Whatever you record may be used against you

The absent-minded dad of a friend once had an old container opened by a locksmith — forgetting that in the box were old pictures of my friend’s mom naked. Luckily, the locksmith never bothered looking inside.

However my friend, who examined the contents after the box’s lock was undone, was left traumatized. He immediately went home and slammed the box down in front of his dad, really angry that his mom was almost compromised.

This story is yet another example of how some experiences should remain memories in our minds. Whatever you store as pictures, videos, recordings, files on a computer, or even something you share online are what others can encounter — and use against you.

Last week, a court of law found Joseph Carlo Candare guilty of violations against the Philippine Animal Welfare Act. The verdict was the result of a two-year campaign to punish the Mr. Candare for fatally injuring a one-month old kitten. It all started when Joseph wrote a blog post in 2009, describing how he threw the cat down and jumped on its body “like some pro wrestler.”

By the time Candare deleted the post over the outrage it generated, numerous local websites and other blogs shared what the University of the Philippines (UP) student freely shared online. Eventually, the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) found out about Candare’s story, and filed an animal cruelty case against the undergraduate.

I’m not saying that Candare’s actions were excusable (even if a UP tribunal found that what he did wasn’t misconduct). But his difficulties all stemmed from his blog post — a record that other people discovered and used against him. What was he thinking?

Sometimes a record isn’t evidence of illegal action, but it can still work against you. In 2002, an explicit video of two college students sleeping with each other became known as the La Salle Scandal. During a time when few Filipinos had a fast Internet connection, copies of the leaked recording were burned on CDs and eagerly passed around. The poor kolehiyala in the amateur movie had to seclude herself for an entire year to avoid the shame.

And what about the scandals involving Hayden Kho, Katrina Halili, and at least two other women? “Haydengate” became possible because there were recordings of what happened, resulting in a useless Senate hearing and a free bath for Kho.

What we do can be recorded in so many ways. It can be through pictures, a self-incriminating blog post, a video recorded with your consent (or not), and even the text messages we send to our loved ones. The former mayor of Detroit ended up in jail after text messages between him and his mistress were used as proof of his perjury.

You can secure these records with the same technology that makes them possible. Last week I wrote how Picasa Web Albums lets you share photos online, and provide access only to authorized viewers.

But any security is as good as its weakest link. What if someone figures out the password linked to your Picasa account? And what if you accidentally share your private records with random strangers? The La Salle Scandal was reportedly leaked when it was left on a computer brought in for repairs. The technicians discovered the videos, and made copies of them.

Never put anything that can compromise you in writing — or save it as a picture or video. Yes, naked pictures of your wife may spice up your marriage, writing about your deviant habits may let off some steam, and recording videos of your favorite sexual positions may fulfill your porn star fantasies. But they could all be evidence that will cause a lot of shame and legal trouble for you.

Here’s a quick question you should ask yourself before saving something for posterity: If the public sees it, will it cause shame or trouble? If the answer is yes, don’t bother.