can a hub get flagged if your reporting stuff that's true?

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   Stevennix2001posted 5 years ago

   I've been playing this online game for awhile, which is partially why I haven't written any hubs lately.  Anyways, I would like to write an article called "the dangers of online gaming", and I have screenshots of one guy ADMITTING he was a pedophile who solicited nudes from a minor and even tried to blackmail her with them.  In the game I'm playing, there's an online chat room for players to converse, and I took screenshots of the man admitting to this. Yes, I did alert the authorities in his area, and even tried to report him to interpol and almost any authorities i could report him too. I even reported him to the game mods themselves and the developers to get him banned off the game.  Sadly, the gms of the game and the developers didn't ban him because they felt every player has the right to play.  And the local authorities didn't do anything to him either, so he basically got away with it scott free. 
   
   I did try to share screenshots on facebook in hopes it would go viral, along with a picture of his fat ugly face that i was able to attain from a friend of his, so everyone would know what a sick fuck he is, but that didn't work out so well either because hardly anyone shared it online as much as I had hoped.  Anyways, I'd like use the screenshots and his name along with a picture of his actual face that i was able to attain from a friend of his for this article I wish to write, as sort of a warning of the type of people you could potentially meet during an online game.  What I'm asking is if I were to publish such a hub, then would it get flagged for hate speech even if everything I say is factually true, and i can back it up with screenshots?

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      Al Stineposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Online gaming definitely has some toxic characters, that individual may be as horrible as described.  Reporting him to the relevant authorities was the right thing to do.
      Writing an article about him or exposing him on social media is however a very dangerous thing to do, for two simple reasons;
      Firstly, if he was reported to the authorities and has not been convicted of a crime, it means he is technically an innocent person. If you decide to write an article about him or post his pictures on social media, he can sue you as an individual and Hubpages as platform for defamation of character. In his deference, he might claim his alleged utterances were basically online gaming banter. You have screenshots of a conversation and not pictures of him committing a crime, you might need to substantiate your evidence if he presents you with a lawsuit.
      Secondly, raising awareness of criminal conduct of an individual by posting them on social media is equivalent to mob justice and a witch hunt, if the claims do not have the full backing of law enforcement institutions. The reason these institutions exist is to avoid reverting back to the dark ages system of justice. Imagine, if you posted him on social media and the whole weight of the world falls on him, he decides to commit suicide, on who's conscious will his death be?.
      You have to understand that social media is a good platform to raise awareness, but you cannot control how people react to the message. Some people's anger triggers violence. Are you going to assure the safety of that individual and his family?.
      My advise is, raise awareness to the relevant authorities and not social media and if that is still not working, am sure you can google other institutions that would be better suited to attend to the raised issue.

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         Stevennix2001posted 5 years agoin reply to this

         Hmm very astute points, as I'll definitely keep what you said in mind.  Although the screenshots i have show him outright admitting he solicited nude photos from a minor in the game, and i also have other screenshots showing the girl admitting she was only 15, and him admitting he was in his twenties, as he flat out blackmailed her in front of everyone in the online chat room in the game.  Are you saying those screenshots wouldn't be enough to justify my claims against the man?
         
         However based on what you and Alicia have said, I'll probably keep his name and face anonymous then for now, as the main point of the article is to keep others from being hurt in an online game like the 15 year old girl I just alluded to. I won't say her name since I don't want to embarrass her, but still.  However, I appreciate the advice.  Personally i don't see how it's defamation of character considering i have screen shots of him openly admitting to all of this crap, but eh.  It's fine.  As long as the article can prevent others from being hurt like this girl and others the better.

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            Al Stineposted 5 years agoin reply to this

            Sadly those screenshots would not be enough evidence, proving digital evidence in a court of law is a process that requires a technician that is able to prove those screenshots were not altered or photoshoped. If you provide your screenshots as evidence, then the accused deletes that conversation containing that evidence. How do you prove that the conversation happened?. Digital evidence is best substantiated if you can provide the electronic device used during criminal conduct or admission for digital forensics and analysis. Or if you are able to provide a digital footprint of that evidence acquired from a trusted third-party, in your case, the online gaming server. Otherwise, there are many sites around that offer tips on how to edit screenshots.
            I agree, the best way forward would be to publish an article about the dangers of such characters in the online community. Your experience with that individual will add more basis to the article.
            However, keep those screenshots, with more knowledge on the subject you might even find a better way to bring that individual to justice.

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      TIMETRAVELER2posted 5 years agoin reply to this

      HP is a child friendly site.  Placing info like that here will be a problem for you.  You've done what you can.  Apparently nobody cares about this guy.  You really have no proof.  I'd let it go. Usually if you have to ask a question like this, you already know the answer.

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         Stevennix2001posted 5 years agoin reply to this

         the screenshots i have say otherwise as far as proof, but I see what you're saying.  thanks.

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   AliciaCposted 5 years ago

   I can certainly understand why you’re angry, but I think publishing the article that you describe would be very risky. If the person you are talking about had been found guilty of a crime in a court of law, what you are planning to do would probably be okay. Since you reported him to the authorities and he wasn’t charged with a crime, I think identifying him in your article could be a problem. The article could be important for people to read if you were careful when writing it, but I don't think you should name and include a photograph of a particular person, even though he sounds horrible.

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      Stevennix2001posted 5 years agoin reply to this

      the guy uses a vpn to mask his ip address, so they couldn't find him.  That was their official explanation.  I even gave them his full name and picture along the screenshots i mentioned, but nothing.  If anything the whole experience made me lose faith in the law enforcement in this country.  However, i see what you're saying. I was just asking out of curiosity.  Ill definitely consider what you've said though.  thanks.

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   Stevennix2001posted 5 years ago

   Anyways, i appreciate the advice and input guys.

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