E-Mail Privacy

[rich47]

I am told that including people and their E-Mail address as cc's on E Mail
is a breach of the law on privacy under Data Protection legislation.
Is this true?

[bhg481]

If you're worried put them under bcc (blind carbon copy) instead. That way no-one knows who else has been sent the email.

[CrapAtCryptics]

Never heard that but forwarding an email with a string of previous addresses is a sure way to get email addresses harvested.

[THECORBYLOON]

It is a breach and an HIV clinic was fined for sending an e-mail out with hundreds of folk cc'd rather than bcc'd.

[fiction-factory]

If that is the case I am not sure then why email providers include this facility- could they be deemed to be complicit in an unlawful act?

[woofgang]

The facility is there because its perfectly possible to use it legally.

[rich47]

Thanks to all responders.

[THECORBYLOON]

FF it may not be unlawful in every country and if consent has been given there is no problem. The fact that an item or process has been used unlawfully does not mean that the provider of that item or process is also complicit. If that were the case, every gun manufacturer and gun supplier would be gaol.

[rockyracoon]

This occurred to me at work last year, not for legal reasons, but, because I didn't think it was right that 150+ strangers had access to a load of email addresses. I ended up sending the email to myself and bcc'd everyone else.

[fiction-factory]

I agree the corbyloon but if it is illegal then the email providers should at least make the users aware of the fact; and the parallel with gun sellers is not true if people need a licence which (which I think they do).
Anyway, I agree that it is a breach if done without permission and the email contains confidential info (even if it's just including their email address as a possible sufferer). However, the question seems to be asking is it unlawful per se, and the answer is no in that it can be used lawfully.
It would be interesting to see though what constitutes a lawful use. I have been copied in on mails in circumstance where I am not aware I have given permission for my email address to be published in this way.
If those are unlawful does that mean it's also illegal to pass on someone's email address if you haven't had permission- eg if I pass on a friend's email address to another friend?

[THECORBYLOON]

With regard to e-mail providers telling users about the legislation, that would vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and how many folk tick to say they have read and agreed to the pages of terms and conditions on a website when they haven't ?

[fiction-factory]

Good point- maybe I did click some Tc and Cs without reading them when i opened my account. I suppose we should be careful about forwarding emails too if the cc box details in the original email appear in the email the new recipient sees.
In practice I doubt that the vast majority of private emails are going to get caught up in this but organisations do need to be very careful. The bcc box is a much better one to use. I sometimes send an email to myself and then do bccs so no-one can be sure who else received it

[woofgang]

so gun sellers say to every purchaser “You do know that killing people is illegal don’t you?"

[Jackdaw33]

How do you 'bcc' someone? Never come across this before.

[Jackdaw33]

Just found it.

[fiction-factory]

I'm not sure of the point you are trying to make, woofgang, but in the UK I think you need to jump through hoops to get a gun (https://www.gov.uk/shotgun-and-firearm-certificates) unless you buy one illegally. On the other hand anyone can have as many email accounts as they want without any questions asked

[woofgang]

its an email option. instead of putting the other email addresses in the cc line, you put them in the bcc (blind carbon copy) line. Each person receives a copy but can’t see the other email adfresses the email has been sent to.

[Peter Pedant]

// It is a breach and an HIV clinic was fined for sending an e-mail out with hundreds of folk cc'd rather than bcc'd.//

that is breach of confidentiality in a medical setting which is kinda different

everyone on the cc list can conclude the other punters are HIV +

Here it would not be - UNLESS the email addresses have been given for one purpose only and that didnt include posting it to other people

At College ( yeah I am at college at the age of sixty ) they went all girlie about email addresses and privacy
and then cc'd a circulate to everyones private emails ho hum
I did point out the irony of it - but no one on the list did or even notice


I think it is a little about private addresses - all the great and good go all gooey about their addresses being in telephone directories and council tax rolls because it is private whereas the rest of us have to put up with bombardment of crip from the employees of the great and good

[Peter Pedant]

// so gun sellers say to every purchaser “You do know that killing people is illegal don’t you?"//

there is a microwave with a label - do not try to dry your dog in this microwave.
Dog got cooked in a new microwave because previously the owner put the wet dog in the oven at low door open and it erm loved it

but hey folks this is a thread on emails
[ hmmm do not try to send your dog by email ? ..... ]

[bhg481]

Do not use this pencil to write a blackmail letter. Do not use this carving knife to murder your husband. The list is endless.

[Togo]

//[ hmmm do not try to send your dog by email ? ..... ]//

Haha...... or a "tabby cat". :))