Klarinet Archive - Posting 000128.txt from 2001/04

From: Mark Charette <charette@-----.org>
Subj: [kl] List Privacy
Date: Sat, 7 Apr 2001 00:00:44 -0400

Dear Klarinetters,
I received an email earlier today asking why the Klarinet list divulged personal information such as addresses and phone numbers, something that is against the electonic privacy act that has been enacted in the EU. This is an explanation and clarification of list policy.

The Klarinet list is a "double opt-in" list, meeting the requirement of the act. Two active and positive affirmations of wanting to be a list subscriber are required - a message to the list subscription address and a reply to a followup message. The email address (return path) of both the original request and the reply to the followup request must be identical for a subscription to be enabled. The followup request address is only valid for 24 hours. The same methodology is true of unsubscribing.

The only information kept is the subscriber's email address. The subscriber's name may be present in the subscription log if the From: header has the subscribers name embedded (the subscription log is created directly from the headers supplied by the subscribers email headers). No other record is kept in the email list manager.

If you see a subscribers real name, address, telephone number or any other part of identifying information (other than the email address) it is because they expressly wish to communicate that information. It is not required for any purpose in the mailing list software. Indeed, no such information is _ever_ requested.

Email addresses are not provided to any entity other than list administrators; however, all messages are are actively archived at http://www.sneezy.org and email addresses in the headers are exposed. There is software available that can scan Web pages and identify possible email addresses for spamming.

Mark Charette
charette@-----.org

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