Since publishing the original essay, another reason that this sort of logging is objectionable occurred to me. 

(3) It is often said that logging the channels is a service for others to find information, but I doubt it is really very useful for that purpose. Whenever I search for information relevant to channels that IRSeek logs, I invariably get forums and not IRC channels. This is not a surprise. Forums are high profile and tend to have self-selecting mechanisms for concentrating the good content. This is not true in a chat room which is effectively just a conversation. Anyone could say any junk in an IRC channel and they often do. To archive all of that noise for public use under the pretext that it's for education is somewhat laughable if IRSeek (and its ilk) were not so creepy. 


Given the fact that IRSeek and IRSeek-like agencies creep out so many people, and seem to add no value to anyone, it is confusing why so many channel operators are still welcoming these sleazy corporations when they have the ability to opt-out any time they like. 

*note:  It is important for people to know a little bit of history about IRSeek.  IRSeek had been covertly monitoring channels and literally spying on users without their knowledge. It was only after Freenode discovered this dishonest activity and put some pressure on IRSeek that IRSeek began giving channel ops the ability to 'opt-in' and 'opt-out'. This is important for two reasons: (1) It shows what a slimy and disreputable corporation IRSeek is. And (2) It highlights the fact that if IRSeek is monitoring the users of any channel, the ops of that channel are welcoming it, and could end that welcome at any time they like.