Asked in Civil Rights and Small Claims for Maryland

Q: I was banned from a chat room unfairly. I was given no warning of being banned. No warning action such as restricted.

I was banned over actions done outside of the chat room which is not fair. And when I tried to discuss things with the chat room owner, she cyber shouted at me. She never had considered that never has there been any issues from me ever and the owner never even considered that. I felt completely unfairly judged and unfairly treated. What can I do? I want back in the chat room.

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1 Lawyer Answer
Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
Answered
  • Criminal Law Lawyer
  • Rockville, MD
  • Licensed in Maryland

A: You have no legal right to be admitted to a private chat room owned, controlled or moderated by others. You have no right to be present in any privately owned setting, physical or virtual, which is not yours. You cannot force others to be friends with you, talk to you, allow you into their social group or club, or any other activity. This is a basic fact of life in a free country: the freedom of association--and it's a two way street, meaning all parties have the same right to choose whom they will asscoiate with or not. Start your own chat room, invite people to join, and then you control who comes and goes. Or find another group willing to admit you. This is not, however, a legal matter nor a basis to sue or file a claim of some sort.

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