Ethics of Releasing Sensitive Information - ZJ related.

[Karakaz]

Please bear in mind that while I will mention ZeeJustin in this post, the question I will discuss is the ethics involved when corporations publishing sensitive data on individual customers. It should be construed as an “in general” kind of discussion. Please keep replies specific to either ZJ or JJ’s cases off this thread unless valid points in a broader sense. Also, it is important to note that I do *NOT* under any circumstances condone the actions of Mr Bonomo, however I *DO* question the judgment shown by the PartyPoker and PokerStars management teams when releasing sensitive information, regardless of their legal jurisdiction – this is mostly a moral issue, not a judicial one.


According to privacy laws in most civilized countries (including the US), corporations are generally discouraged (or outright prohibited) from publishing information pertaining to their individual customers to third parties. That such laws are in place should prove that our expectations are that our personally identifiable information and other sensitive data held by corporations are indeed held within said organization.

The leak of personal data pertaining to any possible breach of customer names, customer screen-names, credit card information, bankrolls, hand histories, and any other information held by any corporation and/or poker site this will construe a breach of the reasonable expectation of privacy. This expectation of privacy will also cover any breach of the Terms of Service (ToS) pertaining between customer and vendor.

Now you probably know where this discussion is heading – the murky areas which has yet to been discussed in the poker community. Now, please keep in mind that this is a separate event and a breach of ToS only between the customer and the vendor. It is also well within the rights of the vendor to permanently prohibit any customer from using their service again.

Under what circumstances will it be correct, if ever, to publish/leak information regarding a customer to the general public? Also, what will be the objective of publishing information that could identify a paying customer as opposed to publishing and rectifying the situation for the affected customers in a manner that will not identify any individual? Additionally, what can the consequences for the affected individual be if sensitive information regarding his agreement with said corporation becomes public?

Now, I do not want this to become another ZJ thread, however I would invite you – the reader – to put yourself in the shoes of ZJ and think about the ramifications this breach of expected privacy will have for your current situation, your immediate future and in a more prolonged period of time. While I will make no excuses for the actions of ZeeJustin, as they were clearly wrong, how does the punishment of public exposure, loss of $96,000, loss of opportunity (lost access to PartyPoker, and as a direct consequence of this, also PokerStars) etc., equate to the crime?

Will your view change if someone loses their life over this?

I believe these questions should pose for some interesting discussion, let’s see what we can come up with.