So MN is now a platform for CSA images

They were horrendous. Absolutely horrendous

They make profits because they take shortcuts

I agree they need to stop the ability to upload photos overnight these people are volunteers ffs

OP didn't see.

Instead makes up a nonsense allegation that's probably libellous.

Not, it isn't providing a platform. The threads were removed quickly. Likely reported to the police and various IPs recovered.

Untwist your pants and get a grip.

That would solve the problem specific to images - but not the wider problem of inappropriate posting, nor the use of unpaid labour to regulate the most valuable part of the site.

Unpaid labour restricts the pool of applicants and inhibits diversity. It is also probably illegal under NMW act, depending on the specifics.

Given the size of the MN wage bill (Justine mentioned it around lockdown on a thread and it's a lot!) it has always been ridiculous that there isn't a single paid member of staff on overnight.

An AI could screen any image uploaded. They just need to pay for it. No image containing a child should be allowed at all.

The obvious solution seems to be disabling the option to upload pictures whenever volunteers, not paid moderators, are looking after the forum.

I think it’s outrageous that MN uses volunteers to moderate overnight when it’s a business.

I used to work for a charity that had a support forum. Daytime moderators were charity employees. Out of hours we used an agency with paid moderators. It’s completely inappropriate to use volunteers for this.

Thsnk you honestly for creating this thread. I came here this morning to do the same. I saw those images, well part of them, and it was genuinely the most distressing thing I've ever seen. I'm seriously considering leaving MN after this. I can't fathom how can this be possible, in a parenting forum of all places. Technically, there's no excuse at all and I didn't know about the volunteers: it makes it even worse.

Images of child sexual abuse.

Child sexual abuse.

Child Support Agency? I didn't see the posts. I would expect anything unpleasant to be dealt with in during the day time. Presumably that has happened. We posters don't pay for Mumsnet, advertising does but the adverts obviously have to be carefully monitored which takes time.

Just came here to say this. Not even trained those poor volunteers!

I was on the 11pm thread where it happened and like many others, reported immediately. It was removed after about 15 minutes. At posters’ requests the entire thread was wiped. Not surprised to hear more were subsequently posted overnight.

The images were obviously the worst of it (though they looked photoshopped) but the poster said some truly foul stuff too.

There needs to be a system to stop new posters being able to upload images to the site. That poster had no posting history whatsoever.

I’ve not been on here for that long in comparison to others, but I always thought MNHQ were paid? Are MNHQ paid but not the night volunteers?

I’ve started reporting obvious troll posts to MNHQ recently, but I don’t understand why some of them stay up initially? They’re so obviously trolls, even down to their usernames sometimes.

Fucking hell.

A site such as this should not be relying on volunteers overnight
it should be a paid position like daytime mods

The trouble is that the person who initially reports it (or more likely several people) would still have to see images of CSA. I'm sure I would find that traumatising, but what if the person who sees it first was sexually abused as a child themselves? Seeing something like that could cause someone real harm. They need to find a way to stop these images being uploaded in the first place.

I also think that MN could include an automatic warning below any links someone posts, advising users not to click on the link unless it looks legit, e.g. a link to a beauty product on the Look Fantastic website, or something from Amazon, or health advice from the NHS.

Yes, picture posts should have to be approved

Text based posts don’t need to be removed immediately. But if a post has an image attached that is reported it could easily be an immediate removal.

Any user posting multiple images across threads could also have acc locked.

A site this big could also look into in-house Ai.

Sympathy to anyone affected. A reminder that this also happens on sites that our children frequent.

Shit, that's appalling.

I think the upload pictures feature needs to be disabled or at least made subject to moderator approval.

Surely these days there must be AI technology which is capable of identifying whether an uploaded image or a link contains pictures of CSA or other illegal or explicit material.

Yes, I agree. The incels and assorted other misogynists would have a field day.

Because mn would be empty within an hour?

That’s sick. I hope they’re able to be tracked down and arrested. Sick fucks.

As I understand it, when a post is reported at night, that report doesn't actually notify the nightwatch volunteer. You have to either tag nightwatch or post on the nightwatch board. If I'm correct it's another example of how unfit for purpose the nighttime arrangements are.