While she didn't lock her profile entirely, like all Facebook accounts, Caroline's profile was intended to be visible to members. Further, she limited it to people within her network. Yes, you as one of the 42,000 people affiliated with Harvard or Trinity were able to see it, but that doesn't mean that you had permission to publish it for the general public's viewing on Slate. While I don't support Giuliani, I don't think that it's fair to invade his daughter's online privacy either.

I agree.

It's not fair.

Agreed. It looks like Ms. Caldwell's parents taught her how to get into Harvard, but failed to pass on any manners.

The author notes that Giuliani took steps to conceal her identity. Considering Guiliani's age, and the fact that she has not yet entered college, Caldwell should have respected her privacy.

Many of my junior & senior Communications students have trouble understanding the extent to which they are exposed when they post information on social networking sites.

Guiliani is different from Paris Hilton. She is nearly 10 years younger (Hilton is 26), and has, to my knowledge, made no attempt to become a public figure.

Shame on Caldwell for taking advantage of her fellow student. And shame on Slate, my favorite magazine, for publishing her. I hope that this brings the end to Caldwell's instant career in trash journalism.

One more thing - how do we know that Guiliani opposes her father's presidential bid? That's an awfully big leap from joining a pro-Obama group. She may have done so as a joke, or she may simply prefer him among the Democratic candidates.

Let me see -- bright 17-year old who thinks posting something on a website accessible to 42,000 people is "private?" I hardly think so.

Lucy Caldwell has been kicked off of facebook for violating the terms of service that pertain to respecting privacy. We facebookers may be kidding ourselves if we think that we can keep things private... but dammit. there is a code.

It erks me that so many people are finding this such a breach of trust, or privacy. It seems to me that being a daughter of a highly publicized political figure, you would be slightly more careful online. No one seemed to have a huge problem when Paris Hilton or Lindsay Lohan's sidekicks got hacked. Heaven forbid you look at some poor girls facebook.

Joshc,

I tottaly agree !!!!!!!!

Tomboy

I wanted to reply to this story because I am the mother of a 17-year-old girl who lives on Facebook and I agree that they operate under the impression that it is private. I know I've never been allowed to look. I think first of all this is not a political story, and second that it is a cruel invasion of privacy of a girl who has already suffered from cruelty. Shame on you.

I am in agreement with others here who note that the journalist's breach of privacy is offensive.

Clearly, not enough people learn or at least heed this: Just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should.

And besides the breach of t.o.s. and privacy, did the journalist forget something even more basic and better understood?

This is a young girl. Whose father, ignoring the public figure angle, brok up her family? While she may or may not prefer one candidates political agenda, did it not occur, in writing the story, that this could be simply a duaghter's cry for attention from her father?

Do we really need MORE family drama in the public arena? Why are we so vicious about what should be private matters?

"Online Privacy"???!!! There is no such thing. My 17 year old understands that anything that he puts out there is all the way out there and there isn't any taking it back. I don't think you can refer to anything that's available to 42,000 people as "private". I don't think you're giving the girl enough credit.