Recommendation 31.1.2 Accommodating any discussion forums
The New Zealand Web Standards 2.0 were released in March 2009 and replace the previous version, the New Zealand Government Web Standards 1.0 (below). See Meeting the standards for more information.
The Recommendation
Recommendation 31.1.2 - If the agency is to accommodate any kind of discussion forum(s) on their site(s), then a mechanism for screening of content is recommended, preferably by moderation and/or user authentication as a prerequisite for user entry of the discussion content. Monitoring of content entered post user entry is acceptable for screening, but equally important that the monitoring be performed at least daily.
The agency bears any potential risk of the content on a public forum it hosts in the name of the agency. The agency is strongly advised to obtain its own legal advice regarding potential defamation of any content on public forums, and advice on necessary disclaimers that the content on such forums does not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of the agency.
Guide to this recommendation
Agencies are reminded of their need to comply with the Privacy Act 1993 when operating a web site forum.
For example, an area of concern would be when a contributor discloses another individual’s personal information.
Moderation of any forum content needs to be done via human resource, which is likely to make having a public (not user-authenticated) forum unfavourable. This also takes into consideration that the nature of the web is tending toward more usage of forums (which involve the public).
Moderation in this context means any anonymous user can enter free-form content to a forum, but whatever has been submitted by the user is not available for immediate view on the forum. It is first reviewed by one or more appropriate people (most likely within the agency). The content thereafter may be released onto the public forum, with as much editing performed by the reviewer(s) as deemed appropriate (on behalf of the agency).
A disclaimer is recommended to be placed with such a forum if such moderation is in place, to state that the agency has the right to edit any content entered as it deems appropriate, and reserves the right to not release a submission onto the forum at all.
Rationale for this recommendation
An open forum, particularly non-moderated, is essentially opening an agency to allow free format content on its site.
Can result in revealing identity and/or contravening privacy laws that the agency has bound itself to. It can also expose the agency to views and opinions that are not necessarily those of the agency. It can expose the agency to grievances by users who view the material on a forum and find it offensive.
