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lyssa Hardy, a Sydney-based emergency health worker, left a negative review of real estate agency Wills Property on Google after seeing an unusual rental listing go viral on social media. The listing required tenants to help maintain a childcare centre below and prohibited them from leaving or entering the apartment during its operating hours. Ms Hardy's review aimed to raise public awareness about the listing, but it was removed by someone other than her.

    The incident highlights digital vigilantism, where users intentionally leave negative reviews as retribution for a business's behavior. In some cases, multiple accounts or individuals using multiple accounts will organize to mass-negatively review a business, known as review bombing. Wills Property responded to Ms Hardy's review by acknowledging she was not a former client and referencing lawyers, but also listing her employer.

    The agency contacted several individuals who posted about the listing, including Ms Hardy on Instagram and Reddit user Cords9836 on their personal and work addresses, as well as messaging their partner on LinkedIn and Instagram. This behavior has raised concerns about ethics and laws surrounding online communication.

    Demi Swain, a senior associate at Bennett Litigation and Commercial Law, said posting public personal information is not illegal but could be considered intimidation or harassment. Hugh Breakey, an ethicist at Griffith University, noted that while freedom of speech allows for negative opinions to be shared online, review bombing and sharing personal information can be ethically complicated.

    The situation has also raised concerns about the potential consequences of amplifying personal information online. Dr Breakey said that once information is shared, it's difficult to control how significant it becomes, and it may lead to unintended consequences. The incident highlights the complexities surrounding digital vigilantism and the need for a nuanced approach to online communication.

    Wills Property director John Wills stated that individuals in the business had received personal threats since the listing was posted on social media and that they only shared publicly available information. However, NSW Police were unable to confirm whether or not threats regarding the listing had been reported.