In a story that crosses bloggers, political figures, and invasion of privacy, it was discovered today that liberal hackers broke into Sarah Palin's email account, took screenshots, and distributed them to various websites like Gawker and Huffington Post. All sides of the spectrum would have to agree that such an attack is illegal, unethical, and quite dispicable. With many bloggers rummaging through Sarah Palin's closet looking for skeletons, we are treated everyday to a new accusation about fired commissioners, banned books, or unpaid FFA fees.
Besides the political aspect, what does this show about the access and ease with which sensitive and private material can be spread through the internet? Should websites like Huffington Post knowingly post a story with many of the screenshots? Could this be the result of unregulated "media" in an increasingly open world?
Of course, little can be done to stop such actions, but I think it is the responsiblity of media outlets with gatekeepers to filter such material, recognize it as illegal, and take the responsibile action, regardless of who the target is.
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