Content moderation

[trex]

Feedback from multiple mental healthcare professionals has pointed to the necessity of content moderation for developing safe spaces for people to express vulnerability and meet each other in support.

We can start with an aggressive moderation policy for all groups to err on the safe side, and accept community proposals for modifications to moderation policies going forward.

I have a license to CleanSpeak that can be used for moderation. This service can can be configured to screen for vulgarity, bullying, sexual content, hate-speech, racism, etc. It can also be hosted on-premise.

Full disclosure, I work for the parent company of CleanSpeak. We can also source proposals for alternative moderation services.

• [x] Add "Community Care Collective" as contributor for sharing Code of Conduct as a starting point for Hawthorn Code of Conduct
• [x] Add "Denver Devs" as contributor for advising on community moderation practices, codes of conduct, and facilitating online communities
• [ ] Draft code of conduct (@moonquay)

Public and anonymous "Hawthorn Community Building" community

• [ ] Highly restrictive content filter scanning for bigotry, racism, bullying, and profanity
• [ ] Filter hits are queued for moderation, queued posts are not published until approved by moderator

Private community moderation

• [ ] Posts pass through moderation filter
• [ ] Community members may flag posts for violating the code of conduct or community norms
• [ ] Moderation score is calculated as a function of community moderation and automated filter score
• [ ] Community members each cast a vote on the community allowed content policy
  • Community member's votes are cast privately and are never disclosed to anyone other than that user
• [ ] Posts that do exceed voted upon threshold are not published

[moonquay]

I agree that we should err on the safe side for comment moderation. I could see a couple of buttons below comments so users could flag for different reasons: Is it... hateful? offensive? triggering? etc. It might help with finding the outer amorphous edges of what the community finds reasonable to have shared.

[trex]

That sounds good. Let's plan to have additional point of manual feedback to flag content that have made it through the initial filter.

[trex]

Pull request for the server, integrating CleanSpeak for moderation: https://github.com/trex/hawthorn-server/pull/2

[trex]

Pull request for the client for moderation changes: trex/hawthorn-client#24

[trex]

@moonquay I created a CodeOfConduct component that is just a skeleton to hold the content that you come up with. It is linked from the moderation warnings and the primary navigation. Run a git pull on the master branch to pull these changes in. I will post the transcribe the Community Care Collectives code of conduct here shortly if you want to review and use any of their language.

[trex]

@moonquay here is the Community Care Collective's Code of Conduct:

Community Care Collective (CCC) Group Meeting Rules Our goal in offering and facilitating groups is to create a welcoming and safe environment for participants in the TQ+ communities which includes friends, families, and allies. The following are general guidelines for maintaining this security and openness.

Confidentiality: What happens in our groups stays here. Participants must agree NOT to:

• Reveal the identity of any other participants
• Reveal any information about any of the participants, including LGBTQ+ status or relation to anyone of LGBTQ+ status
• Reveal relationship to CCC or any other organizations

Without their specific permission, you shall not:

• Reveal the identity of any member or guests, their LGBTQ+ status, or their interest in LGBTQ+ issues.
• Reveal any information about another person's association with you or other members and guests.
• Reveal any information about another person's interest or involvement in other LGBTQ+ organizations
• Openly indicate in public any familiarity with any person you might recognize from your association with the Support groups through CCC.

The above includes any attempts to contact, or references to, another member or guest through phone, email or social networking mechanisms. In general, any information about another person obtained as a result of our and/or their association with Support Groups through CCC is confidential.

All ages: CCC Support Groups may be attended by people of all ages, including minors. The participants present at any time during these groups will dictate the appropriateness of certain topics and language. As models for youth in our communities, we ask that any uncertainties about appropriateness of subjects or language be addressed in group with the moderator(s) and other participants to maintain respectful discussion.

Groups are not therapy: Support group meetings do not qualify as therapy nor are they intended as a substitute for therapy. If you feel you need individual counseling, please ask the moderator for a referral to a professional therapist.

Personal information: You are not required to say anything that would reveal your identity or where you live or work. You can say as little or as much about yourself as you choose.

Attire: These groups are intended to be a safe environment where all participants can freely express their gender as they choose. Casual attire is encouraged. Revealing attire is not acceptable.

Behavior: You are expected to show respect for others. No one will be permitted to become aggressive, abusive or offensive to others in the group for anything they might say or do. When someone else is speaking, you will be expected to listen attentively and not interrupt or otherwise cause a distraction.

Cell phones: Please turn cell phones off while participating in groups. If your cell phone goes off, please excuse yourself quietly and take the call outside. Absolutely no pictures or audio or video recording is allowed. Moderators may have additional rules presented at the groups.

Language: It is not acceptable to be rude, discourteous or use discriminatory language. Examples of inappropriate language include comments that could be considered transphobic, racist, homophobic, classist, or promoting your specific religious or political beliefs or against other faith or political perspectives.

Profanity: Profanity is discouraged, and excessive profanity will not be tolerated, which standard shall be defined by the other participants. The general rule is: if anyone else in the group is offended, it is excessive.

Sexual harassment: CCC Support Groups are not intended to be a place to meet a romantic interest. Sexual advances by members or guests will not be tolerated, nor will any conduct that might be suggestive of sexual advance, or creates a hostile environment for other attendees.

Sober space: Anyone who participates in any CCC Group while under the influence of drugs or alcohol will be asked to leave immediately.

Violations: Failure to observe these rules can result in your being asked to leave immediately and your being asked not to return in the future.

Complaints: Any complaints about a violation of the rules should be brought to the attention of the moderator, particularly if immediate action is required. Any complaints relating to violation of the rules by the moderator should be brought to the attention of Community Care Collective. If you are comfortable doing so, it is always advised to address issues directly with the moderator after the meeting.

I have read and agreed to the above conditions of participation. I understand that the moderator(s) have the authority to dismiss my participation in support groups or other CCC programs if I violate these terms of participation.

You do not have to use the name issued on government identification documents to sign below, but understand and agree that this document is binding to you as an individual no matter which name you choose to use.

Signed ____ Date ____ Printed Name ____ Moderator Signature ____

Community Care Collective does not discriminate or refuse service on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, relationship status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ability, religion, immigration status, citizen status, housing status, economic situation, height, weight, veteran status or perception of any of the above.

[moonquay]

Thanks @trex for sharing this from the CCC. I like how it emphasizes the different aspects of confidentiality for people when encountered outside of the space. Also, emphasizing how groups are not therapy is important. It would be good to have links with orgs that can hook people up with professional care in a more personalized/IRL space. I haven't attended their groups, but I'm intrigued about how the moderators are trained to facilitate and handle issues that cause discomfort, especially in person and in real time. Obviously we would need to adapt this document for the online-specific space, removing the 'Attire' section. The final "CCC does not discriminate..." lists so many groupings/definitions that we could bring into the body of the document, as many of the ways we do not permit users from discriminating / offending.

[trex]

Allied Media Projects has a great set of principles I think we could use as a starting point for our principles https://www.alliedmedia.org/ddjc/principles

[moonquay]

I like the Allied Media Projects' emphasis on 'digital justice' in bringing everyone's voices to the discussion. It is important that everyone has access and feels welcome. Bringing non-digital media in can be a crucial part in encouraging inter-generational communication. I can see Hawthorn's guiding principles being in this same vein of seeking justice and equality of access to healing spaces.
The Code of Conduct would probably be a separate document, delineating the boundaries of what the community deems to be beyond respect and good taste, and into the realms of offensiveness.

[trex]

How is your research going on this @moonquay?

I have had some more thoughts around content moderation WRT private groups. I think this could be a whole project in itself. I am going to remove it as an item in the "Private Groups" project because I think it is out of scope for that, and not necessary to complete in order to call that project complete.