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Original poster

The MNHQ Moderation Team: Thread 2

997 replies

BarrackerBarmer · 19/04/2018 00:26

Follow on thread regarding the data breach situation:
___

Dear MNHQ

I'm very grateful for the commitment to free speech you've publicly taken, and for Justine's courage this week.

A former disgruntled employee of MN is writing on Twitter about the 'transphobia' of MN staff, and calling you TERFs. She is showing a great deal of bias and intolerance towards women with feminist views, this may well be her honest opinion, which is no big deal I suppose, since she is no longer an employee.

At least, it isn't an issue until she calls a shout out to her
'friends who still work at MN' to report and take down posts by 'transphobic scum', by which she appears to be referring to any poster objecting to being called TERF by her friend.

Regardless of the personal views of the MNHQ staff, who should be as free to hold their own views as I am mine, I am disturbed that there may be a small contingent of employees who are invested in unfair moderation and will not be applying fair-handed principles, at least if the claims of this ex-employee are credible.

Can you please give posters some reassurance that the difficult job of fair-handed moderation isn't being abused by the 'friends' of ex-employees who are 'reporting it all' and taking down posts because any gender criticism means the poster is 'transphobic scum'?

Thank you.

The MNHQ Moderation Team: Thread 2
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Should1stayorshould1go · 19/04/2018 11:22

Thankyou Justine, both for the Times article earlier in the week and in the actions you have now taken to report the situation. I appreciate its probably very hard to answer all site users queries and concerns in an uncertain and dynamic scenario but look forward to any updates.

ICJump · 19/04/2018 11:20

Thanks Justine

AngryAttackKittens · 19/04/2018 11:19

Thanks for the update, Justine.

MipMipMip · 19/04/2018 11:18

Very glad this is being reported to the police.

Has anyone seen any coverage of this? I would have expected there to be but it's like it's being brushed under the carpet.

EmpressOfJurisfiction · 19/04/2018 11:14

Thanks Justine.

Bumblefuddle · 19/04/2018 11:12

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Original poster
BarrackerBarmer · 19/04/2018 11:10

Thankyou @JustineMumsnet
I'm glad you are taking both actions

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MarvelleGazelle · 19/04/2018 11:10

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nailslikesnails · 19/04/2018 11:10

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nailslikesnails · 19/04/2018 11:10

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MNHQ
JustineMumsnet · 19/04/2018 11:09

Hi all,
We've spoken to the Information Commissioner this morning and reported the breach. We'll be reporting it to the police shortly (the Information Commissioner advised that this was a discretionary call in this case).

We'll be back with some more detailed answers to your questions about data, procedure and safeguarding shortly. Thanks for your thoughts and suggestions.

Cascade220 · 19/04/2018 11:04

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merrymouse · 19/04/2018 11:04

Has there been an update from MNHQ yet

I imagine that at 11.00 the day after they are in meetings with lawyers and briefing staff.

Bumblefuddle · 19/04/2018 11:03

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Bumblefuddle · 19/04/2018 11:02

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Slightlygiganticpants · 19/04/2018 11:00

Has there been an update from MNHQ yet or are they brushing it all under the carpet? I have massive concerns about this and any further screen shots this former employee has retained. There lack of transparency and failure to implement legal sanctions are making me doubt mumsnet completely.

Hmmm how long to wait till I request removal of all data relating to me .....

Original poster
BarrackerBarmer · 19/04/2018 10:53

You can’t reasonably be refused if you ask for deletion now and after 25 May you absolutely cannot.

That is excellent information, thank you Bumblefuddle*

In all likelihood, Mumsnet is going to start to look like Swiss Cheese in a month or two. Posters will want to adopt a scorched earth policy, not because they don't stand by what they have posted, but because of no confidence in the systems and guardians of their anonymity.

If I have posted about my birth experience under one name, my children's school uniform policy on another, my opinion on a local hospital on another, my stance on abortion under a different name and my gender critical views on another, the risk from a rogue MN employee linking the jigsaw purely through having unnecessary access is far too high. Combine that with lacksadaisical recruitment processes and its a disaster waiting to happen.

I think we shall see a Scorched Earth movement from prolific posters. It may not be the best way for MNHQ, but it will be safer for posters.

It will add a layer of incentive for MNHQ to ensure that jigsaw piece identification by staff isn't just unlikely, but near impossible.

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CaptainKirkssparetupee · 19/04/2018 10:52

Of course it doesn't reflect the advice any legal representing would give.

Bumblefuddle · 19/04/2018 10:51

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CaptainKirkssparetupee · 19/04/2018 10:49

Will they even bother taking this seriously?

VioletCharlotte · 19/04/2018 10:49

@TERFousBreakdown
I agree. Data protection shouldn't necessarily be about restricting access. Employers should seek to develop a culture where data protection is taken seriously and employees have a clear understanding of the law and how they should treat personal data. From what I can understand, this doesn't seem to be the case at Mumsnet, as @Johnnyfinland says as an employee they weren't even aware whether there was a clause about privacy in their contract.

TeaScum · 19/04/2018 10:47

Also place marking for an update from MNHQ.

Bumblefuddle · 19/04/2018 10:46

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CrustyCob · 19/04/2018 10:44

A place mark for updates.

Bumblefuddle · 19/04/2018 10:43

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