Getting To The Pointe

So, yesterday, reunion.com helped me annoy everyone I know, including a fairly large group of people I barely know. they did this through insidious use of a fairly benign practice called contact import.

When used correctly, contact import is a tremendously valuable tool, both for the site developer, and for the end user. A good example of “How-To” is linkedin.com.  When they ask you to upload your contact list, the data is securely transferred,  compared against their existing user database, so you can connect with others who are already using the service, and are in your contact list.  You then pick and choose the contacts you want to add to your network, or send invitations to if they don’t already use the service.

Reunion.com takes it a horrifying step further. During the import process, they email EVERYONE on your list with nothing more than after the fact implied consent.  For me, that meant over 1,000 people received a crappy message from me, that I didn’t want to send them.  That’s unconscionable.

So, what’s a savvy internet professional to do? I emailed the FTC. I contacted the privacy watchdog, Trust-E. I emailed the bizdev and pr addresses for reunion.com and let them know what I planned.

We’ll keep you up to date on what transpires. Check back for updates when they arise.