Update from MNHQ addressing the recent images posted on the site

[JustineMumsnet]

Hi all,
There have been a number of threads discussing what happened re the posting of CSA images on site and so I want to be absolutely clear: we would never seek to shut down reasonable criticism and we're taking on board all the feedback and will be carefully considering how we can improve our procedures and moderation to prevent this happening again.

As a temporary measure, we have suspended all image posting and will soon be implementing AI filters to flag illegal/disturbing images before they appear on the site. We’re also liaising with external specialists to see if there are any further tools we can employ to help us prevent this from happening again in the future. We reported it to the police first thing the morning after the attack and we have a follow up meeting with them tomorrow.

It's also pretty clear from what we can see behind the scenes that there is an ongoing, coordinated effort from trolls to further inflame these discussions, and cause as much disruption as possible. We are taking steps to remove bad faith actors, but we know this can be frustrating for those who just want to express your views about what happened. If you come across any posts that seem designed to stir up more conflict rather than contribute constructively, please do report them - your reports really help us to act swiftly. Many thanks for your patience while we work to sort this out.

Thank you!

I can't just "breeze over this" - I totally did not ever expect to see such images on a parenting website! I am fortunate to not have experienced CSA but I can't begin to imagine the effect this must have had on anyone who did!

I can't get those fucking horrible images out of my head, and I was exposed to them via a parenting website where I should have been able to expect to be safe!

If you were fortunate enough not to see them @saraclara please give space to those of us who did, and have been sickened by it!

And then you do that and get deleted!

Not able to post pictures still?

@Oblomov25 I'm not sure but doubt it

It took 20 years to get photos posted, let alone a quote function. You might have to take a seat while you wait.

I think it's easier if a poster is saying vile things than to erase an image from your head, and feel really sorry for anyone who saw the photos.

Although hopefully that won't happen again.

I would think it takes quite a while to get AI image filtering in place.
I don't know what it takes but I'd be astonished if it could be done in a matter of days (find a provider of appropriate models, contracts....then integration and testing?)

@ErrolTheDragon yeah it won't happen overnight.

The thing I most want to happen is that the perpetrator is traced.

And what?

If he is in the UK, and gets found, and gets charged and gets found guilty, nothing will happen.

He might have to pay a small fine and go on a course.

He might get a suspended sentence but that's the extent of what will happen.

Shame - whoever it was did mass distribution of CSA

I think the UK needs a proper campaign to actually do something about these people. But the judges seem to just let them off time and time again.

I find it quite staggering that people can post crap on sm and be promptly arrested charged and given custodial sentences, yet more serious posts like csa seem to have the authorities scratching their heads and seemingly unable to locate and name the pervs.

No idea obviously if that is the case here, but why do we hear who said what on X yet csa criminals seem to be shrouded in mystery.

I don't think the people inciting hatred on X you're referring to were hiding their identities, were they?

The anonymity of MN is hugely important for some users - particularly women in coercive relationships. But a criminal can hide behind it. I'd assume most people in possession of child sex abuse material aren't using their normal email and home WiFi , and someone deliberately targeting a parenting site with this vile stuff even moreso.

True yes csa criminals will obviously be more covert but even so there is tech available to trace people.

Those on X posting unpleasant comments wouldn't have all used their named accounts but they were all so swiftly charged and given hefty custodial sentences.

I just wonder if we'll ever hear '< insert name> charged with posting csa on mn and given a custodial sentence'. It'll be interesting to see.

I completely agree with this. MM has a duty of care to its users not to expose them to illegal and traumatising images. In what world does a site that makes £2m profit not have the appropriate protocols in place to prevent this? It's not the 90s anymore, "we're really sorry" isn't going to cut it.

Best hope that's really the case and that it's effective, saraclara, though it'll take another major problem to find out and obviously I'd rather that didn't happen

I appreciate things take a while to get sorted but it would be helpful to have an idea of how long we’re likely to have to wait.

In areas like Property or Home Decoration, not being able to post a photo is a pain.

There also needs to be some kind of pinned thread in all forums as loads of site users are unaware of what happened and don’t know there’s a ban on posting photos.

I appreciate the attack wasn’t the fault of MN but the response hasn’t been as loud or as powerful as you might hope. Bearing in mind there’s a simultaneous push to get us all to sign up to Premium services, this is pretty piss-poor.

What's happening with this now ?

The update re image posting is here

MNHQ: Update on Image Uploads www.mumsnet.com/Talk/site_stuff/5269714-mnhq-update-on-image-uploads

Any update on the police report?

I wonder what happened after you reported it to the police too @JustineMumsnet @BeckyAMumsnet Have they found anything out/caught the people who posted/sent the vile CSA images???

Morning! For anyone asking about updates, we obviously have reported every instance and the police are continuing their investigations as we speak. We don't have further updates on that, we're afraid, but we'll let you know if and when we can.

OK, I'm posting on this thread again because tonight there is a troll deliberately posting offensive messages, using an offensive username, on multiple threads. There are at least two threads in the Night Watch section asking for action. As I have said there:
And now we will see that, if MN have still not got around to organising proper 24 hour moderation, this is what happens.

I am asking, once again, for Mumsnet to realise they can no longer put off bringing in professional overnight moderation. It is simply not fair on the Night Watch or on users to still have a situation where they are asked to help but can actually do very little. The discussion about images has distracted from this, but here we are again. Proper overnight moderation, please. Now. And a response would be appreciated.

I don't even know where to find the Night Watch section to go and report that poster. I Googled to no avail after reporting a couple of posts. It's just not good enough.

Some of the posts by that user have been hidden, so night watch are on it, but one still remains, which suggest that they don't have the power to 'hide all posts by user'?