Monday, August 08, 2022

TikTok Vigilantism?

NYT: "A Stranger Filmed Her on the Train. TikTok Users Decided She Had Monkeypox."

Summary: A woman with neurofibromatosis (a non-infectious disease than can cause skin lesions) is filmed by stranger while she is on NYC subway. The video is posted to TikTok with strong implication that she has monkey pox, and the woman receives many reactions including threats of physical violence.

This is one of the downsides of the widespread use of personal cameras. (There are many good aspects as well.)

The article correctly notes that the filming was legal, given that it was in a public setting with reduced "reasonable expectation of privacy."