Net 'naming and shaming' wins support

EasyCar uses webcams to snap car renters

Car rental firm easyCar's practice of publishing the pictures of customers who keep vehicles for more than two weeks longer than allowed has won the firm both criticism and praise.

BBC News Online regular columnist Bill Thompson said the practice was 'unethical' and 'intrusive' and was setting a dangerous precedent.

Mr Thompson viewed the practice as the start of a process that will gradually whittle away privacy and the right to go about our business without scrutiny.

In reply to Mr Thompson's criticisms Stelios Haji-Ioannou, chairman and founder of the easyGroup, defended the practice and said it was effective in helping the company limit the number of later returners.

Bill says what he thinks...

...and Stelios hits back.

Popular support

The debate prompted hundreds of BBC News Online readers to write in with their comments. Most backed Mr Haji-Ioannou and easyCar's policy.

Many people praised easyCar for its efforts to stop people returning vehicles much later than agreed which mean that honest customers are subsidising the dead-beats.

Haji-Ioannou defended naming and shaming

"Why should the minority spoil it for everyone else?" asked Christopher Davies from Wiltshire, "I think more companies should follow using the sensible rules Stelios has set up."

Others backed the easyCar policy because it was a reasonable punishment for someone who was 15 days overdue returning a car.

"All customers have to agree to some type of contract, and they know the penalty if they break it," said Seb Harvey, "It's simple, when people start realizing it, they'll start abiding by the agreement."

David Waddell wrote: "If these people hadn't done something wrong, then they wouldn't have had their photos published. They aren't the victims."

Despite the overwhelming support for the easyCar policy, the practice of taking customers' pictures was not accepted by all.

Some feel cameras limit personal privacy

Paul Charters from Surrey questioned Mr Haji-Ioannou's assertion that the picture is taken with the co-operation of the customer.

"But does that mean I can hire a car WITHOUT having my picture taken?" he asks, "I doubt it."

Others who took the trouble to write in were troubled by the fact that their privacy was gradually being eroded by such initiatives.

Darren Deaville pointed out that we surrender a little of our privacy when we do almost anything and that many companies hold records of our details.

Steve Scorer felt that the advent of camera phones, cheap digital cameras and CCTV meant that everyone's right to privacy was being limited in one way or another.

He said that for many the advantages of such systems, such as helping to deter or catch criminals, was worth surrendering a little privacy for.

"If picture surveillance happens by design or default then I feel it will be a force for good," he said "Like a nosy neighbour it will be irritating until they identify the guy who just robbed your house."