FFS Mumsnet HQ - illegal images on threads

The problem is that it is very difficult to automate picture censorship re: inappropriate images.

As humans, with a quick glance we can determine inappropriate pictures.

For a computer program - even with AI it's not that simple (it's very complex).

For example think of a picture of an adult in perfectly appropriate swimwear.

What is the colour of skin?

What "parts" are appropriately covered?

How do you define to a computer "appropriate parts"?

Especially when you consider the variation in human bodies and then combine with the angle the picture was as taken, the lighting, the distance (close up or far away) or how a picture is cropped.

There is no foolproof technology as stands.

There is tech that can filter, but it won't catch everything.

MNHQ may be a target right now, but other (massively bigger) platforms are subject to this issue.

Thanks for the heads up. I am now too scared to click on any other thread, just in case.

What if next time, the person posting these photos titles their thread in a similar way to you, and then posts the photos? Then lots more of us would have seen the photos.

Me too. I popon sometimes during the night if I am up feeding my baby. I have not seen any of the images, thankfully, but am afraid of opening threads now this evening.

I think MN needs to disable photos & links completely for now, until a better system is put in place to stop this. I uploaded a picture of my living room earlier this week and it was held until someone reviewed it, is that no longer a thing already?

Are you okay @Lagirl20? That would have been very distressing to view

How is this happening! I thought they were manually checking photos as I uploaded one earlier and it was held for review. No people, flesh colours and nothing that would be flagged by ai. Mainly white background and text

I agree with this, or at least disable it at times when there’s minimal moderation.

Luckily I didn't see these (I did see the previous ones). It looks like the image checking thing isn't working as intended. What a pain 😡

You know, I don't want members to have to stop posting photos of their eye colour or their child's rashes/boils (or their own). But I'm unconvinced there is an AI that can tell the difference between an obscene image and another picture of flesh & body parts. It says a lot about this magnificent development that AI can make child abuse images, yet can't distinguish them from other pictures.

I rather think putting you (and others) off MN is exactly the reason why the perpetrator did this (plus getting a kick out of seeing the posts about people being understandably upset).

Personally I'm not planning to give them satisfaction on either count.

I also reported, but I'm hesitant to look at any threads at all now. I would urge MNHQ to impose a permanent ban on image uploading.

Me too re: photos

I think they probably need to be tbh.

I assumed something had changed or been put in place to stop this happening again when images were allowed again, but it would appear not.

For my part I’d rather images were permanently disabled than see those images again.

Tbh it's really putting me off MN and I've been on here years

I almost clicked in the thread in question too, I'm so glad I didn't

Thank you for the warning. I’m off mumsnet. They should have disabled photos after the last time

I thought photos had been banned??? Since the recent issue??

FFS again!

How awful.

MNHQ have dealt with it tonight

Well yeah, it is clear someone is deliberately targeting the site, so if nothing has really changed then it’s going to keep on happening.

No they shouldn't but it's clear that someone is deliberately targeting the site and MNHQ have said they are working on this.

Compared to the last instance the response has been very quick.

However it's going to take time to put in place the measures to block these images being uploaded at all.

Personally I'm directing my ire at the person doing this rather than MNHQ.

Tbf they shouldn’t have been on in the first place.

I'm sure @MNHQ will do so.

To be clear within a couple of minutes of me reporting.

I already did this 20 mins ago.

Night Watch started zapping the posts and hiding threads within a couple of minutes.

It was shocking
The user needs not only banning but reporting to the police