Popular image and video platform Imgur is changing its terms of service in May to get rid of pornographic content. So far, users could still upload pictures and videos with “nudity, pornography and explicit sex” as long as they were posted as a comment or not posted publicly. A public listing was previously no longer allowed. In addition, “old, unused and inactive content” that is not assigned to a user account should also be deleted.
The latter could lead to the disappearance of numerous images from forums worldwide. Many users have used Imgur as a hosting platform for embedding images and videos in their posts when a forum does not allow their own upload or it is too restricted. This content may disappear when Imgur’s new Terms of Service go into effect on May 15, 2023.
Sexual content is not allowed in the public area of Imgur, but could be uploaded as a comment or for personal use, such as linking from other platforms. This ambivalence wants Imgur with its new Terms of Service eliminate, as the company writes. In addition, explicit content would pose a risk to both the community and the company’s business. Here Imgur is probably alluding to partners and advertisers who do not want to be associated with adult content.
Artistic nudity still allowed
Imgur aims to identify and delete sexual content and old, anonymous uploads using a combination of automated systems and human moderators. The “artistic representation of nudity” should continue to be allowed. Users should contact Imgur if their uploads are incorrectly classified as explicit content. However, there is no question of an automatic exclusion from the platform due to the upload of pornography, it is only a matter of removing unwanted content.
Interestingly had Imgur still explained in autumn 2019that no content will be deleted or moved and deep links will continue to function. Legal content, even for adults, should still be uploadable as long as it doesn’t appear in the public gallery. Back then, Reddit was about adult content that Imgur no longer wanted to display. Now Imgur has changed its mind.
(fds)
