5 things that will help you legally protect yourself with unmoderated communities. [Tempero]
NOTE: This is the first in a series of posts over the next few weeks about legal issues and social media. You asked. I listened. Then researched. Then researched some more and realised I needed a lawyer and some other cookies of the legal beagle variety to help. Watch this space and send your questions to prweekblog@gmail.com … END OF NOTE!
PR and community management increasingly seems to be becoming intermingled (well to a few people at least) so I thought it only right to get some smarter people to give their ten pence on some legal do’s and don’t of running an unmoderated community. Here is… that ten pence. Suffice to say running an unmoderated community has its advantages (potentially better signal, real responses/behaviour patterns etc etc) but nine times out of ten avoid, avoid, avoid. You are likely just asking for trouble. Have a system that you manage, not that manages you and if in doubt it is usually best to make sure the thing behind you is well covered. Good advice for life really, no?
What’s YOUR top tip, legal or otherwise (but keep it clean/legal!) when working with unmoderated communities?
Top 5 things to protect yourself legally when setting up an unmoderated community:
1. Complete a risk assessment to evaluate potential liability (e.g. will the community be used mainly by young people? Then special legislation applies) and issues unique to your business.
2. Create robust Terms of Use and Community Guidelines. Have these reviewed by a legal advisor.
3. Develop an effective Report and Take-Down process. Set a minimum turnaround time to remove content flagged by officials (like the Police or Home Office) as well as members of the public, then work out how you are going to deliver e.g. alert emails are better going to a group email address than an individual who may move on from the company or be out-of-office when an alert comes in.
4. Build in a clear, and easy to use, Report Abuse system. If the community is for young people this needs to be age-appropriate.
5. Develop a list of external agencies you can contact with queries such as the NSPCC or Home Office. Many of these are available to offer guidance on individual concerns.
