These stipulations required tenants to assist with the maintenance of the childcare center located below and prohibited them from entering or leaving the apartment during the 10 hours that the center operated.
Alyssa Hardy, an emergency health worker, felt it necessary to post a negative review after encountering the listing on social media. Although she had never been a client of Wills Property, her review was intended to raise public awareness. Shortly after her post, she received a response from the agency that referenced her employer and suggested potential legal action.
“I think they were trying to intimidate me,” Alyssa remarked, noting that Wills Property also reached out to her via social media.
The situation intensified as Wills Property began to identify and contact other critics, including reaching out to their workplaces and partners on LinkedIn and Instagram.
A Reddit user, Cords9836, expressed feelings of violation after the agency contacted their partner regarding a discussion about the listing.
In a statement, John Wills, the director of Wills Property, noted that the agency had received personal threats since the listing gained viral attention, prompting them to inform the police.
However, the police have yet to verify any reports concerning the threats.
Legal and ethical experts have commented on the matter, emphasizing that while sharing publicly available information is not unlawful, it could be perceived as a form of intimidation. Demi Swain, a senior associate at a law firm, stated that negative reviews are protected under freedom of speech if they are based on factual experiences.
This incident highlights a rising trend of digital vigilantism, where individuals retaliate against businesses viewed as having acted unfairly. Nonetheless, the ethical concerns surrounding the exposure of personal information as a method of social retribution are intricate and may lead to serious consequences for those involved.
Another concern about disseminating personal information online is that, once amplified, it can result in unforeseen outcomes.
Hugh Breakey, an ethicist from Griffith University, remarked, "The key takeaway is that one reason to be cautious about this is that you can't control how impactful that information ultimately becomes."
In October 2023, several university students in the U.S. faced backlash after an open letter they signed in support of Palestine was circulated on social media. Following this, those students experienced doxxing, harassment, and even assault.
Wills Property expressed regret over the escalation of the situation but maintains that their response was necessary in light of the threats received. Meanwhile, the agency continues to face public scrutiny regarding its handling of the backlash.
