Do you think Admin should be able to read PMs without permission?

[Dan The Man]

I will answer first with a definite NO. PMs can stand for Personal or Private message (depending on who you ask lol) & reading without permission is an invasion of privacy.
This was a topic that was discussed awhile back on other forums. I guess there was a platform (don’t recall which one it was) that allowed Admins to read any & all PMs. That they need a code or access to the database, but that they COULD access all PMs.
I don't think that's right. I know the people I talked to left those forums.

Yes, if properly disclosed in the forums rules/ToS. Most forum admins read through PMs to check for spam or illegal activities.

 

[Fait]

NO
Unless they get reported

 

[Page]

Seems that most forums software doesn't have an option to read all members PMs anyway. I mean have anyone had software that does that, built into the software? nope other then third party plugins.

 

[Fait]

Seems that most forums software doesn't have an option to read all members PMs anyway. I mean have anyone had software that does that, built into the software? nope other then third party plugins.

Like via the database you could but it’s an invasion of privacy and would definitely drive users away.

 

[Page]

Like via the database you could but it’s an invasion of privacy and would definitely drive users away.

Backend yeah, talking about from the front end and from adminCP

 

[Fait]

Backend yeah, talking about from the front end and from adminCP

Ohh and definitely no there’s no such plug-in that I can think off.

 

[PGen98]

Ohh and definitely no there’s no such plug-in that I can think off.

There are some, ie: https://xenforo.com/community/resources/eae-add-ons-conversation-tools.7196/

 

[Fait]

There are some, ie: https://xenforo.com/community/resources/eae-add-ons-conversation-tools.7196/

I personally thought that would be illegal,
Zuckerberg got sued for reading conversations once.

 

[PGen98]

I personally thought that would be illegal,
Zuckerberg got sued for reading conversations once.

It's not something I personally approve of, but strictly speaking the owner of the site holds the rights to that content, so they have a right to access it, technically. I prefer the approach of Private Messages being private, but I can understand some prefer to have access.

 

[Fait]

It's not something I personally approve of, but strictly speaking the owner of the site holds the rights to that content, so they have a right to access it, technically. I prefer the approach of Private Messages being private, but I can understand some prefer to have access.

You have a point like as long as the owners put it in their privacy policy then it is their database and rights, I don’t approve of it either but how another person chooses to run their site is their decisions and rights.

 

[PGen98]

You have a point like as long as the owners put it in their privacy policy then it is their database and rights, I don’t approve of it either but how another person chooses to run their site is their decisions and rights.

Agreed, everyone has the right to run the site as they see fit, it's not something I would choose to do, but so long as it's made known then it's the right of the owner do as they see fit.

 

[Demon_skeith]

Only if something concerning was going on like anything illegal or breaking the site rules.

 

[tdbnz]

Nope private messages are sensitive if the content us reported then yes

 

[Lee]

I mean they should be able to but they most certainly should not unless content is reported...