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Comment by zdw | Hacker News Reader

Is doxxing a scammer suitable for HN?

The first comment of every story need not be "is this acceptable for HN?" Please consider carefully before posting this. :/

I would argue it's an interesting tale, it's about online scams, e-learning platforms, and payment platform issues. Whether you approve of the author's choices to dox the scammer or not, it's arguably valuable reading.

I would counter argue that it's irresponsible to proliferate doxxing.

And personally speaking, I think it's a shame that a valuable message was lost in the poor taste in which it was executed.

Is doxxing an inherent evil? I'm a big fan of right to be forgotten and the ability to have your personal information removed from the Internet, but even that arguably would not interfere with doxxing someone in this manner. Being alerted to the identity of a scammer and his tactics would be in "the public interest" for at least a handful of years.

My question was "Is this against the rules?", not some silly discussion suppression attempt.

Is doxxing (of anyone, even if incredibly guilty like this scammer) allows to be linked to from HN?

IMO, the story was fine except for the doxxing. Personal details like his name and address should have been elided.

Edit: On the other hand, I'm fine with linking to the stolen courses and providing a list of the courses to the community.

I don't really agree. If he had sued the guy as was his right, then all this would be public in the court record anyways.

It's really hard to run a civil society without knowing who is accusing who of what.

bingo. criminal reports always public

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