Disclaimers and protecting yourself online

[mank!]

A forum which I moderate and effectively help to run is under a bit of scrutiny because of comments made on there which have been deemed "racist and potentially libellous". I just received a phone call which although polite was obviously a gesture to "shut up or else".

The comments in question refer to a shadow director of STFC, they're not terribly offensive and I'm not shitting myself in case the feds turn up.

I'm just wondering what I should include in a disclaimer to protect myself and the person the domain is registered to?

 

[Tom]

You're not the publisher of the comments, the forum is.

I suggest you post on the forum the contents of the phone call. And I also suggest that you only post information which you know to be true (ie documentary evidence).

 

[`mongoose]

I'd get legal advice first if you can.

If you're talking about a football club and more importantly - individuals at that football club then they are as protected as you are by data protection and the freedom of information act. They can demand a copy of any content that contains reference to them or any information that you hold about them. I'm assuming that cos of the STFC mention.

I know more than a few sites that have been forcibly removed or forced to remove all 'company' related content over the years and a fair few others which are or have been under constant legal threat for a while.

It could just be some bs over zealous employee trying to do a "we know where you work, who you are, watch it" number on you, but either way I'd seek some form of advice first.

I'm not sure how waterproof those "we're not responsible for the content posted on this site" disclaimers are any more. Quite a few people have lost out in court on the argument that by allowing someone to post/host the content you're actually providing a medium for that content to spread and indirectly supporting that content. I know that's why every college is shit scared of porn or wares being found on site.

M