from Hacker News

It’s Probably Not Okay to Send Naked Pictures on LinkedIn

by p17b on 6/14/17, 7:19 PM with 55 comments

• by bluetidepro on 6/14/17, 8:04 PM

  I completely agree that it was not right for the sexual misconduct to happen in the first place. Not debating that at all. That is wrong on all levels. But...

  >LinkedIn is an extension of the workplace, similar to going into the office or attending a corporate networking event, the theory of the case goes.

  I don't get how that could ever be legally enforced? Wouldn't a lawsuit like this would forever change LinkedIn if they won? Not even related to this sexual misconduct that started this, I could easily see so many people bailing from LinkedIn if it was somehow considered an extension of your workplace directly. This will be really interesting to see what happens next with this.

• by vmarsy on 6/14/17, 9:13 PM

  Most important part of the article is that the offender is a recruiter:

  > Jane Doe alleged that a recruitment conversation on LinkedIn took a turn for the inappropriate when she received sexual messages from a banker—using his corporate account—who had been trying to recruit her. One of the messages included a photograph of his genitals.

  So "It’s Probably Not Okay to Send Naked Pictures if you're a recruiter representing the company" would be a more accurate title, but it wouldn't be as interesting of an headline.

  Similarly that if you're a recruiter calling someone or having a dinner with, you shouldn't attempt to seduce* the maybe-future-employee since that's clearly an abuse of power. Lawsuit or not, that recruiter should be fired.

  I don't think the medium (phone company, restaurant you're at, or Linkedin) should be held responsible and Nowhere on this article it says the plaintiff is suing Linkedin, she's suing the company that recruiter works for.

  * For some people apparently, sending a photograph of their genitals seem to be a "seduction" technique, but even if this was more tactful flirting, this is already not ok.

• by diziet on 6/14/17, 9:04 PM

  Unlike email accounts (firstname.lastname@company.com) or accounts at various services and vendors tied to those emails (such as Photoshop, Jira, etc), many, if not most Linkedin accounts stay with people across jobs. In case of Sales Teams or Recruiters, companies might pay or reimburse for the premium services that Linkedin monetizes, and the employees might use Linkedin in the day-to-day work, but they're also likely to look for other jobs, build non-work related professional connections, etc.

• by stcredzero on 6/14/17, 8:38 PM

  TIL: There's a niche opportunity for a LinkedIn for the adult entertainment industry.

• by rcdwealth on 6/14/17, 8:07 PM

  When anybody pretends to be authorized by a company, and employee is in conversation with authorized person, than both the company and individual shall be held liable for sexual harassment

• by asadlambdatest on 6/14/17, 8:55 PM

  Linkedin is failing big time to control spam and impersonation. Keeping these social media clean is next big challenge for the tech world.

• by wand3r on 6/14/17, 8:42 PM

  The article also states, a few other anecdotes.

  A recruiter who uses LinkedIn to send unsolicited messages on the platform for professional gain was upset she received unsolicited social messages. She was unable to recognize the irony.

  Another businesswoman was actually a reality TV star from Trump's the apprentice. She left the platform because the lines blurred from social/entertainment/career and she was getting harassed.

  IDK, I feel for this woman but I am not convinced seeing dick pick entitles her to millions from a company she isn't affiliated with. Coming from the Susan Fowler thread, I really feel for her. This seems like a money grab

• by fivestar on 6/15/17, 12:42 PM

  While I don't condone that banker's behavior in any way, I want to mention that I pretty much refuse to speak to any women where I work unless I absolutely have to. It's really the only way to remain safe in such politically correct environments.

  I think something important is being lost in our day to day interactions with colleagues and not only that, but much has been taken away from our personal lives when we deal with overbearing rules. Again, not condoning the 'dick pics' that was way out of line, but merely observing that life in the US is just not any fun in or out of the workplace.

  I can't even imagine trying to date in a an environment where your professional life is threatened merely by opening your mouth at all.

  Also, there's a double-standard--women harassing men is overlooked by men, but when it goes the other way it is never overlooked. So unless a man's overtures of friendship are immediately warmly welcomed (and subject to later rejection, natch) that person's job is at risk.

  Meanwhile, the C-Suite and higher echelon folks are all in bed with each other, which is the other double standard.

• by microcolonel on 6/14/17, 8:22 PM

  Every place where people can communicate is a place where they can proposition. If you're thinking of changing this, give up now while you have your sanity.

  LinkedIn is a social network which prominently displays professional credentials. I have dated women I've met on LinkedIn and it's gone just fine (granted, nobody I was doing business with, that is unwise even if not illegal).

  The question of the case, in my estimation, is Is it unlawful to send a picture of your genitals to a person who works with your company over a channel you might also use for business communications. This gets into all sorts of complicated matters; for example, is it unlawful to MMS a picture of your genitals to somebody who does business with your company?

  Is there a precedent for a similar case but with a different medium? If the precedent did not penalize the defendant, is there something about LinkedIn or another detail of the case which distinguishes it?