Is it the end for Forums, Comment Sections etc and Anonymouse Users ?

[paul_tall_]

I wont name the site that has been in the news the last week but the judge stated
"A day of reckoning will come for those behind (website) and for those individuals who posted on (website)."

What's interesting is it seems the civil court case was won in 2023 and reporting restrictions on naming the site owner were lifted a week ago

Others mentioned in other threads on the site have taken to the usual Social channels believing that every users details on the site will be published, and some have even gone as far of naming people behind user handles with their real life details

Its also come to light that the tech investigators on behalf of the people that won their case had used AI to identify the individual posters (who have now been added to the case) on their thread by analysing posts against other platforms for writing style matches.

There feels like there will be more to come out of this before the full implications and ramifications are known.

[scutty brown]

there is a difference between that site and this, in that it comments on / criticises / takes the piss / denigrates real-world public figures and celebrities. The people we discuss here are hardly celebrities and are nearly all discussed using their fake names.
Not really comparable
Think about it - that fine was effectively for reputation damage. Whose public reputation are we damaging? And even if we are, what value would the court put on the reputation of a sex worker?
I think it's the least of our worries.....

The one thing that does come out of this that could affect our members is the use of AI to crossmatch posting styles across different social media platforms. If that were to be perfected enough to link styles and details across (for instance) here, Facebook, Linked-In some of us could be open to extortion or worse.
Just reinforces some basic security rules: different user names for each website, avoid posting personal details, never post the same anecdotes or details on different sites under different identities

[Mr Garmin]

never post the same anecdotes or details on different sites under different identities

This!

I go out of my way to not mention the same things on different forums for this reason.  It only takes one small detail to reveal your identity.  I even add some completely false bit of info (nothing that's important to the thread) as misdirection

There is a member on here that I know well IRL but he doesn't know it.  I'd seen his postings and not put two and two together.  And then one day he used a single word that I'd only ever heard spoken once before.  Once I had that clue everything else he said fell into place.

Of course I would never reveal what I know to anybody.  Not least because, not only would it be wrong and stupid, it would also 'out' me.

[PumpDump]

If they are replying purely on AI to match people I would think they are on very shaky ground and a decent solicitor would get it case dropped. If however they used AI to identify suspects and then matched on more concrete details such as IP address, or an analysis of their phone/computer, then that is more worrying for the accused.

BTW is there a valid reason the OP has not named the site in question, it has been named in the news so assume no reporting restrictions?

[daviemac]

BTW is there a valid reason the OP has not named the site in question, it has been named in the news so assume no reporting restrictions?

Whether or not it can be named on here depends on what site it is though a link to the news report should be OK.

[PumpDump]

Whether or not it can be named on here depends on what site it is though a link to the news report should be OK.

External Link/Members Only

[daviemac]

External Link/Members Only

From what I can see it's nothing like this site so irrelevant to us.

[paul_tall_]

If they are replying purely on AI to match people I would think they are on very shaky ground and a decent solicitor would get it case dropped. If however they used AI to identify suspects and then matched on more concrete details such as IP address, or an analysis of their phone/computer, then that is more worrying for the accused.

BTW is there a valid reason the OP has not named the site in question, it has been named in the news so assume no reporting restrictions?

I hadn’t directly named the site and people based on it being very newsworthy
It was more a discussion point around is this another potential nail in the coffin of anonymous postings on the internet and what potentially is being used to identify people

[daviemac]

It was more a discussion point around is this another potential nail in the coffin of anonymous postings on the internet and what potentially is being used to identify people

It's all relative to the circumstances, because of what was said on the site they had a reason to delve into it. The site owner who they unmasked was deemed to be "one of the most-wanted men of the social media world".

The police could track my movements through phone signals and ANPR, but without a reason they aren't going to do it. It's the same with anonymous posters on the internet there would have to be a reason for anyone to want to find out who the posters are.

Watch any real life crime programs on television and you'll see the technology that's available when it's needed but the operative phrase is 'when needed'.

[KatieEdinburgh]

It's all relative to the circumstances, because of what was said on the site they had a reason to delve into it. The site owner who they unmasked was deemed to be "one of the most-wanted men of the social media world".

The police could track my movements through phone signals and ANPR, but without a reason they aren't going to do it. It's the same with anonymous posters on the internet there would have to be a reason for anyone to want to find out who the posters are.

Watch any real life crime programs on television and you'll see the technology that's available when it's needed but the operative phrase is 'when needed'.

Do you think being a poster here that describes paid sex in Northern Ireland will be more of a legit “reason” as it’s a crime there …and if they aren’t bothered in linking people to names just now, they could change policy and try to do this in the future

If requested by the police would this site ever give over the IP addresses to those who write a review of themselves technically committing an offence in NI ? What if the police request to in the future?

[daviemac]

Do you think being a poster here that describes paid sex in Northern Ireland will be more of a legit “reason” as it’s a crime there …and if they aren’t bothered in linking people to names just now, they could change policy and try to do this in the future

If requested by the police would this site ever give over the IP addresses to those who write a review of themselves technically committing an offence in NI ? What if the police request to in the future?

I personally don't think it will be an issue for this site.

Have you read the article? from what I gather it was a civil issue and the police were not involved even though some of the issues were people being hounded and harassed, nothing remotely like this site.

Do you honestly think the police will go to the expense of tracing anonymous posters on this site for a crime that only carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison or £1000.00 fine and only one person has been convicted of since it was introduced?

One final question, how would a post on here prove the law had been broken?

BTW I think a court order would be needed before any details were handed over.

[KatieEdinburgh]

BTW I think a court order would be needed before any details were handed over.

Oh I agree it will need a court order. You don’t have to do anything  without one

But I only saying it could change in future. Depends on whether it is a priority to police .

They used AI to link to real world posts, and this was an Irish case in the example. It’s not impossible for them to do the same with posts here is my point

[daviemac]

Oh I agree it will need a court order. You don’t have to do anything  without one

But I only saying it could change in future. Depends on whether it is a priority to police .

They used AI to link to real world posts, and this was an Irish case in the example. It’s not impossible for them to do the same with posts here is my point

If people want to spend their lives being paranoid about what might happen in the future as a result of a civil case against a forum owner who's unmoderated site bears no resemblance whatsoever to this one I actually feel sorry for them.

"if ifs and ands were pots and pans, there'd be no work for tinkers' hands"   

In their claim, the Sands’ put forward the argument that Tattle Life is widely recognised as a “hate-filled forum where abuse, harassment, vapid tittle-tattle and invasive content targeting individuals posted by anonymous users is widespread and permitted”.

Are you suggesting this site is like that and the mods allow posts like that without taking action?   

[GreyDave]

"if ifs and ands were pots and pans, there'd be no work for tinkers' hands"   

In their hometown of Termonfeckin,      ........I just couldnt resist after reading the whole article