What isExtortionography? Using audio / video / photographic evidence for personal or monetary gain, or to force a desired result or outcome.
What is Corporate Extortionography,
and why is it important to me?
May 21, 2001 Corporate Extortionography: The legal use of illegally gathered information (as from a wiretap, covert camera, room bug, and other electronic surveillance / espionage method)... when used by the news media. As decided by the US Supreme Court. (BARTNICKI v. VOPPER (99-1687) 200 F.3d 109)
Decision-in-a-nutshell The media can legally use information that someone else illegally obtains for them.
The implications of Extortionography are far reaching. From disgruntled employees to social activists... All can now leverage illegal snooping to champion their cause, extort or blackmail.
Further... "the media" can be anyone... from newspaper, radio, and television... to a public access cable TV show or home-brew Internet "news" site.
May 31, 2001 First post-ruling instance of Corporate Extortionography... Surveillance team targets Gay Days at Disney World. ... self-described "Christian guerrillas" aimed hidden video cameras ... Their mission, to record any homoerotic displays to show at Disney’s next shareholders’ meeting.