Simple: Because it is, in almost all cases, *illegal* to do that. Just because you can, doesn't mean you're allowed to; just because no one sues doesn't mean it's fair game.
Analogy: just because a SysAdmin has full access to a company server, he's generally *not* at liberty to snoop around in the accounting files or the files of the employees. Nor is the *owner* of the company.
It's not like I'm incredibly happy with that situation, but that's the state of the data privacy laws in all major legal domains around the world.
The attachment browser is cool and I'm incredibly grateful for that feature, but extended to the attachments of ostensibly private conversations, this is likely (in the case of the EU and UK: definitely) a legal hotbed for the forum hoster -- especially since attachments don't have to be just images, what about pdfs, it could be a contract, a private letter, doesn't really matter.
Im sorry to say it, but I just think your arguements are stupid. I live in the UK and am up to date on the laws you mention, and I can tell you, how they apply to forums is unique and site owners pretty much have full range to do anything they want on their site. That includes reading PC's if the site owner is so inclined.
Likewise, if people are sending these "contracts" or "private letters" via a PC system on a third party forum... they are just stupid. If I was going to send a contract to someone I would get their email and email it them directly, I wouldnt do it via a message system on a forum.
The DPA .
Again, this functionality in the ACP doesn't introduce anything which can't be done via alternative means.
If you make the attachment snooping easier ... as xenforo has done ... you are just encouraging admins to get themselves into trouble.So if (as you claim) it's illegal to do it in the ACP, then it's also illegal to do it directly via the DB.
I agree, seems like people don't really have a understanding of what the DAta protection act is about. I mean Im not sure why as really the name says it all. The dpa laws in the uk are there to stop 3rd party's getting unauthorised access to data, and to stop companies building vast databases of unnesssesary personal data.The DPA does not apply to this feature. End of.
Adding some sort of option doesn't make a difference in trying to protect user "privacy" because even if you can't view data via the ACP or front-end, there's still other ways to get to that same data if someone really wants to. It comes down to the conscience of the administrator and how comfortable the users are in trusting the site staff won't dig into "private" data. It makes no difference that XenForo makes it easier to view it or not; if someone wants to do it, they can.If it is going to be an issue for some and not others for various reasons then would enabling this feature from within config.php be something worth looking at ?
Which has always been there. You can see it in the attachment browser video.New Feature: Attachment Filtering.
Which has always been there. You can see it in the attachment browser video.
The DPA does not apply to this feature. End of.
Okay, I'll bite.
Why not?
Per design, a forum is a data controller and processor
Adding some sort of option doesn't make a difference in trying to protect user "privacy" because even if you can't view data via the ACP or front-end, there's still other ways to get to that same data if someone really wants to. It comes down to the conscience of the administrator and how comfortable the users are in trusting the site staff won't dig into "private" data. It makes no difference that XenForo makes it easier to view it or not; if someone wants to do it, they can.
In the end this is strictly just attachments. If an administrator wants to see what attachments are taking up the most space because they're noticing disk space filling up, they're going to dig and find out anyway. Actual conversations are still not viewable by the admin in the ACP, and it's up to the user's judgement to decide whether or not they want to upload attachments to the PC. If an admin/user is that worried, they can use the options that Slavik mentioned.
It's quite simple and comes down to each individual; if you don't want to read conversation messages, don't.
They accept that because it's difficult to do (ie requires technical knowledge which most of our mods/admins lack), and that only the site owner has full access to the server, we don't read people's PC's. Having everybody's attachments a handful of clicks away will not be as comforting for them.So presumably your users also don't accept the fact that conversations can be read via phpMyAdmin?
It requires a bloody login and clicking of 'browse' on the table to do it. Not very difficult. My 6-year-old could figure it out.They accept that because it's difficult to do (ie requires technical knowledge which most of our mods/admins lack), and that only the site owner has full access to the server, we don't read people's PC's. Having everybody's attachments a handful of clicks away will not be as comforting for them.
We use essential cookies to make this site work, and optional cookies to enhance your experience.