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Comment by pimlottc | Hacker News Reader

There's more detail in another article linked from this one [0]. There is a heavily redacted version of the passport image from the Facebook post in the YouTube video @ 4:00

> Recently the country manager for Aero Dili, Acacia Mota, made a post on Facebook about Cahill with some wild claims. He states that Cahill reached out before his flight, asking for a free flight, free accommodation, a food allowance, and $50,000 in cash, in exchange for a positive review.

> Those are some outrageous claims, so what proof did Mota provide? Well, instead of sharing a screenshot of the alleged extortion attempt, he shared a picture of Cahill’s passport, with all the details showing. Cahill isn’t sure how he got that picture, though it may have been from during check-in (given that there were issues), or from his arrival in the country.

0: https://onemileatatime.com/news/airline-revenge-youtuber-pas...

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> There is a heavily redacted version of the passport image from the Facebook post in the YouTube video @ 4:00

> Well, instead of sharing a screenshot of the alleged extortion attempt, he shared a picture of Cahill’s passport, with all the details showing

Did they share an heavily redacted version, or all the details?

Sharing an email could run afoul of local laws (it's a personal message, and by default private), however a passport is a government document.

If they did redact some important details, I think it may have been the fairest response to an attempt at extortion by a known drama king: they may have just wanted him to avoid trying to take advantage of others. Then it would not be retaliation, but trying to protect others.

I have travelled a bit, and in poor countries (though certainly not as poor as East Timor, but certainly poorer than the US) I've noticed that people care a lot about fairness, and really don't like it when privileged tourist try to take advantage of their position and the advantage their foreign income brings.

I've also noticed than when you play fair, people play very fair with you: on a restaurant when I had taken only one sip of the wine because I was driving, the waiter noticed AFTER I had paid by credit card, and issued a cash refund for the wine because they thought it was unfair to charge me for something I did not consume - and they did not accept tipping.

Then the next day when I returned the rental car and when I explained I had difficulty finding a gas station to do a full refill (the gas gage was 7/8 instead of 8/8), the refueling fee was waived - and when I took the car, the agent explained me that I should take pictures of the car (so I did!) in case there was any issue because it had a tiny scratch on one door.

Maybe I was very lucky and I stopped at a unique restaurant and Europcar agents are more friendly than others, or maybe people treat you the way you treat them: be nice, and they will reciprocate.

What purpose would publishing a photograph someone's passport serve in exposing extortion? The only thing it proves is that Josh Cahill had at some point gone through border controls in East Timor, which neither party was denying.

> What purpose would publishing a photograph someone's passport serve in exposing extortion?

It would tie the name to the picture of the known extorter, so that he may be refused service.

The same thing is done is some supermarkets for people caught stealing: their picture is put on a wall of shame for all to see.

If they believe it's defamation, they can try to use the supermarket, which will then release the video evidence.

It helps keeping people honest without filling the courts with shoplifters.

Oh, I see what you mean. In this case, as the passenger in question is a known vlogger, I would suspect it is probably unnecessary (he is not shy about either his picture or his name on YouTube).

In general though, do you really think the 'name and shame' approach is appropriate across borders? As this Josh Cahill discovered, some countries don't have any laws that would give you any justification to start legal action, and suing an airline from East Timor in Germany is going to be difficult both in showing standing and, if you win, actually managing to extract the damages from the defendant.

Personally, I think naming and shaming is only effective when the community is small enough for people to recognize the names, and, more importantly, only justifiable where there is no existing authority that the community submits to. In this case, the airline voluntary submits to the authority of IATA, so any attempt at naming and shaming is an attempt to bypass that authority.

> Oh, I see what you mean. In this case, as the passenger in question is a known vlogger, I would suspect it is probably unnecessary (he is not shy about either his picture or his name on YouTube).

It could have been a stage name, but they created a proved link between his picture and his real name

> In this case, the airline voluntary submits to the authority of IATA, so any attempt at naming and shaming is an attempt to bypass that authority

And what could have the IATA done? Very likely, nothing, or likely. If it could have done something, it could have been far worse, like putting him on a no fly list maybe?

In the end, the extorter is taught a lesson, but not too harsh of a lesson - just like shoplifters, because I don't think it would be very fair to jail someone who had to steal food to survive.

A punishment may be needed, but a very light one, and ideally to teach person a lesson to try to reform them.

I think what has happened may have been for the best for the supposed extorter: he even got the free drama he likes so much!

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