The practice of including an individual in an email correspondence without the explicit knowledge or consent of all other recipients involves adding that person’s address to the ‘Bcc’ (Blind Carbon Copy) field. This ensures that the recipient receives the email and subsequent replies, while other recipients remain unaware of their inclusion. For example, a manager might include a senior colleague in an email thread concerning a sensitive project update to provide them with situational awareness without creating unnecessary concern among the project team.
This method can be useful for discreetly monitoring communications, providing oversight, or ensuring that a key stakeholder is informed without disrupting the primary dialogue. Historically, this approach was adopted when technology provided few alternative methods for passive observation of electronic correspondence. However, considerations regarding transparency, trust, and professional ethics often require careful evaluation before employing this tactic.
