Asia Fields reports:
It was 5 a.m. on the first day of school when two University of Washington students started posting flyers around campus.
“Do you know the name of someone who has committed sexual assault or harassment? We are collecting names for the world to see,” the flyers read.
By the end of the first day, the students had received nearly a dozen names. As word spread, they began pouring in from around the country. Then, one night in late September, a student published the first batch on a website she created called “Make Them Scared.”
Read more on Seattle Times.
Libel is a real thing.
1) n. to publish in print (including pictures), writing or broadcast through radio, television or film, an untruth about another which will do harm to that person or his/her reputation, by tending to bring the target into ridicule, hatred, scorn or contempt of others.
Let the lawsuits begin.
And even worse than lawsuits: violence.
Someone pinged me last night to ask me what I thought about this particular story/action. I responded that I thought it was a dangerous and awful idea. Just more vigilantism.
Either we, as a country, believe in due process or we don’t. And if we do, you don’t do this kind of thing. If law enforcement isn’t responsive or laws aren’t strong enough, work on changing that. But don’t go publicly naming alleged criminals where naming them could lead to attacks on them or their family or reputation harm. It’s just not right.