this post was submitted on 14 Aug 2025
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The person accidentally added to the group chat, which appears to contain six people, said they had no idea why they had received these messages, and shared screenshots of the chat with 404 Media. 404 Media granted the person anonymity to protect them from retaliation.

One of six will not be hard to find… I mean, what?

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[–] TragicNotCute@lemmy.world 138 points 8 months ago (3 children)

Can we take a second and appreciate the person who got these messages and took them to the media? Putting myself in their shoes, I’d be scared shitless and you can easily see how it might make you a target. Good on you random citizen, I appreciate you.

[–] ClanOfTheOcho@lemmy.world 52 points 8 months ago (2 children)

I want to know how difficult it will be for them to look back at their texts, extract the phone number, and backtrace it to the owner. Because I don't think it will be very difficult.

[–] TragicNotCute@lemmy.world 53 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

Exactly. This citizen’s identity is not a secret to the people in the convo. It’s a brave move and I respect the hell out of it.

[–] Wolf314159@startrek.website 19 points 8 months ago

Yeah, I'd say they should only have shared it with the news if the news also named and identified them clearly every time the photos are shared. Corruption dies in sunlight. The dangerous ones already know, might as well hang a lantern on any attempts at retaliation.

[–] ElegantBiscuit@lemmy.zip 2 points 8 months ago

It’s incredibly easy, in fact there’s already a website where you can do it yourself. Put in a phone number, address, or name, and you’ll be amazed and disturbed by how much information can be connected to you. https://www.truepeoplesearch.com/

[–] makyo@lemmy.world 15 points 8 months ago

Gotta make one wonder how often this happens