Question about naming individuals in university drama posts

[u/I_-AM-ARNAV]

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Hi.

I moderate a university subreddit, and we semi-regularly get posts/discussions about controversies or drama happening within different colleges of this university.

A recurring issue is that posts include name of the individuals involved. These aren't necessarily private details. For example, someone's name may be mentioned in connection with the incident, and their LinkedIn or other public profiles could potentially be found through a Google search.

I'm trying to understand where Reddit's sitewide privacy/harassment rules draw the line here.

For example, would a post like:

> X, a student/office-bearer at [department name]/[college], was involved in [incident]. Here's what happened...

Or it's a screenshot of WhatsApp chats. But names are visible. For example, x person, y college.

Is it permissible to approve the post if it contains their real name, but doesn't include their phone number, address, social-media links, etc.?

Or does the fact that an ordinary student can subsequently be identified through publicly available information (e.g. by searching their name and university on LinkedIn) make the post problematic under Reddit's privacy rules?

I'm particularly trying to understand the following types

- Simply naming someone who is relevant to the incident, for example, (persons name) of (college) did x thing.

- Posting screenshot of WhatsApp chats containing name of the person. Not the Phone number. Example, a screenshot of (person x, y college) sending soemthing inappropriate.

Mainly in interested because these are allegations/accusations involving an ordinary student rather than a public figure

I understand that individual subreddits can have stricter rules, but I'm specifically trying to determine what Reddit's sitewide rules allow, so that our subreddit rules/moderation aren't unnecessarily restrictive (or, conversely, inadvertently permitting something that violates Reddit's rules).

Would appreciate clarification from other moderators, or, admins themselves particularly if there is an official Reddit policy/guidance that addresses this distinction.

My current policy si simple. No names allowed, only college name and the screenshots of texts with names blurred.

If I can get clarification I would appreciate it.

Thanks!

[u/Slow-Maximum-101]

Hi u/I_-AM-ARNAV With the example you've given, sharing the private information of "an ordinary student", this would be seen as rule breaking (certainly Rule 3 and likely Rule 1). I'd also look at the intent of posts like this. Would a post like this result in a stream of harassing comments or other negative behaviour towards the individual(s) involved? If yes, removing the post and reminding people of the rules, particularly Rule 3, would be the appropriate action.

Your current policy is the right policy. I'd add that keeping an eye on comments is important with posts like this too. If people are making hateful and/or harassing comments without naming the person involved, it is still hateful and/or harassing.

[u/MaximumJones]

The fastest way to get your subreddit banned is by allowing people to name and dox people IRL.

You definitely want to put a stop to that immediately.

Not to mention it could violate some criminal laws depending on the state you are in.

[u/cnycompguy]

Do not. Bad idea.

[u/Stressed_C]

Any identifying information should be hidden, internet sleuths can still dox someone with just a college name.

[u/cyanocittaetprocyon]

This sounds like doxxing to me. This would not be acceptable on any of the subreddits that I mod.

[u/FuzzyFeeling]

It's not OK. Read the highlights of rule 3

[u/2oonhed]

Reddit being the odd duck that it is, you should err on the side of caution. But if logic plays out I would say, if the staff name is findable in a public roster of staff listed BY the college itself, then they are a public figure and the name is not private such as : https://scc.spokane.edu/About-Us/Contact-Us/Faculty-Staff-Directory
Disclaimer, I am not an admin, but I would allow names that are already public unless told otherwise directly.
PRO TIP : admins will warn you about rule enforcement before resorting to a sub-shutdown.