Why didn't Mumsnet delete my post??

[Larafromthe80s]

Just curious... I started a thread which detailed a lot of information about a situation I was in, thankfully I'd name changed for it!
Anyway it blew up and got picked up by a regional media outlet
I reported the thread to Mumsnet and continued to do so over the following 72 hours, as well as emailing them directly.
By this point the article was in 3 nationals and around 6 regionals

A family member screen shot the news article from his Facebook newsfeed to me saying as a joke "this isn't you isn't" as he he hadn't actually read the article, only the headline and thought it was just coincidental. And it was me 😖
I was mortified and am living in fear that the people it was about will have seen it.
Why did Mumsnet take so long to delete it, is that normal?

[quote Monopolyiscrap]@phishy No one reads T and Cs before joining a forum.[/quote]
But then you can’t complain when it bites you on the bum.

@phishy Not what the law says thankfully. T and Cs still have to be reasonable.

So you’re saying Mumsnet acted illegally?

@phishy

I really didn't want people seeing my posts that publicly 😪

Then you shouldn’t have posted on a public forum.

I find the naivety of some astounding. It's an open Internet forum, yes being picked up by the press drives more traffic here and people are more likely to see it- but you shouldn't post anything that you are concerned could be linked back to you if you're worried about that happening. It's not a safe space here, there is a chance anyone you know could see it.

@Lampshading exactly!

@phishy where did I say that?
I said that simply agreeing to T and Cs does not mean that the company has a right to uphold them. They have to be legally reasonably and proportionate.

@Lampshading then no women who is being abused or in any difficult relationship should post on here.

[quote Monopolyiscrap]@Lampshading then no women who is being abused or in any difficult relationship should post on here.[/quote]
Well yes I agree as it goes if posting potentially identifying information is required. As I said, there's no controls at all over who can view mumsnet, no one should post and feel like they have some anonymity or that people they don't want to see it won't. It's a risk.

[quote Monopolyiscrap]@phishy where did I say that?
I said that simply agreeing to T and Cs does not mean that the company has a right to uphold them. They have to be legally reasonably and proportionate.[/quote]
Are you implying the t&cs aren’t reasonable then? If not, why mention it?

[quote Monopolyiscrap]@daisiesonmydress the definition of personal data is far wider than that.
Strictly speaking there is nothing in the legislation about personal posts on internet forums. But there is also nothing excluding these posts from GDPR. Certainly, if posts mean an individual is identifiable, then it meets the definition of personal data under the legislation.
In reality, this would need to be clarified through case law.

Most forums GDPR aside from registration information would not be covered by GDPR as most forums give users control over their information i.e. users can delete comments and posts. MN is relatively rare in not giving users direct control over their own information.
Legally it makes sense for MN to delete a thread when asked as only case law would clarify whether MN is acting illegally if they don't delete a thread when requested to as the person is identifiable.
Of course if it went to court the court may decide posts on forums are not covered by GDPR.
Read some legal discussions around this area. There is a fair number out there.[/quote]

I do GDPR with a lawyer who specialises in GDPR so we can't be sued. I'm pretty sure MN does the same.

But you keep giving your take on it.

@phishy sigh. That is not what I said.

@daisiesonmydress yes they may well do. Do you understand that for a definite answer on this issue there needs to be a court case to establish case law?
Until that point, it is based on individuals legal opinions. There is no definitive yes or no answer. And it is an issue discussed by lawyers interested in GDPR.

TBH I have posted before and MN have deleted quite quickly.

Was this the having to take almost full time care of your BIL’s kids he had got full access for? I felt awful seeing that in news posts on Facebook 😩

I hope it hasn’t been too stressful for you OP, having your post identified. I know it’s a public forum but when posting anonymously, you get lulled into a false sense of security and then you get the lazy shitty journalists.

I was humiliated by mine being posted, even though it was not one of me being unreasonable but over sharing and then being identified. It’s a huge shock to the system for your story to become national news.

Monopoly you clearly have no idea what you’re talking about. You’ve gone from saying ‘under GDPR they have to delete’ to ‘it’s based on individuals legal opinions. There’s no definitive yes or no answer.’ I’m quite lost on what your actual point is now, other than just being contrary.

Bloody hell Monopolyiscrap just admit you don't know a thing about GDPR and stop digging!

@CatNameChange101 I was explaining in detail what the legislation actually says. It is safer to delete threads on request with identifying information as GDPR legislation appears to cover forums.
But only a court case would clarify for sure if it did apply.

This is not an unusual situation. Most legislation is clarified through court cases leading to case law.

But you said ‘they gave to delete it’, @Monopolyiscrap

Are you backtracking?

I am surprised at MnHq.
The mods in the old days were compassionate and would join in occasionally with the odd thread
And would def delete something like this
Sorry you have been outed locally Op:

@CatJumperTwat No, you are wrong. In spite of your insults, I do know about GDPR. You have not even bothered engaging with the points I have made.
There has been little understanding of what counts as personal data. For example, the comment that it only applies to specific information such as names, addresses and NI numbers. That shows a lack of understanding of the legislation. There is a legal definition of personal data and it is far wider than some on this thread appear to understand.

@Larafromthe80s

Well... lesson learned. Thanks for the insight and I guess it makes sense about driving traffic. I doubt I'll ever post asking for advice, giving the level of information I did again. I'm pretty convinced those spoken about must have seen it, the only good thing is that the comments on the Facebook posts of the papers were 99% in my favour but even so, I really didn't want people seeing my posts that publicly 😪

I understand your perspectives, but tis a public site, yes I guess there's public, then theirs the m,s,m so to speak.

@phishy I am explaining in some detail the actual legal position. I am clarifying the situation.
When I have written GDPR policies I would have advised deleting as the legislation suggests strongly that forums do apply.
But as I said until there is case law no one can be 100% sure. That is how legislation works. Unless the legislation or case law relates to your specific situation, then it is always a matter of legal opinion.

So why did you say ‘under GDPR they have to delete’?

I have explained above.