New conspiracy theory!! P.M.'s are being moderated now??

I agree with what you say and doubt admin will be constantly snooping however it is the principle of the matter. 

The majority of users here will be autistic which means we have a difference in communication to the majority. This can put us into vulnerable situations depending on how vagueness is interpreted. It's another example of the world not being set up for us (especially as it seems the places which are supposedly here to help us). However I don't expect special accommodations and am aware language is used in specific ways sp backs are covered. However one would think clear communication would be used by a site which is predominantly used by individuals who are known to have difficulty with communication. I have wondered if the orange banner is a technical issue as commented by another user. 

So while it doesn't specify which content,  the very fact of something being labelled "private" should indicate just that. 

I was made aware probably last year of phantom accounts sending abusive PM's. Whether or not these were moderated I don't know. 

Clarification is very much needed on the matter.

It’s not pleasant to have private messages controlled, but if I remember correctly, it was on the old site version, I saw that all the rules also apply to the private messages. So it made me think that they might also be moderated. But in this case I think this banner might be just a technical issue. 

I Sperg said:

Did you consent to having your PM's overseen routinely?

I had a quick look at the rules:
https://community.autism.org.uk/p/rules

User agreement
By joining the Online Community, you agree that the moderation team has the authority to edit or delete content and to suspend or delete accounts that violate the rules.

It doesn't specify that the content is on the forum or private messages so it can be assumed that everything is covered by this rule.

I don't see any "right to privacy" clauses so it is therefore logical that there is none.

My interpritation of what a "private message" is in these circumstances is that is it not published publically.

I think we are assuming a lot about what private should mean here, but given the potentially vulnerable people here, there is no doubt a case that "snooping" by moderators is permissable to identify exploitation, abuse etc.

This is a free service after all and these rarely have any "rights" with them, just as with any other free platform.

Most will mine your email, search history, browser history etc and use this for advertising leads (ie they make money selling the info). I don't see this site exploiting us this way but from the safeuarding aspect I think it is entirely appropriate.

Andy said:

it is the principle that it should be private channel between the two members, and not for NAS to be able to view or moderate. 

.........agreed....unless SPECIFICALLY stated to the contrary.  Thank you for being interested and motivated by this matter.

Yes, please keep us updated with the response. If they confirm that they can access private messages, I will be sending them an email too. Whilst I don’t use the private message function myself, apart from two occasions, it is the principle that it should be private channel between the two members, and not for NAS to be able to view or moderate. 

I have sent the following email to the Community Manager this evening in accord with the directions provided on this forum.

I have often written to various entities regarding GDPR, and will follow this matter up with NAS with a more formal request for information within 7-10 days, if I do not receive a reasonable and appropriate response to this email.

A recent effort to communicate with the "Community Manager" at this place, failed to illicit the courtesy of any response, and that was, in part, regarding privacy and security here.  I hope a response will be forthcoming to this effort (as facsimiled above, for reasons of transparency.)

Perhaps others are interested in this matter?

With thanks to Isperg for raising the particulars of this most recent concern regarding security here.

I’m actually really shocked about this and feel this is quite a breach of privacy. Whilst I completely understand public comments needing to be moderated, private messages should be private and not accessible by anyone other than the people who are messaging one another. It’s also not like you can PM anyone, you have to add eachother as friends and if there is always a message someone is uncomfortable with, you can unfriend that person and report them if absolutely necessary. No reason for PM’s to be moderated!!! 

Then we'd know exactly how it worked and could make an informed choice.

That would certainly be less "creepy".

Someone has taken something we all thought we understood, and made it work diffferently without telling us.

Yes, I see now that it would suggest that PMs aren’t moderated. 

I wonder if it is a random check or if AI picks up certain words. 

When you sign up, you agree that the moderation team have the right to edit or delete content. The rules do not specify what "content" actually means, but I thought it was the content of posts that can be viewed by anyone.

In the community instructions they ask users to contact the community manager if they receive any private messages that concern them, with a screenshot of the message, which suggests that PMs are not moderated???

It should be PMM - personal, moderated message.

Uh, doesn't PM stand for PRIVATE message? I'm glad I don't do "private" messaging. 

The Fox Guards the Henhouse.

This forum was designed with - Microsoft - Azure.

I’m new here and although I haven’t experienced anything of what you describe, it seems other people have also had their posts pending while awaiting review by a moderator. However, the Online Community Rules and Online Community Instructions state that all posts are moderated, and that by signing up we agree to that, so nuisance as it may be, I don’t think we can do anything about it.

I've also had an innocuous PM blocked - more info here:

"Over the festive period our team is operating at reduced capacity"