Are you being served?
If not, somebody will find a way:
A court in Australia has approved the use of Facebook, a popular social networking Web site, to notify a couple that they lost their home after defaulting on a loan.
The Australian Capital Territory Supreme Court last Friday approved lawyer Mark McCormack’s application to use Facebook to serve the legally binding documents after several failed attempts to contact the couple at the house and by e-mail.
Although it’s not exactly foolproof just yet:
McCormack, a lawyer for the lender the couple borrowed from, said that by the time he got the documents approved by the court late Tuesday for transmission, Facebook profiles for the couple had disappeared from public view.
The page was apparently either closed or secured for privacy, following publicity about the court order.
All of which makes me wonder: is this next?
Hell, some collection agency could really attract publicity by setting up a Second Life outpost, and start serving papers avatar-to-avatar! (With a corresponding uptick in virtual homicides, no doubt.) It would be ideal for some sector or region known to be disposed toward long hours of online interaction — IT worker, tech hubs like Seattle or Northern California, etc.
I suggest that said agency not try this on World of Warcraft, where the penalties for unwanted intrusion can be severe.
