep the mark the law is there. It applies the same if it had been a letter.''

Facebook, which began in May 2004, allows users to have their own profile page listing which can include their name, photo and information about religious and political views, favourite bands and movies, and relationship status.

Friends are also listed with links to their pages and users can join groups and people can post emails and comment on personal photos.

More than 250,000 Australians and more than 100 million people worldwide have Facebook profiles.

http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/stor...1-2761,00.html

[ExecutiveIncome2You]

I hope she wins the case, no one should have to worry about pictures like that being posted..then again she shouldn't have allowed them to be taken in the first place.

[Tdinoz]

Well it's a bit like someone climbing in your window and making off with a chunk of your private life. Obviously she didn't think someone would do that and post online.

Got to run
Off to make sure my super secret online albums padlock and chain has not been breached by any twits. (-_-)

[contrarian]

Originally Posted by Tdinoz

Got to run
Off to make sure my super secret online albums padlock and chain has not been breached by any twits. (-_-)

Why, what you got to hide?
;-]

This is actually fao okosh, but I was intrigued by what's in your albums tdinoz :-P

Sorry, to stalk you into this folder okosh, but it is off-topic to everything else, so that should be ok, no?

I can't pm yet due to post count, so you may want to e-mail me, or give me yours then I can reply.

Cheers.

[okosh]

Originally Posted by contrarian

Sorry, to stalk you into this folder okosh, but it is off-topic to everything else, so that should be ok, no?

I can't pm yet due to post count, so you may want to e-mail me, or give me yours then I can reply.

Cheers.

Sent you my email addy

[Michael Price]

I hope she wins the case too