Ask The Experts About Internet Selling Definition
Sharon asks…
Exact legal definition of blackmail with respect to selling information?
A girl I know did Internet porn. Another guy in our class found out, and he sent her parents a letter saying that he would give them “information about their daughter’s activities” for $1000. I suppose he would point them to the Internet site.
He claims that this is perfectly legal because he is selling information for money, not taking money to keep quiet about information. There MUST be some crime he is committing, what is it? Can I report him to the police right now, or is that illegal on my part if he hasn’t technically committed a crime?
admin answers:
Blackmail is where you offer NOT to reveal some embarassing or damaging piece of information for money or some act:
obtaining or procuring something by illegal means, such as by force or coercion.
Here there is neither force or coercion.
I don’t think this is blackmail exactly, because there is no force or coercion. However, one might argue that by offering the information for money, it could be.
I would call the police and see what they say. Since the girl didn’t do anything illegal (I assume?), it’s not something the police would care about, but the threat is real.
Powered by Yahoo! Answers