Are mug shot websites a public service or an online shakedown?A Florida lawsuit filed in in U.S. District Court is exposing the commercial side of the high traffic sites, which have affiliate online businesses that will expunge images for a price.The Tampa Bay Times reports that plaintiff Shannon Bilotta’s mug shot, identity and arrest information turned up on arrests.org and similar sites that automatically “scrape” data from sheriff’s office websites. Charges were dropped later against the Largo woman, but the websites often do not reflect that.Bilotta’s attorneys are arguing that the websites violate Florida law banning a person’s image and information from being used for commercial purposes without permission. Arguing that the websites profit off a person's "humiliation," her attorneys are seeking to turn the case into a class action lawsuit in Florida.Ironically, the Tampa Bay Times posts its own mug shot lineup as a “public service” on the Home page of its website.Displayed more...
