Policy statement of SFWEST/Chatalittle on the Security of Private Messages.
(Written by JSG, SFWEST Programmer)
Now and then the question of the security of users private messages comes up. It has been and is the policy of SFWEST.com and Chatalittle.com from their inception that users private messages MUST remain private. We consider the reading of private messages to be unethical. We also do not let the owners and staff of a chat have access to private messages.
SFWEST/Chatalittle consists of over 70 individually owned chats. Some are private chats. None of the owners of the chats have the ability to read private messages, and any who have asked have been flatly turned down. There is one exception, however, and that is the teen chat called "Chatting with Brak". In that chat it is known by the users, and clearly posted that "Brak", the owner, can read the messages which are called "Telepathy".
The owners of SFWEST/Chatalittle itself are not permitted to read the private messages. Additionally, the sheer volume of posts (over 1,000,000 each month) would keep them from doing that.
Being the programmer of the chats and in charge of the chatscripts and all related to their function I personally could, of course, read the private messages and would NOT hesitate to do so if there was a compelling reason to suspect that actual illegal activity was going on. I might also conceivably read some if there was a issue about the function of the chat related to them.
We would also not hesitate to allow duly authorized law enforcement officers to read private messages in the context of their investigations related to child endangerment, internet stalking, or other illegal activity.
One should NEVER assume anywhere on the net that private messages are secure, including ICQ (which has a disclaimner to that effect), and even email. We have many security items in place to assure that users messages stay as secure as possible.
One should also realize that when you send a private message to someone there is nothing to stop the recipient from broadcasting it to others just as if you told them on the telephone. If you give your "username" and "password" to another user they can come in the chat as you, even at the same time, and therefore (of course) they will get all the private messages that you do. We strongly suggest that you keep your password confidential.
Feel free to email me at jsg@sfwest.com if you have anymore concerns about this issue. Happy chatting!