Right to Privacy, anyone?

Recently, a member of the 4chan internet forum (an anonymous-posting board that, of late, has been used for internet "terrorism") apparently managed to hack into Sarah Palin's yahoo e-mail account, posting her e-mails and data to the boards.

Story here: http://gawker.com/5051193/sarah-palins-personal-email-account-hacked

I've been against these 4chan "scriptkids" for a long time. Their methods are questionable at best, and this board's forced anonymity is enabling criminal activity to be perpetrated in the virtual realm. If a non-anonymous person had hacked this account, there would be severe legal repercussions. But since this board irresponsibly allows such things to happen, and since 4chan does not cooperate with U.S. Federal authorities (as evidenced by their refusal to turn over records of "raids" on the Church of Scientology and on Hal Turner, a talk-show host. These raids were organized on the 4chan and 7chan boards).

I am disgusted by the amazing levels of irresponsibility and jackassery that are allowed to be perpetrated on the internet. That being said, I am not against anonymity on the internet, or against political statements (as long as they are within the confines of the law). Personally, I hope that our authorities can figure out who perpetrated this violation of Sarah Palin's privacy, and then send this anonymous loser to jail, where he belongs. Doubtless, upon being questioned, these "channers" would say that they are only "providing free information". They like to talk about providing information; but they dont' seem to have any qualms about breaking the law to do so. If the situation were reversed (with their "private" e-mail and data being splashed all over the web), no doubt these immature children would start screaming bloody murder about their "rights being violated", and would most likely try to fight back. I'm not advocating the removal of internet privacy, just pointing out the hypocritical policies of these ignorant "channers".

If the chan board admins have any respect at all for the applicable laws (in this country at least, the boards are hosted in another counry), they will turn over information on the anonymous hacker. I don't think they will, though; their track record seems to counter-indicate any shred of being responsible in any way. The website posted images of private e-mails, Sarah Palin's ENTIRE contact list, and personal photos. There are some political e-mails in this account (or were until the account was deleted), which was definitely not a good idea for Gov. Palin. However, if her e-mail account was subject to the same privacy policies as these 4channers' accounts (apparently) are, then the situation would not have happened. Despite being a sitting Governor and a Vice-Presidential candidate, Sarah Palin is entitled to her privacy just as much as some script-kiddie on a forum board that prides itself on hatred, racism, and immaturity.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but: Go Feds!