"I hope you understand the chill that the actions of your employee have put on people who might post on your site. What is especially noxious is that it was done by someone whose role is to better understand these issues.

If it was your intention to stifle comment in what is a new and growing segment of journalism, you have succeeded. The fact that Kurt has stated that he has NOT contravened your paper's policies is astounding, especially as there doesn't seem to be any legal backing for his assertion. Judging by standard logic, common sense, or the apparent spirit of your privacy policy, his actions were against the policy. I would guess that you will find that they were against the best interest of your organization.

I made a single post as a comment on your site, with an email address, and am now emailing you from that address. It would be easy to identify me. In the back of my mind, I thought when posting and am thinking now while hitting send: what might they do with MY information, even though I have done nothing wrong?

Your organization took clear, active steps that went outside of your own stated policy that is there to protect your clients. Shame."