Double standards in reactions to celebrity nude hack and theft of Sony data

When hackers unknown published the stolen nude photographs of female celebrities in September, the backlash was both fierce and nearly instantaneous.

But when hackers unknown leaked the stolen salaries, emails and PowerPoint presentations of Sony Pictures Entertainment, the public reaction was … well, celebratory. For days, sites like Gawker and Buzzfeed have revelled in gossipy dishes from the leaks, such as the gory details of celebrity feuds. Think pieces have been penned on actors' and executives' salaries, emails and salary lists reprinted in full.

If the "Fappening" was so wrong … then why is this strain of schadenfreude so cool?

Lest we start this discussion off on the wrong foot, let's be really clear up front: The Sony hack and the Fappening are different in major, substantive ways. There is arguably nothing more invasive or humiliating than having private images of your naked body stolen and spread across the internet. There is also nothing of news in those images - and the same arguably cannot be said of corporate executives' work emails.

More important, I suspect, is that there are power dynamics at play here that were absolutely not at play in the Fappening. Sony executives are rich and powerful, but the inner mechanisms of their industry are fairly secretive. They're essentially beyond public scrutiny or reproach. Lifting that veil feels like a win for the everyman.

Whereas the Fappening victimised those who were famous, but in very personal, private moments of vulnerability, the Sony hack has meted vengeance on those who seemed to deserve it - brash and obnoxious executives, the true 1 per cent.