To MNHQ - A forced Log In puts abused/vulnerable people at risk

[OnlyLoggedInToGiveFeedback]

I have only logged in to feedback to MNHQ.

I know there is already a thread on the forced Log In running in Site Stuff but wanted to start a thread on this specific issue.

Please, please consider all the people who use your site who are in abusive relationships/vulnerable positions. If you intend to make users Log In to Mumsnet then you are potentially putting these people in a high risk situation. Others could find their posts. This could happen via shared devices, keyloggers, history seraches or a user forgetting to log out (especially likely for a stressed person).

Please think very carefully about the implications for this section of mumsnet users. It could be high risk and very damaging. Please do not isolate these people further. Please have some compassion for them.

Has this been discussed at MNHQ? I hope you will consider this when you are deciding if you are continuing with the forced log in in the future. I have always seen Mumsnet as a supportive place so I would imagine you will think of this?

[NeedACleverNN]

Call me stupid but I am lost as to how it can affect vulnerable women

Just because you are logged in, doesn't mean you have to post anything. And if you do post something, you need to be logged in anyway

[lljkk]

Is MN really that important a resource to vulnerable women people?
There are so many other anonymous online sources. Freephone services, police, SS.

[JennyHolzersGhost]

Totally agree OP.

[Queenbean]

I assume it's that vulnerable women can read posts from other people in similar situations and get strength / inspiration / help from them in an anonymous way

Whereas if they are forced to login their abuser could potentially log in as them and see their posting history / threads they're watching etc. Or at least know that they're looking on MN.

[Unicornsarelovely]

Mn is a very valuable first stage resource for people who are just starting to wonder whether they are in an abusive relationship or not.

I think the forced login should help with trolls and journalist fishing, but could there be another option as well to protect the vulnerable.

[ThatsMyStapler]

Others could find their posts

You can't watch posts or make posts if you don't have an account? So how does forcing people to log in make them vulnerable?

[lljkk]

MN has always been a business 1st & foremost.

[Zucker]

MN is a chat forum, if someone can't browse here they may Google and land on a site that could actually offer them some help.

[PurpleDaisies]

I can't work out how this puts anyone at risk-if they are looking for support on here by posting they'd have to log in anyway. Am I just being slow tonight?

[OnlyLoggedInToGiveFeedback]

The kind of scenario I mean is that I know of someone who used to log in to post at a library but was then able to read replies at home as a lurker.

Also lurkers could gain support by reading threads.

I know there are better (and more targetted) resources out there - I just think it would be a sad loss to the people who have gained support here. The risk of having to log in to read may put them off - all too easy to forget to log out again.

[WannaBe]

On phone so marking to come back later.

[PurpleDaisies]

The kind of scenario I mean is that I know of someone who used to log in to post at a library but was then able to read replies at home as a lurker.

If their abuser was tech savvy enough to use a key logger, wouldn't they be able to track the sites they were browsing and see what they were reading regardless of them being logged in?

[MarkRuffaloCrumble]

lljkk & usual have you ever read the relationships topic?! Of course it is a valuable resource for women in abusive situations, there are hundreds of threads from women who have been supported to leave terrible relationships by caring posters on MN.

Most of them are not quite in a SS or police situation, many not in need of Women's Aid, but that doesn't mean that they aren't in a volatile situation where anonymity is important.

On almost all of those threads someone will post a reminder to keep logged out so that their abusive partner can't trace their posting history. This new log in WILL cause problems.

[Queenbean]

There are much better resources for vulnerable women on the internet than MN. MN is just a chat forum.

How sad. I think it's much more than "just" a chat forum and has been a source of great support to me over the years.

[lljkk]

Not a great support for me. I can honestly say MN has upset me hugely over the years & tried to make me ultra anxious about every decision. Hugely undermined my confidence, over all. If I come across as irrascible, it's because that's the only way I can cope with this place.

Relationships board is very boring (imho).

[Hadron21]

I agree. I can only log on now as there is no chance I will be 'caught' or may leave myself logged in by accident. This is my lifeline.

If I can't seek support or advice without logging in then I can't use mums net.

[ThatsMyStapler]

The kind of scenario I mean is that I know of someone who used to log in to post at a library but was then able to read replies at home as a lurker.

So they log on in a library, and then want to read at home? log another account, i have several GMail accounts and there are hundreds of other free email providers out there

Making people log in, in an anonymous forum does not cause problems.

[JennyHolzersGhost]

Why are you still posting here if it's not helpful for you ?
Also others find it helpful. Presumably you wouldn't want to deny them that help even if it didn't benefit you ?

[PresidentOliviaMumsnet]

Thanks so much for logging back in - we appreciate the feedback and I'll pass it to the 9to5erPowersThatBe