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Original poster

FFS Mumsnet HQ - illegal images on threads

302 replies

Lagirl20 · 15/02/2025 02:16

Beware, the thread “weird message from friend” has some child abuse images on it!!! @mumsnet

OP posts:
spritsailking · 15/02/2025 08:23

I don't understand can anyone explain this? BB code?

Goody2ShoesAndTheFilthyBeast · 15/02/2025 08:25

Would it not also make sense to make pictures a feature only accessible after you've been a registered member for some time?

romdowa · 15/02/2025 08:28

Maybe exploring other loopholes would be a good idea as well. These people clearly aren't armatures

DucklingSwimmingInstructress · 15/02/2025 08:29

ididnot · 15/02/2025 03:04

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

Show quote history

This is the best option I think

Goody2ShoesAndTheFilthyBeast · 15/02/2025 08:30

I think but am not 100% that BB code is where you don't directly upload. Instead you open with [ img ] put the url of the image you want to show then close with [/img ]

No spaces

Edit - Google says its called bulletin board code, it's part of html and has been around since the 90s

Theunamedcat · 15/02/2025 08:31

It has a follow up thread im not clicking on it

CarobyBlobs · 15/02/2025 08:36

ScottBakula · 15/02/2025 08:02

I agree with pp and said it on a previous thread, posting any photos overnight should be disabled permanently.

Also
Everyone can only post 1 image per day , this should be linked to your account not your username.

In addition I think,
New members should not be able to post any photos for 3 / 4 weeks.
Not able to name change for 2 weeks

I don't know how/ if it could be set up but also something like a verification code to be text or emailed to you before your photo can be uploaded.
Similar to the way banks / pay pal ect text to make sure its you.
Though I appreciate this will be a huge amount of extra work and therfore cost to mnhq.

Out of curiosity how many of you would be willing to pay a members fee per month if it would definitely stop them kind of imagines?
This would be used for paying for ; Better software,
More staff to check uploaded images,
NW team been paid,
Frequent training,

and if we are really going to push the boat out any legal fees incurred or needed to help prosecution of the scum that post them. ( though you would hope that would be taken on by the Crown )

If you would be willing to pay a fee how much would be a reasonable amount?

If you are not willing, why not ?

I know the COL is hitting everyone but personally I think a few pounds a month would be worth it.

no I wouldn’t pay for that - this isn’t a charity you know, MN can pay for that out of their profits

oakleaffy · 15/02/2025 08:37

coxesorangepippin · 15/02/2025 02:37

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

Pictures were supposedly being held for checking- but the pervert is clearly getting through.

JudgeBread · 15/02/2025 08:38

Jesus Christ Mumsnet, do you actually have anyone working for you who has more than a primary school level understanding of cyber security? That's a pretty fucking obvious loophole that should have been considered before image uploading was reinstated. Not being funny but we used to do that to upload pictures on our MySpace pages when we were fucking 13, but apparently the genius who built your tool didn't think of it? Or rather it wasn't part of the off the shelf tool you haphazardly instated so you could rush to ensure people could still post pictures of their grotty fannies as quickly as possible? What a fucking joke.

mentalblank · 15/02/2025 08:38

If MN can afford to pay people to moderate the site during the day, why can't they afford to pay them during the night? Especially as moderators can work in any time zone!

myplace · 15/02/2025 08:38

The thing is, when criminals target you like this you just have to keep trying to stay a step ahead of them. They are expert disrupters and enjoy the game. A bit like when all the public bins were removed in the 70s and 80s because of bombs. Then splinter proof ones were developed and they reappeared.

I had a boyfriend from the states and he was amazed at all the restrictions on our civil liberties that we endured, to deny terrorists opportunities.

spritsailking · 15/02/2025 08:39

Goody2ShoesAndTheFilthyBeast · 15/02/2025 08:30

I think but am not 100% that BB code is where you don't directly upload. Instead you open with [ img ] put the url of the image you want to show then close with [/img ]

No spaces

Edit - Google says its called bulletin board code, it's part of html and has been around since the 90s

Edited

They were allowing HTML? That's insane. Someone should have seen that loophole!

GreenYellowBrown · 15/02/2025 08:40

I didn’t see it but it sounds awful 😢

oakleaffy · 15/02/2025 08:41

JudgeBread · 15/02/2025 08:38

Jesus Christ Mumsnet, do you actually have anyone working for you who has more than a primary school level understanding of cyber security? That's a pretty fucking obvious loophole that should have been considered before image uploading was reinstated. Not being funny but we used to do that to upload pictures on our MySpace pages when we were fucking 13, but apparently the genius who built your tool didn't think of it? Or rather it wasn't part of the off the shelf tool you haphazardly instated so you could rush to ensure people could still post pictures of their grotty fannies as quickly as possible? What a fucking joke.

I don't think ANY posting of genitals is a good idea Can they not also be banned?
No one needs to see it. No one wants to see it.

ZebedeeDougalFlorence · 15/02/2025 08:41

I have a question:

I was lucky enough not to have seen the images, but was wondering what would happen if someone posted a link to such images and you clicked on it. Would that remain on your computer? The answer to this question could help me make a decision to stay off all forums like this.

I usually never click on links - even links sent to me by close friends or family because I think about that case of the police officer who was sent images and, because they were on her phone, got sacked from her post. There might have been more to it, but even so...

GreenYellowBrown · 15/02/2025 08:42

Could MN users get into trouble if they click on the thread without realising it’s got an illegal image? I wouldn’t want to inadvertently have a cookie (or something) in my phone that shows I’d looked at something when it was just presented to me whilst I was browsing MN!!

Natsku · 15/02/2025 08:44

I am very surprised no one thought about the possibility of someone using BB code as a loophole, that's been used for donkeys years.

I am glad it wasn't a case of the AI filters failing though, so hopefully when the loophole is closed the AI filters will work and we won't have this issue again.

CerealPosterHere · 15/02/2025 08:44

I think disabling images at night seems sensible. Because it happening at night is definitely a pattern.

27Maisie27 · 15/02/2025 08:44

Posting photos - any photos - needs to be disabled until whoever is uploading CSA images has been dealt with by the appropriate authorities. Mumsnet is no longer a safe space for women.

CarobyBlobs · 15/02/2025 08:45

HOW was that the loophole? HOW? The level of incompetence to not have checked that this would be covered in the first place is baffling!

the “oops sorry” attitude really doesn’t cut it for those unfortunate people who saw these images!

IkeaJesusChrist · 15/02/2025 08:47

I'm beginning to think that Mumsnet is run by a fucking circus.

BB code, seriously?

LoafofSellotape · 15/02/2025 08:47

villainandvixen · 15/02/2025 02:38

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

Why do we even need to be able to post photos? Take the option away and the problem is sorted, seems simple enough to me.

spritsailking · 15/02/2025 08:49

27Maisie27 · 15/02/2025 08:44

Posting photos - any photos - needs to be disabled until whoever is uploading CSA images has been dealt with by the appropriate authorities. Mumsnet is no longer a safe space for women.

I agree, should be up to the police to announce when images are turned back on (if ever). I dont think it's safe untill theyre caught

MrsPeregrine · 15/02/2025 08:54

This has put me off going on Mumsnet in the evenings. I thought the ability to upload photos had been disabled. Why were they able to upload photos last night?

MNHQ
BeckyAMumsnet · 15/02/2025 08:54

Thank you for the reports and we are very sorry for those who’ve been affected. Our AI-based filtering system is designed to detect and hide inappropriate images but the attacker posted a link to site which contained such images. We are disabling the feature which shows image previews and have also disabled new registrations and images for now. We'll post more information as soon as there is anything else to say.

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