Private educational provider threatens online forum with defamation - 23 views

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  #1 Low Yunying on 15 Aug 09

   

  The case study can be found here:
  
  http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/06/report-private-educational-provider-threatens-online-forum-with-defamation/
  
  Summary:
  
  Private educational provider (Harriet Educational group) sues online forum (SGForum) for defamation based on their online forum postings. Harriet Educational group makes two demands. It demands that the website pays for the damages to reputations as well as disclose full names and particulars of the people who made the comments in the forum.
  
  The thing is that the educational group is not one that is without controversy. It seems to have a dubious background with numerous complaints about the school that it has used false testimonials to entice them to fork out money to be a licensed agent of the school. Also, the website appears to be agreeing with the accusations, with the usage of bad english. Hence, the accusations or comments made in the forum was probably not groundless.
  
  
  Ethical Question:
  
  Was it wrong for users of SGforum to share their honest views and opinions about Harriet Educational Group? After all, they had grounds to doubt the school's credibility given the impression given from their online website and they should have the free of speech to voice their concerns and opinions in the forum.
  
  Problem:
  
  Even if it were a case of defamation, should SGForum bear the responsibilities of users? Would it be ethical for SGForums to also fully disclose the names of the users in such events? Does Harriet Educational Group have the right to make such demands from SGForum?

   

  <div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">The case study can be found here: <br /> <br /> <a href="http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/06/report-private-educational-provider-threatens-online-forum-with-defamation/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/06/report-private-educational-provider-threatens-online-forum-with-defamation/</a> <br /> <br /> Summary: <br /> <br /> Private educational provider (Harriet Educational group) sues online forum (SGForum) for defamation based on their online forum postings. Harriet Educational group makes two demands. It demands that the website pays for the damages to reputations as well as disclose full names and particulars of the people who made the comments in the forum. <br /> <br /> The thing is that the educational group is not one that is without controversy. It seems to have a dubious background with numerous complaints about the school that it has used false testimonials to entice them to fork out money to be a licensed agent of the school. Also, the website appears to be agreeing with the accusations, with the usage of bad english. Hence, the accusations or comments made in the forum was probably not groundless. <br /> <br /> <br /> Ethical Question: <br /> <br /> Was it wrong for users of SGforum to share their honest views and opinions about Harriet Educational Group? After all, they had grounds to doubt the school's credibility given the impression given from their online website and they should have the free of speech to voice their concerns and opinions in the forum. <br /> <br /> Problem: <br /> <br /> Even if it were a case of defamation, should SGForum bear the responsibilities of users? Would it be ethical for SGForums to also fully disclose the names of the users in such events? Does Harriet Educational Group have the right to make such demands from SGForum?</div>

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