As reported by the BBC and others, a project from King’s College has resulted in more than 1,000 emails being sent to MP’s, using false names, in order to test how they respond to constituents queries.
The Commons Speaker has formally complained to the King’s College ethics committee, and in a blog the Professor responsible is quoted a saying “We sincerely apologise if we misjudged the imposition this would place on MPs and their staff,” adding that it had not been the researchers’ intention to waste people’s time.
Well, certainly time does seem to have been wasted and perhaps the lesson here is to respect people’s digital life, rather than just thinking that a few extra emails won’t matter?