Well Mo;
Such methods were also common especialy durring the Salem witch trials in New England which of course were carried over from England as well.
However, in some cases, persuasion in my view is perfectly acceptable and reasonable. I had a shouting match with a history prof a couple years back about the topic. Then again he was a flaming leftist using every moment to rant his political views <of current times> when we were studying history of the 19th century. The 1st 4 hours of class was how the president should be impeached and tried in the hague and how he was a regional campaign manager for one of the candidates. His rants alone were torture enough.
One must consider that one never has the full spectrum of the picture when events are occuring. Only after can we see all the peices of the puzzle.
As for the info, eh, I have read more than my share of such info. It put me to sleep regularly.
Last Sunday I was listening to a radio talkshow <Brian Suites> and he discussed that the young Pvt soon to be Prisoner, had done similiar while in training at his MOS school, placing youtube blogs ARGH!!!! What was he thinking, what was his command thinking argh! A break in the system, or falling through the plentiful cracks that exist.
Now, how would something like that be handled in T2K? It would make an interesting campaign. There is an intel leak or mole. <Albeit, in this campaign, the leak would be a bit more smarter as would his handler, and truly beleive in the rightousness of his cause.> It is now the PCs mission to find him, catch him and the data and eliminate the handler. I can see alot of plot material for that type of scenario.