PRIVACY, IDENTITY THEFT PREVENTION, AND INTERNET COMMUNICATIONS:

Many of us have become increasingly reliant on internet messaging facilities, such as email and now IM (instant messaging). In 1995 we wrote an article for West Publishing entitled “Electronic Discovery in a Paperless World”, and in this article we discussed the concept that “an email is forever.” In other words, emails are not ephemeral. Emails do not disappear in the ether, but rather can be recovered and read by others. At the time we wrote the article, it was standard procedure for Silicon Valley companies to log and retain all email and voice mail messages for a minimum of seven years. Corporate emails are known now to have no assurance of privacy, and corporate logging and capturing systems are only one way in which personal information can be compromised.

Today, we can say the same for IM – Instant Messaging systems. To rephrase our earlier conclusion about emails we can now say “an Instant Message is forever.” Not only do corporate systems and internet service providers keep copies of instant messages, but hackers, keyloggers, and malware also may capture IM.

At KnightsBridge Castle we have a policy regarding electronic messaging. Our policy is never to include personally identifying information within an electronic message. Emails are used only to notify a client of the need to contact us directly about a problem or issue detected in their profile. When we use our website “Chat line” we insist that our consultations with potential clients and others, be kept of a general nature. The specifics of any situation, which would reveal personal information are not discussed at any time by email or IM. Critical communications with clients concerning personal information are carried out on secure telephone lines or through the US Mail. Telephone conversations and the US Mail have their own security issues, however, federal enforcement of privacy laws regarding the content of these messages is strong and enforced.