Abstract: A receiving user receives an electronic message from an originating user such that the electronic message contains a data directive that requests a data transfer to/from the receiving user and the originating user. In response to receiving the electronic message, access privileges for the originating user are determined at the receiving computer with respect to access privilege parameters that have been specified by the receiving user. One or more remote and/or local datastores are accessed in order to read and/or write data in accordance with the determined access privileges and the requested data transfer. A response message may be returned to the originating user. One or more new request messages may be sent by the receiving user to other users, wherein each new request message includes the data directive.