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Craigslist Forced To Reveal a Seller's Identity

Posted by kdawson on from the limits-to-anonymity dept.

mi writes "The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts has won a judgment compelling Craigslist to reveal the identity of 'Daniel,' who tried to sell two tickets to the Oscar ceremony recently. The plaintiff's argument against such sales is scary and can be taken very far very quickly: 'If you don't know who's inside the theater, it's very difficult to provide security.' Craigslist's handling of the case may be even scarier, however — instead of fighting tooth-and-nail for the user's privacy, as we expect Google, Yahoo, and AOL, and even credit-card issuers to do, Craigslist simply did not show up in court and lost by default."

5 of 314 comments (clear)

  1. Have you seen the CL privacy page? by johnny+cashed · · Score: 5, Informative

    http://www.craigslist.org/about/privacy.html

    And look at the terms of use, particularly item 2.

    Was Craigslist expected to not reveal the seller?

    1. Re:Have you seen the CL privacy page? by johnny+cashed · · Score: 5, Informative

      Ok, to be fair, here is the correct link:

      http://www.craigslist.org/about/privacy.policy.html

      The first link I got from the craigslist home page. I thought it was funny that it was 404ed. The correct link I got from the terms of use page.

      However, if you read the correct privacy page, it says this:

      We don't share your information with third parties for marketing purposes.

      I'd say this isn't marketing purposes.

    2. Re:Have you seen the CL privacy page? by smussman · · Score: 5, Informative
      Or, even more explicitly in Section 5:

      Craigslist may disclose information about its users if required to do so by law or in the good faith belief that such disclosure is reasonably necessary to respond to subpoenas, court orders, or other legal process.

      If you look at that, there's really no deal at all. Craigslist is doing exactly what they said they would

  2. Since when does Craigslist operate auctions? by loshwomp · · Score: 3, Informative

    Craigslist doesn't manage auctions.

  3. Re:Why do the even HAVE tickets? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    I've gone to the Oscars.

    When you are invited, you get a packet of various tickets. The tickets could be parceled out from a production company which gets a lot of say, ten of them. Or if you are a nominee, you may be sent them directly via an agent or manager. In the packet of tickets-- one is for the ceremony, another for the "Governor's Ball" afterwards. The Kodak theater has three or four levels inside-- if you are a nominee you have access to the bottom "floor level" and without the appropriate pass you will be kindly asked to stay up top. You also, if I remember right, get some kind of parking ticket that you give when you turn in your car to the valet, or that your limo driver keeps if you've got one of those. I could be wrong about that last part- cant' remember.

    Here are some reasons for the tickets (and not a list): First of all, the list of attendees changes up to the last second. People are planning to go, then drop out, or have other people go in their place... it's a very fluid attendance list and I think it would be pretty difficult to keep it up to date. I'm thinking its much easier to let individuals deal with the politics of who's using the tickets than to try to centralize it. Plus, there would be people BSing to get their names added on the attendant list all over the place if it was as easy as calling in. Sure, tickets can be forged too, but I think they are individually numbered (?) and have glossy rainbow printing and stuff all over them...

    Also-- have you ever seen the red carpet? It's about the width of a city street. Fans on one side holding signs, and the press on the other holding cameras, both on bleachers. The red carpet is fast moving and chaotic. When you go to the oscars, you are part of a 45-minute flow of people who drop off their cars, head through a giant tent-like thing where they take your ticket, then you pass through one of about twelve metal detectors, then proceed through the red carpet. Among the actors and well-known celebrities are the majority-- these include more technical nominees (sound, sfx), producers, writers, etc. And most people-- celebrities and non- bring dates and family. It would be a real pain to ID every single person who passes through, and the flow of people would virtually grind to a halt...

    I suppose they COULD use a list.. but it would be just as much of a cluster fuck I think.

    Hope this helps...