MNHQ: Update on Image Uploads

[LilyMumsnet]

Hi all,

As you'll be aware, we've switched image uploads off this week whilst we've been building a filter that will automatically detect images that should not be appearing on our site. We've been consulting experts and have built a tool which utilises some widely-used image detection software.

This afternoon, we will release this tool and therefore we will turn image uploads back on. We can't go into detail about how the tool works for obvious reasons but if you do spot anything of concern please report and/or get in touch with us at [email protected] and we'll look into it straight away.

Thank you, MNHQ.
It’s been crap for everyone and I doubt very much there was a perfect path through it.

Thanks MNHQ, it must be a nightmare to deal with.

Your last sentence isn’t really accurate as the email address and reports are only manned during certain hours. A cynic might say it’s disappointing you’ve posted this without mentioning the Night Watch system given the recent events happened at night when repots weren’t being read.

Please could you clarify in what hours you will actually look into any emails and reports ‘straight away’ and in what hours you would need to contact the Night Watch instead.

Thanks, that's a good update.

Thanks MN. Will you be told if they catch the person responsible? It would be good to be kept informed.

Shame there's no tool to remove trolls. Proof that "AI" has it's limits.

Mind boggling you didn't have this in place beforehand.

I just saw a poster has stated that a photo is attached, though I didn't click on it. Which made me wonder if it would be easy to put a camera symbol next to any post containing a picture.

I was astounded to learn that the Night Watch Team don't have an alert system for emergencies such as this one.

Also really disappointed to learn that you didn't have this software in place before.

You really do need to be more proactive.

You don't need to say if you have this in place but I feel it could be helpful to have a safe mode "button" accessible to Night Watch which at a stroke stops all pictures being posted for the rest of the night, and ideally hides all pictures posted in the last 12 hours or so.

That's a really good idea. Any genuine pictures posted during that period could be reinstated the next day.

Why these messages aren't pinned to the top of the site is a mystery to me. Perhaps someone from Mumsnet will confirm that it will at least appear on 'Active'?

After all, why would a site with proclaimed ethics of Mumsnet want to bury things that users should know about when entrusting their valuable content to it?

Thank you @LilyMumsnet xxx

Yes, I also agree this would be a great idea. Like the option you can take to deactivate your bank card temporarily. Then overnight moderators could just switch off image posting instantly at the sign of trouble.

The announcement here is welcome but I agree with @myotherusernamesarebetter that there needs to be a more professional and robust system than the Night Watch 💐 can provide, and that you really should update on progress on that point. It's not a minor issue.

Thank you.

The night watch do need something more so they can be effective unless someone actually paid and with more control of posts will be backup overnight. I think the hide thread or hide all photos option sounds like a good one as does pinning thus at the top of active threads. I've seen a few asking what's going on. The message hasn't gotten through effectively.

It seems from some posts I've seen there may now be delays before photos appear - this is understandable but it'd be good to warn people because we're liable to get the 'oh no, it hasn't posted, I'll try again' which used to happen when upload/dowload speeds were slower.

Not sure why MN wants to host images at all. There is never any way to know if the images posted are of the poster/their house/their rash, and it generally results in a pile on that would make any genuine poster think twice. I strongly suspect that many of these are cyber-bullying via re-posting other people's SM pictures - does mumsnet want to be a part of that?

Especially given the state of moderation already, it would surely be better to have people link to image hosting sites.

Jolly good. Will it stop people posting photos of their own genitals?

Widely used for years by other sites. May I ask why it wasn’t used here?

And again as it still hasn’t been answered nearly a week on, why is the site not moderated overnight and why it wasn’t possible to shut down the repeated posting of csa material till morning because no one had any means of contacting anyone with the ability to do so?

Safety doesn’t seem to be a priority which is bizarre to say the least these days and after repeated security breaches.

I just got this when I posted an image, it took less than a minute for the image to appear so I think it’s ok.

It would mean less room for adverts.

I was wondering this. If they say the ai filtering will be stopping things that shouldn’t be posted here, how is it going to know the difference between someone who wants to post a picture of their genitals for advice (god knows why anyone would want to do that anyway!) and someone who’s posting pictures for malicious reasons

Idk... maybe if your image is rejected you can report your post, explain what it is and request human review?

Obviously no one should be posting that sort of photo on a public forum to try to get health advice for a child.

There should be an outright ban on posting photos of genitals under the banner of seeking medical advice.

No-one can know if the poster is genuine and as you say, porn type photos are banned so any photos of that nature should also be banned. Not to mention the fact that seeking medical advice on a forum is unreliable at best.