Angela H. of the BBA Whisperer has just recently been spanked by Google for posting private content that she acquired and published illegally on her blog, violating the DMCA and privacy rights:
When the posts were removed, she tried to put them back up again only to get spanked again:
Angela H. has been one of our Biggest Offenders ever since the attack she led on author Sharon Desruisseaux last year. She was also banned from Goodreads for her abusive behavior towards others. In recent months, the psychotic munchichi let her obsessive hatred carry her a little too far when she broke into a private Facebook group and took screenshots of private conversations between members of the group that she proceeded to publish on her blog. Then, she boasted about it on her Booklikes blog. Ironically enough, she’s also labeled the members of this group BBA.
I know, right!
But guess what, folks! Unfortunately for Angela, the publication of private facts is illegal:
Not only was Angela in violation of the DMCA, she also violated privacy rights, which is punishable according to California Penal Code, Section 630-631:
630. The Legislature hereby declares that advances in science and technology have led to the development of new devices and techniques for the purpose of eavesdropping upon private communications and that the invasion of privacy resulting from the continual and increasing use of such devices and techniques has created a serious threat to the free exercise of personal liberties and cannot be tolerated in a free and civilized society. The Legislature by this chapter intends to protect the right of privacy of the people of this state. The Legislature recognizes that law enforcement agencies have a legitimate need to employ modern listening devices and techniques in the investigation of criminal conduct and the apprehension of lawbreakers. Therefore, it is not the intent of the Legislature to place greater restraints on the use of listening devices and techniques by law enforcement agencies than existed prior to the effective date of this chapter.
631. (a) Any person who, by means of any machine, instrument, or contrivance, or in any other manner, intentionally taps, or makes any unauthorized connection, whether physically, electrically, acoustically, inductively, or otherwise, with any telegraph or telephone wire, line, cable, or instrument, including the wire, line, cable, or instrument of any internal telephonic communication system, or who willfully and without the consent of all parties to the communication, or in any unauthorized manner, reads, or attempts to read, or to learn the contents or meaning of any message, report, or communication while the same is in transit or passing over any wire, line, or cable, or is being sent from, or received at any place within this state; or who uses, or attempts to use, in any manner, or for any purpose, or to communicate in any way, any information so obtained, or who aids, agrees with, employs, or conspires with any person or persons to unlawfully do, or permit, or cause to be done any of the acts or things mentioned above in this section, is punishable by a fine not exceeding two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500), or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one year, or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170, or by both a fine and imprisonment in the county jail or pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170. If the person has previously been convicted of a violation of this section or Section 632, 632.5, 632.6, 632.7, or 636, he or she is punishable by a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one year, or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170, or by both that fine and imprisonment.
(b) This section shall not apply (1) to any public utility engaged in the business of providing communications services and facilities, or to the officers, employees or agents thereof, where the acts otherwise prohibited herein are for the purpose of construction, maintenance, conduct or operation of the services and facilities of the public utility, or (2) to the use of any instrument, equipment, facility, or service furnished and used pursuant to the tariffs of a public utility, or (3) to any telephonic communication system used for communication exclusively within a state, county, city and county, or city correctional facility.
(c) Except as proof in an action or prosecution for violation of this section, no evidence obtained in violation of this section shall be admissible in any judicial, administrative, legislative, or other proceeding.
Since Angela lives in California and since Google is a California based company, the members of the group, whose private information was exposed, sought the help of a California attorney who contacted Google to inform them of the violation. The result was the email from Google posted above and the removal of the illegal content. We’ve heard from members of the group that they intend to file suit against Angela for damages. More on that to come.
So, this should be a good lesson to any troll who thinks it’s okay to hack into a private group (or a private account) and publish people’s private information. This behavior is illegal and will not be tolerated. Ever.
