The MNHQ Moderation team

[BarrackerBarmer]

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.

Just to clarify, India has not specifically named mummybear but, has retweeted the section 28 post... and talked about radicals and making life difficult for trans people.

@MNHQ as a side thought, maybe it’s worth looking at a policy favouring older career changers for internships?

I've had quite a few jobs in my time and access to lots of peoples personal and financial information and I've also had external email and the use of a personal or work mobile. I don't think that's particularly unusual.

It isn't unusual. But it isn't good practice.

DH is allowed to use his work computer for personal use BUT has to use different virtual machines on that machine. He squeaks at me in alarm if I so much as Google something personal while I'm logged on to my work laptop.

@Bumblefuddle

Justine. The issue with op addresses is that they aren’t personally identifiable of themselves but when combined with User Jake and posting history they could be.

If you haven’t reported to the ico that’s something you should revisit.

I'll take further advice tomorrow Bumble - it's not the advice we've been given to date (but thanks)

Red back.

TRAs might be geeks and internet savvy. DH is an exceptional techy who is paid to ensure that data is protected.

He knows his stuff. More than most, who think they know their stuff.

[quote Battleax]@MNHQ as a side thought, maybe it’s worth looking at a policy favouring older career changers for internships?[/quote]

We are actively looking at returnships as it happens but I don't think we should just write off the younguns - we've had some amazing ones and equally had the odd older intern who's not worked out so well...

What's the section 28 mummybear thing? Don't get it? Are they accusing everyone on MN of being homophobic now as well? Including the many lesbians?

I can't actually believe you're not going to take any legal action against EH for what she did. As much as she is sorry, young etc she has damaged your brand and your reputation. Astounding.

I haven't seen a s28 thread. I assume it didn't exist or if it did got taken down immediately (and if it existed was put up by TRAs trying to paint MN as bigoted)

The thread they have screenshot and are discussing is absolutely SOD ALL to do with Section 28. It’s about the conflict between school policies which prevent parents from being informed about their child’s gender dysphoria & wider pastoral and legal responsibilities encumbant on schools.

So their interpretation is much like the endless claims they’re being “literally” murdered.

Crossed with Justine. Not happy with that response. You can't rely on good will and good behaviour if you want to keep data safe. This breach might have been minor and isolated, but it reveals lazy practice which makes me edgy.

Justine - could you confirm if you will be reporting this to the police?

We are actively looking at returnships as it happens but I don't think we should just write off the younguns - we've had some amazing ones and equally had the odd older intern who's not worked out so well...

Fair enough.

Maybe add truth serum to the recruitment procedure?

@Bumblefuddle

We do have some members of our team who have occasionally expressed some concern that Mumsnet is not perceived to be sympathetic to people who are transphobic,

Is that what you meant Justine?

hmm - you're right that's a bit ambiguous isn't it! Anyone mind if do a quick edit?

truth and accuracy always welcome here I think :)

@Justinemumsnet. Whilst you might be happy with Emma's apology, her data breach and hate posting has already been reported to the Met Police by another Twitter user.

Question: can users whose IP addresses have been published report to the police?

So Emma has apologised wholeheartedly? And it was all a mistake? So that's all right then.

Very disappointing response to an ex-intern allegedly committing a criminal offence by Justine.

And I don't believe for a minute that it was accidental...

Emma can say sorry all she wants, that information is out there now. No pulling it back.

Hmmm.

I'm not sure if an apology from source of the breach is quite enough. I bet she is heartily sorry! Still, I'd be having a good look at which of your staff is linked to EH, and getting some advice in from specialists.

I wonder why this is being downplayed...?