Ebay's Flexible Privacy Policy

l2718 writes "Ha'aretz has a disquieting report on a presentation made by eBay's senior counsel to law-enforcement officials. Apparently eBay logs all user interaction with them, and will happily hand over all the information to any law-enforcement official without a warrant -- a fax is quite sufficient. He is actually proud of their 'flexible' privacy policy."

Comments

eBay: A Model Citizen

[shylock0]

If you read through their privacy agreement (you know, the one you were supposed to read through when you signed up for eBay in the first place), you'll find that they really don't say much about protecting your privacy. I'm not at all surprised, either. And I'm not sure that its a bad thing. There's certainly criminal activity on eBay -- Slashdot was wild a few months ago with the story of a guy whose hard work caught the man who defrauded him of his Mac laptop.

Contrary to the impressions of many /. readers, law enforcement are not "out to get you." They're out to do their job. If you are a law-abiding citizen, and you cooperate fully, you're not going to have any problems.

In fact, I would argue that it is the responsibility of a civic-minded law abiding citizen -- or corporation -- to cooperate with law enforcement to the extent that is permitted them by law (i.e., without breaking a contract). eBay is just doing what any good-minded citizen should do.

It's important to remember that your constitutional right to privacy only extends to the Federal Gov'ment peering into your own home, or your own activities. It doesn't really protect you from them going after other sources of information. Unless you got the other party to sign or offer a privacy agreement, you really don't have any rights to indirect privacy whatsoever.

Re:eBay: A Model Citizen

[GregAllen]

Agreed!

If the police asked you about the crack house next door, shouldn't you tell them everything you know? Get the crooks out of your neighborhood! Online communities are no different, and eBay wants a community of trust. It works largely on the honor system!

Believe me, as someone relying on law enforcement (see my .sig), they have better things to do than invade your privacy. They typically have large caseloads, and can't dedicate enough resources to the ones they have.

People want to "stay out of it" but then complain because society is going to hell! I applaud eBay's policy.