'Private' messages?

[stevehertz]

From comments I've read on the forum recently, I'm thinking that so called private messages are also viewable by moderators. Is that correct? Never been a problem for me personally, just wondering and seeking clarity.

[Buzby123]

On the Internet nothing is private !.

[poppydog]

I bet they do..


poppydog

[paulsherwin]

Moderators have no access to PMs. They can be viewed by Paul Stenning, who can examine the forum's underlying database tables. This is not a simple procedure and is only done in exceptional circumstances, such as when investigating potential dishonesty or aggressive behaviour.

[Cobaltblue]

I can confirm what Paul says I certainly have no access nor would I want it.

Cheers

Mike T

[stevehertz]

Thanks Paul, Mike.

[Station X]

The only PM's I can read are those sent to me, those I've sent to other members and those reported by members clicking on the red triangle to the right of the PM's title. Members might chose to do this if they've received an abusive PM for example.

[Radio Wrangler]

When I took on the moderator's job, I had a look around past discussions to learn how things were done and I came across a case where a PM was opened. From this I learned

1) Only Paul Stenning can read someone else's PM, no-one else has access to the database.
2) It's labour intensive so routine surveillance simply isn't practicable, even if wanted.
3) It was only done because something very serious was going on.
4) The situation was handled in a fair and reasonable way.
5) There was only the one incidence to my knowledge.

The forum uses https secure linking to people using its webpages, the moderators are not involved in seeing PMs and your main risk of anything said getting out is if someone has planted a keylogger on your machine.

David

[Paul Stenning]

Exactly as the other mods have stated - none of them have any access to PMs.

I can access PMs through the database but it is not straightforward. It is very rare that there is any need to do so, and on those rare occasions it is because something serious has been highlighted to the mods. The mods would know it is being done and the reasons because it would have been discussed previously, and the minimum necessary relevant information would be shared with them to decide what action if any may be needed.

Obviously the messages are stored in the forum database in plain text format until deleted by all parties, and are then still stored in the server's regular automated backups for around 3 months.

If any member chooses to report a PM then the complete text of the PM is sent to all mods along with sender, recipients and date/time. There is also of course nothing to stop anyone forwarding a PM they have received to other members, copying/pasting them or screenshotting them etc. Just as they can with emails.

PMs are intended as a way of following up on forum discussions such as arranging to send items, organising payments etc. Although I'm sure people use them for all sorts of other conversations too.

I would say though that if you are discussing something that is sensitive or confidential, and you are not comfortable about it being stored on a server, then you should use a service with end-to-end encryption such as WhatsApp. Then you know that it is not stored anywhere other than the senders and recipients phones.