3 ms·
> The request simply asked for a prompt response as required by law. That’s quite a stones throw from “I’ll sue you and take you for everything you own if you d
by quadrifoliate 5y ago
> The request simply asked for a prompt response as required by law. That’s quite a stones throw from “I’ll sue you and take you for everything you own if you don’t reply”...BTW, if you are actually being threatened by a lawyer then they send certified mail or show up at your door.
I think you are expected random people operating websites to share your knowledge of the legal system. I know you're right, but most people who operate a website likely don't, and these emails make them spend unnecessary time, money figuring that out; not to mention mental distress.
I find this not dissimilar from a standard "I'm in prison, but know where a million dollars are buried, send me money" email scam; and if researchers were sending those around as tests to see who was gullible, they would be promptly end up on several blocklists. I don't see how this is different; and therein lies the ethical problem. Quite a few people seem to agree.
- Sebb767 5y ago> I think you [are] expected random people operating websites to share your knowledge of the legal system. I know you're right, but most people who operate a website likely don't, and these emails make them spend unnecessary time, money figuring that out; not to mention mental distress. But if you're hosting a website, you should have that knowledge. I can't run a business and expect not to be asked about taxes, either. Honestly, as an EU citizen, if I wasn't aware of the GDPR in regards to my websites, I'd have bigger problems than some research study. That being said, I fully agree that this mail wasn't nice and I can absolutely understand why people became nervous. But things like this are expected and the issue seems exaggerated in that light. Quite a few people seem to agree to this, too ;-)