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0 pointsbaggy_trough1y ago0 comments

What are the simple and cheap mitigations you have in mind?

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Don't run a website personally, set up a separate legal entity. The UK is one of the easiest places in the world to do this and has well-understood legal entities that fit the model of a community-operated organisation (i.e: "community interest company"). The fact that the OP is running such a large community as an individual is bonkers in the first place, independent of this new act.

baggy_troughOP1y ago

Personally, I think it's bonkers that an individual can't run an online forum.

jodrellblank1y ago

Personally, I think it's bonkers that you think "I don't have time to comply with the law so I shouldn't have to" is a reasonable position.

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aimazon1y ago

I agree but that ship sailed a decade ago. There's no additional risk with the new bill, it's more of the same. If there are concerns about liability because of this new bill then there should be concerns about liability already.

I sympathise with the OP because at some point everyone becomes too old to deal with the headaches of running a community. I have no opposition to their choice to shut down the forum. I just don't believe liability as a result of the new bill is the reason.

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graemep1y ago

It raises the cost and hassle involved from "I need a cheap hosting package" to I need to do paperwork, keep and file accounts, etc.

tempfile1y ago

Are you claiming that setting up a CIC removes individual liability for wrongdoing? So, I set up a CIC for running forums, with $0 of assets and negligible running costs, then in the event of a fine I'm scot free?

aimazon1y ago

Yes. A CIC is just a limited company with some additional community interest obligations. You can set up a limited company to shield yourself from liability (i.e: if your website is sued by a user, your personal assets aren't at risk) and only in exceptional cases (where serious lawbreaking is involved) could you be held personally liable.

Rightly or wrongly, limited companies in the UK provide a high degree of protection for wrongdoing. Defrauding HMRC out of hundreds of thousands of pounds and suffering no consequence is happening day in day out. An Ofcom fine is nothing by comparison.

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graemep1y ago

Assuming you regard the cost of keeping and filing accounts and other paperwork, annual registration fees, etc. as negligible yes.

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aimazon1y ago

baggy_troughOP1y ago

Personally, I think it's bonkers that an individual can't run an online forum.

jodrellblank1y ago

Personally, I think it's bonkers that you think "I don't have time to comply with the law so I shouldn't have to" is a reasonable position.

1 more reply

aimazon1y ago

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graemep1y ago

It raises the cost and hassle involved from "I need a cheap hosting package" to I need to do paperwork, keep and file accounts, etc.

tempfile1y ago

aimazon1y ago

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graemep1y ago

Assuming you regard the cost of keeping and filing accounts and other paperwork, annual registration fees, etc. as negligible yes.

1 more reply

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