is there a mod that allow admin to read other members pm

like when admin go to admincp it shows all the pms thanx

thanx buddy

You know, that's considered violating member's privacy if you ask me...

I agree with this statement. Brandon, I would suggest that you distance yourself from this mod. I think that it is a violation of the trust which users place in their forum administrators. I own a large website of about 170,000 users in the UK and if word got out that I had installed something like this (and word always gets out) I would have a mass revolution on my hands and can imagine that it could bring down the site.

Additionally we are presently being challenged under UK Data Protection laws to disclose to a certain individual any personal data we are holding on him. We don't hold personal data, but he thinks we do. In the list of disclosures, he has also demanded that we disclose the contents of private messages to him where they contain references to him. he is making an official complaint to the UK Information Commissioner.

I can tell you that if I had this mod installed, then I would be legally obliged to satisfy his request. The publicity would break us but also it could then lead to libel or other legal actions against our users. Data Protection laws are generally the same through out the European Union and therefore any other EU forum administrator who is considering this mod should reflect very carefully

Additional dramatic spin-offs could be to undermine the confidence of forum users throughout UK, Europe, the world.

If you want to build forums and other on-line communities then avoid this kind of modification completely. This is the kind of thing which gets approval in China or other highly regulatory jurisdictions.

Avoid and condemn at all costs

Just to clarify, Brandon was not inquiring about this mod...:smiley_:

--------------------

Truck Drivers and the Industry

I fully understand that.

I see that on the VB org site there was an attempt to raise the privacy issue relating to this mod as well. The VB mods merely removed the posts.
I was very sorry to see that. I would have thought that they would be interested in emphasizing the security of their product.


Here's a test. If I were to get the web address of every person who had posted on VB.org saying that they had installed this mod, and then joined each of their forums and then posted to all their other members that their forum admin had installed this pm viewer on that forum,
1) Would those forum members be happy about this?
2) Would the admin of those forums allow the post or would it be deleted and my userID banned?

I won't say anymore on the issue. I know that I am going off-topic but I'm please to have made my point.

I just wanted member's to understand Brandon does not use this on this forum.

I also completely agree, that the use of this mod is violating member's privacy. But I also understand why the need to use it.

But I would probably just not allow pm's if I got to the point that I thought I would need to install a hack like this.



EDIT: I did not know Brandon had this installed

--------------------

Truck Drivers and the Industry

Weather or not its right to do, it is out there, and a member just gave a link for another member asking a question.

--------------------

we do have this installed and have had it most of the forums life.
I think I've used it 2 or 3 times and had added a line in our TOS about it.
I also think we even had a thread about it.

I see where your coming from Alpha, one of my clients had their forum blow up because the members found out they had this hack.
I do think it's a good hack to have if you have any currency traded on your forums but you must add a tos or let the members know.

--------------------

Post your URL and a link to your vb.com username here to get full access.

Add our Facebook Blog, Group and LinkedIn group.. Thanks

Stay up to date by installing our Tool Bar

This sounds like a great hack, only if the admin uses it when needed. I can see how it can be abused though.

--------------------
» vBulletinZone - The vBulletin Graphic Resource Forum
» GlobeSound - The Online Music Forum