LINKS to prohibited content
I know that this is one of the major unanswered questions, and there's been some speculation about some (unclear) answers from someone in the lj_biz post. Well, as soon as the post went up and I saw that there wasn't an answer, I sent in a support request with the exact wording from the open letter:
Is posting a link to prohibited content that is posted elsewhere going to receive the same punishment as it would if the prohibited content were posted on LiveJournal servers?
This is the response that I just received:
In general, yes. In certain cases, for example if there is indication that the content present on the page being linked to was changed to include the prohibited content after the link to it was posted, the actions taken would likely change. In such a case, we would allow the person to remove the link rather than suspend their account, assuming suspension was the normal course of action. Other factors, such as whether or not the user is intentionally linking to content in an attempt to circumvent LiveJournal's Terms of Service, or if some part of a link just incidentally happened to contain a violation, may also effect a decision.
This is, in my opinion, the most ridiculous stance they've taken on anything yet. LINKS? Are you KIDDING? I can't LINK to something now? a;sdlfkjal;gkjal;kdgj
ETA: Rather than closing out the support request - I wrote back and asked where this policy is in the TOS or anywhere else on the site. I mentioned that most LJ users are NOT aware of this policy.
I also pointed out that it contradicts a direct policy here: "we can't address any content which resides off of LiveJournal as, quite frankly, it's none of our business what occurs off our servers."
But I suspect they'll just say that's a different context or whatever.
Is posting a link to prohibited content that is posted elsewhere going to receive the same punishment as it would if the prohibited content were posted on LiveJournal servers?
This is the response that I just received:
In general, yes. In certain cases, for example if there is indication that the content present on the page being linked to was changed to include the prohibited content after the link to it was posted, the actions taken would likely change. In such a case, we would allow the person to remove the link rather than suspend their account, assuming suspension was the normal course of action. Other factors, such as whether or not the user is intentionally linking to content in an attempt to circumvent LiveJournal's Terms of Service, or if some part of a link just incidentally happened to contain a violation, may also effect a decision.
This is, in my opinion, the most ridiculous stance they've taken on anything yet. LINKS? Are you KIDDING? I can't LINK to something now? a;sdlfkjal;gkjal;kdgj
ETA: Rather than closing out the support request - I wrote back and asked where this policy is in the TOS or anywhere else on the site. I mentioned that most LJ users are NOT aware of this policy.
I also pointed out that it contradicts a direct policy here: "we can't address any content which resides off of LiveJournal as, quite frankly, it's none of our business what occurs off our servers."
But I suspect they'll just say that's a different context or whatever.