The Internet is made almost entirely of other people's computers.
If you put something on the Internet, you are putting trust in those people (and companies).
I what was meant was, most people do not understand that when they send nudes to someone, that person is not the only person that has access to those nudes.
As an example, let's say Alice sends nudes to Bob, by way of a simple email. In this example they do not use encryption or even SSL.
Apart from Alice and Bob, there are others who can access the nudes:
* others on the local network
* the ISPs (of both parties)
* email server providers (of both parties)
* anybody recording internet traffic at any relevant point in this process
This is where the metaphor of sending a letter breaks down. People use the Internet as though messages only reach their desired recipients.
I'm assuming I don't need to name the specific agency which has been intercepting nudes and forwarding them to their colleagues.
It is true that that is illegal.
It is true that (most) people have an expectation of privacy.
It is also true that that expectation is broken on a regular basis.
Therefore, unfortunately, in the world we currently live in (which is not an ideal world where corporations and governments always follow the law), that expectation is unfounded.
If you put something on the Internet, you are putting trust in those people (and companies).
I what was meant was, most people do not understand that when they send nudes to someone, that person is not the only person that has access to those nudes.
As an example, let's say Alice sends nudes to Bob, by way of a simple email. In this example they do not use encryption or even SSL.
Apart from Alice and Bob, there are others who can access the nudes:
* others on the local network
* the ISPs (of both parties)
* email server providers (of both parties)
* anybody recording internet traffic at any relevant point in this process
This is where the metaphor of sending a letter breaks down. People use the Internet as though messages only reach their desired recipients.
I'm assuming I don't need to name the specific agency which has been intercepting nudes and forwarding them to their colleagues.
It is true that that is illegal.
It is true that (most) people have an expectation of privacy.
It is also true that that expectation is broken on a regular basis.
Therefore, unfortunately, in the world we currently live in (which is not an ideal world where corporations and governments always follow the law), that expectation is unfounded.