Is it illegal to violate one's privacy inre to things posted in a group forum with a privacy requirement?
951859
Probable not. However, if the members signed a document promising certain behavior there might be an option to sue.
831694
I don't think its technically illegal but it's not wise because you are violating someone else's privacy if you give out their full name.  I'm sorry you got in trouble and I don't think it's the school's place to correct an issue like this unless you did it while you were at school and in that case maybe the issue was more about using this type of website inappropriately. Either way, lesson learned, right? Don't use other people's names even if you're not saying something "bad" it still could be information they'd rather not have posted online.
1129470
No, your right still exists.  But the rules of decency apply here.  Personally, I don't want to hear indecent, offensive stuff and most others don't as well.
993912
It is against the guidline: http://groups.yahoo.com/local/guidelines.html\n\nBut, policy is just plicy if no one care. Yahoo can't police all groups without the help from the members.\n\nSince you are one of the member, why don't you report this to Yahoo? The link I posted above have the reporting link.
542540
Some forums allow you to send a private message to the host. If your forum allows that, then you could try it and see if they respond.
214461
Yes, my account was temporarily suspended because of some people who could not refute my answers with truth, so they attempted to silence me by claiming abuse. I contacted Yahoo Corporate Offices, my account was re-instated and now they are more careful about frivilous complaints of abuse. A forum such as this has a responsibility to encourage free speech.
218183
1. Have you posted an appropriate policy? Not having a Web site privacy policy can raise red flags. You may be subject to specific laws, including broadly interpreted state consumer protection statutes, in the United States or elsewhere, that require you to provide such notice.\n\nThe Online Privacy Protection Act of 2003, effective July 1, 2004, made California the first state to expressly require those who collect "personally identifiable information" (such as name, address, e- mail address, phone number) from California residents through a commercial Web site to post a privacy policy, including types of information collected, third-party sharing, processes for reviewing collected data and notifying users of material policy changes as well as the policy’s effective date. The act requires "conspicuous posting" and provides guidelines for location, font treatment and word content.\n\nThe new law is expected to have far-reaching implications, as many Web sites do not know Californians from other residents, or do not want to treat California visitors differently from other visitors. Because California often influences other states’ privacy legislation, it may only be a matter of time before similar laws emerge elsewhere.\n\nCustomers, government enforcers, consumer advocates and reporters will assume the worst if no policy is posted, even where no law requires it. Yet the days of including a few lines about privacy issues in a legal notice are long gone. Companies need a stand-alone policy that covers:\n\n    *\n      who is collecting information;\n    *\n      what and how is information collected;\n    *\n      how is information used and disclosed;\n    *\n      access and other data subject rights;\n    *\n      security measures;\n    *\n      effective date and how policy changes will be handled;\n    *\n      enforcement; and\n    *\n      contact information.\n\nPlace a conspicuous link to the policy on your home page (not buried in a tiny font amid other links at the bottom of the page) and on each page where information is first collected. Yet, do not post a policy merely to ensure that the site has one. Having a policy that does not reflect your site’s actual practices can be worse than having no policy at all (see No. 10 below).\n\n2. Have you appropriately limited the scope of your policy? In racing to post a privacy policy, some companies fail to clearly limit its scope, thereby unleashing a Pandora’s box of problems. For example, if the policy is not limited to Web site information practices, many (including the FTC, as a December 2001 announcement made clear) will assume that the policy governs all corporate information practices — whether online or offline, customer or employee — imposing compliance obligations that the company is ill-equipped to handle.\n\nLikewise, not limiting the scope of the Web site and corresponding privacy policy to U.S. residents might lead to unwanted assertion of jurisdiction by a foreign data-protection official whose local laws are more restrictive. Some sites also err when defining the age of the target audience, thereby creating potential minefields related to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) (see No. 7 below).\n\nBeyond this, however, it is important to distinguish when the policy applies (to www.company.com) and when it does not (to other sites to which you link, even if the sites belong to affiliates) because you do not want to be held accountable for another site’s practices. To limit confusion, include a linking disclaimer in the privacy policy and, as appropriate, at the point of linking. Avoid "framing" (putting your border around a third-party site) when linking; the visitor may not realize he is leaving your site, and framing could raise other problems.\n\n3. Are you using third parties to run banner ads or collect information, or are you sharing information with third parties? You may be judged by the com
154712
Hmm, I haven't read the guidelines, but it doesn't sound bad to me, and you did answer the question.  They didn't even give you a reason for what you violated.  I would email Yahoo Answers team member Amy, I think that is the best way to get a response.  Below is a link to her yahoo profile.  You can find her email address there.
970244
Of course you can be prosecuted.  You have no expectation of privacy when in a public place and clearly visible (such as through a window).  No expectation of privacy means no violation of privacy.
30168
Should there be a watchdog on the web to filter out all the stuff that someone might want to be illegal?  Who gets to choose what that stuff is?\n\nYour definition of bad stuff is "cuss words and nuded people."  Mine might be racist words, or threats to individuals or groups.\n\nThere are filters for parents to use to stop this kind of information from reaching their children.  An one of any age can use them.  \n\nShould they be illegal - no.  We don't need more watchguards and big brother looking over everything we do.
84749
the short answer is, as long as it is not child pornography, it is legal. \n\nas long as no other illegal activites are being shown or solicited on the site, it is legal.
530019
there is a lot of inappropriate stuff that gets posted.  just report the ones you find offensive.
562076
do not post anything here that has to do with doing something illegal to someones computer.\n\nGrow up, please.
759372
I think you do need a privacy policy. A simple sentence like you suggest isn't enough. You're asking for very, very sensitive information and most people are savvy enough to know that you could be misusing it.
274270
Don't be a prude . . . but the decision is yours . . . in yahoo . . . there is usually a local abuse button.\n\nMeanwhile, can you add them as a link with your additional information . . . I want to take a look . . .
337776
No, that's the danger in it. If you don't want anyone looking but your friends, set it to private, but it is still very very dangerous. I would just delete it all together.
910097
No. Privacy is very important. Also, I don't want people to get the wrong impression and gossip to spread.