David Sharp wrote:
> Hi
> I'm just putting the final touches to a new mailing list for
> journalists, to be launched in French.
>
> I've been writing the bit of the user file where I commit myself to
> total confidentiality of the member data - to keep it completely
> confidential and on no account to provide any of it to any third
> party whatsoever.
There are too many questions implied in that to be answered easily or
with any degree of confidence.
However, one problem in the United States, and probably in many other
countries, is that when you communicate to people within their borders,
you may become subject to court orders to disclose SOME information. I
don't know whether those orders to disclose information could then be
enforced within France.
I myself have used a court order in my own state of the United States to
compel internet service providers in other states to release user
information. This was done only where individuals attempted to close a
website down by thousands of automated messages containing nothing but
two or three profane words. However, I don't know the limitations courts
might follow here.
I think it's a mistake for anyone to promise ABSOLUTE confidentiality.
Ted Smith
Denver, Colorado
USA
