An article in the Financial Times (Lawyers use Facebook to serve papers) reports that an Australian lawyer received permission from a local court to serve papers using Facebook social network. It seems that Mr. McCormack, the Canberra solicitor, had been unable to track down his victims in more traditional ways. The article also notes that there have been occasions when papers have been served by email and text messaging for those who were illusive. Mr McCormack used an email address to locate the couple who was in default on their home loan. From the article: Facebook, whose 140m active users make it the world’s most popular social networking site, said users could adjust optional privacy settings to prevent anyone from outside their personal network contacting them, a move that would close off a legal manoeuvre such as Mr McCormack’s. While these events raise issues about privacy, legality, and even the appropriateness of delivering difficult information using media, the … [Read more...]