Watch out for Quechup

As many of you know, I'm teaching a class on emerging technologies this fall. So collaborative technologies are more on my mind than usual!

Social networking sites have been around for a while with some being mostly social (myspace, facebook), some targeted at business networking (linkedin) and others set up as a social network "for anything." (ning. I'm on a group looking at best practices of second life in higher ed that is using ning.com for all our communications.) You may have heard of these sites and may use some of the yourselves.

Recently many of us have become aware of a new social networking site called Quechup. I did want to bring you a "watch out" for Quechup. Apparently, in an effort to be helpful, Quechup looks at all the people in your address book to see if anyone is already a member of Quechup...to give a head start to your social network. Unfortunately, it also automatically sends invitations to join your Quechup network to everyone in your address book who is not already a member, and it does this without your knowledge, permission or control. (essentially you're SPAMming everyone in your contact list. So my advice, and based on the experience of others ...stay away from Quechup--or pay close attention during the signup and do not have it check your addressbook-- or you'll be sending emails to everyone in your contact list as well...apologizing!

This brings up a series of questions about software you "expose" yourself to, and the precautions you need to take for the safety of you, your computer and your privacy. And your reputation (as in this case where Quechup does not indicate that this is a result of a bot , but makes is seem as if it comes from you!) It also brings up the bigger ethical issue of exposing (involving?) someone else in an activity that has the potential for negative reprocussions for them (Quechup example: if someone responds to the automated invitation to join your network...when they join their entire address book is SPAMmed too! Getting them in potential hot water with their friends, family, customers, contacts, etc). Do we have an obligation/responsibility/legal responsibility if we involve someone to this kind of aggravation? (what's the obligation we have when we pass along a virus?)

Of course, I'd love to hear your thoughts.