The social contract exists always. It isn’t a paper contract but a societal consensus about what constitutes acceptable behavior. Gambling joint money without agreement is not socially acceptable behavior. Bypassing a eula/nda for a beta version of a thing and then spreading the info just because you’re legally in the clear is not societally acceptable behavior. It doesn’t matter that it shouldn’t have been so easy to do so or that they won’t face legal consequences.
The “social contract” exists with the understanding that journalists are going to report news unrestricted unless there has been a prior agreement. Journalists entire profession reputation and careers are based on respecting their sources.
The social contract exists always. It isn’t a paper contract but a societal consensus about what constitutes acceptable behavior. Gambling joint money without agreement is not socially acceptable behavior. Bypassing a eula/nda for a beta version of a thing and then spreading the info just because you’re legally in the clear is not societally acceptable behavior. It doesn’t matter that it shouldn’t have been so easy to do so or that they won’t face legal consequences.
The “social contract” exists with the understanding that journalists are going to report news unrestricted unless there has been a prior agreement. Journalists entire profession reputation and careers are based on respecting their sources.
That’s the whole reason embargos exist.