[MUD-Dev] When Do We Get the "Right" to Privacy?

[J C Lawrence]

I've recently caught wind of some legal chain rattling with a
commercial MUD operator which the following post to
comp.society.privacy targets well (tho in a different field).
Privacy policies and implementation in regard to not only minors,
but adults, as relates to their conduct and behaviour on your games:

--<cut>--
From: Eric Schilling <erics at concentric.net>
Date: 12 Dec 2000 17:31:04 GMT
Subject: When Do We Get the "Right" to Privacy?
Organization: Concentric Internet Services

Hello all.  I hope this fires up some discussion.

I think that we all agree that we have a right to privacy in some
form or other but where do we draw the line with the issue when it
comes to our school children?  I saw a recent article in this group
about a New Hampshire (USA) school district that got sued by a
parent wanting to know where their child was surfing during school
hours.  If I recall correctly, the school ended up releasing the
internet logs to the public.

To me, this is a classic case of overreaction on the part of the
school district.  In releasing all of the records to the public,
students' privacy was compromised.  I think the parent should have
been able to view their child's records without a massive public
release.  I also don't think that the parent violated their child's
privacy in making the request.  Here's why...

I don't believe that minors have "rights" the same way adults do.
Sure, they are just as protected from the government as is everyone
else but since their parents bear ultimate responsibility for their
behavior until they reach a certain age, then their parents can do
such things as search their belongings or forbid them from leaving
their room, etc.  Obviously, there is a boundary here too.  While
the courts might allow a parent to forbid their child from leaving
their room, they are quick to punish the parent who chains their
child to the wall or ties them up.  IMO, this is good.

My questions to the group are:

1.  What right of privacy do you feel children have?
2.  How does age affect this right?
3.  Where to the rights and responsibilities of parenthood supersede
those of the kids.?
4.  Most importantly, why do you believe as you do?  In the case of
facts, please cite them.  In the case of opinions, please share (if
possible) what went into forming them.

I hope this triggers some good discussion.  I know that this group
reaches more people than in the USA and I hope they will contribute
as well.
--<cut>--


--
J C Lawrence                                       claw at kanga.nu
---------(*)                          http://www.kanga.nu/~claw/
--=| A man is as sane as he is dangerous to his environment |=--
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