Policy updated on 8/30/2024.
Scope
This policy applies to all NCST platform sites including social media and websites that include the ability to comment using a Facebook Account.
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to set forth the guidelines used by NCST in allowing or restricting commenting on posts, and the restrictions on users as it applies to certain content within comments.
Sections
- Incorporation by Reference.
- Facebook Terms of Service.
- Facebook Community Standards.
- Commenting Settings on Posts.
- Deference to open discussion.
- Posts to have comments restricted as a matter of course.
- Identifying suspects with a local residence.
- Exceptions.
- Immediate threat to the public.
- Fatalities.
- Identifying suspects with a local residence.
- Restriction of comments after initial posting.
- Removal of restrictions on commenting after initial posting.
- Restricted Content and Behavior by Users.
- Use of Facebook Moderation Assistant.
- Advertising or Soliciting Business Services.
- Exceptions.
- Political and Election Content.
- Off-Topic Comments.
- Circumventing Comment Restrictions.
- Personal Information, Doxing.
- Victim Identification.
- Images and Videos.
- Links to outside sources.
Policy
I.
Incorporation by Reference.
NCST operates on the Facebook ( Meta ) platform and is subject to its policies, guidelines, and terms of service.
a.
Facebook Terms of Service.
NCST incorporates by reference the Facebook ( Meta ) Terms of Service in its entirety.
b.
Facebook Community Standards.
NCST incorporates by reference the Facebook ( Meta ) Community Standards in its entirety.
II.
Commenting Settings on Posts.
NCST uses the following guidelines in making its decision on the settings of comments on posts made to the Facebook ( Meta ) Platform.
a.
Deference to open discussion.
It is the policy of NCST to, whenever possible, show deference to the ability of the community to voice their opinion on the content provided by allowing comments to be made by its members.
b.
Posts to have comments restricted as a matter of course.
NCST has made the decision that commenting shall be restricted for all users on posts that contain the content enumerated below.
1.
Identifying suspects with a local residence.
Posts that identify a suspect that resides in an area considered to be local to the Newnan / Coweta area shall have their comments restricted as a matter of course.
The goal of NCST is to provide factual and timely information to the community. As we often report on highly impactful criminal events, there is often a very large well of emotion from members of the community on both sides. It does not serve the community to provide a comment space where these emotional viewpoints can clash.
a.
Exceptions.
The preceding does not apply to posts made on the NCST ( Coweta ) DUI Report Facebook Page or Website.
2.
Immediate threat to the public.
Posts that convey an immediate threat to the public shall have their comments restricted as a matter of course.
This restriction ensures that factual and timely information can be provided to the community by NCST without users having to search through comments to find it, and ensures that unverified information is not being provided through user comments on the post.
3.
Fatalities.
Posts regarding incidents where there have been fatalities, or in which there is a reasonable possibility of a fatality, shall have their comments restricted as a matter of course.
This restriction ensures that factual and timely information can be provided to the community by NCST without users having to search through comments to find it, and also negates the risk of victim identification being disclosed by community members before family notification occurs.
c.
Restriction of comments after initial posting.
Occasionally circumstances occur after a post has been initially posted that may force NCST to restrict users from posting further comments. When this occurs, NCST will make every effort to post a comment on the post explaining the reason for such restrictions.
d.
Removal of restrictions on commenting after initial posting.
In some instances, it is possible for NCST to remove restrictions on posting comments by users after a period of time. In these instances, and in line with its deference to open discussion, NCST will remove restrictions on commenting on these posts.
III.
Restricted Content and Behavior by Users.
Above and beyond the restrictions enumerated in the Facebook ( Meta ) Terms of Service and Community Standards referenced above, NCST restricts users from the following content and behavior within the comments section.
a.
Use of Facebook Moderation Assistant.
NCST notifies its users that it leverages the Facebook Moderation Assistant to assist in moderating the content and behavior of users on the platform.
b.
Advertising or Soliciting Business Services.
Users are prohibited from posting comments advertising their business or service, contacting users of the NCST platform soliciting their business or service, or in any way conducting business within the comments of posts on the NCST platform.
NCST operates thanks primarily to the monetary donations of sponsors and advertisers. As part of our pledge to them, restricting the solicitation of other businesses, especially competitors, is of great importance.
1.
Exceptions.
Posts made by NCST that specifically solicit references, suggestions, or in other specific manners, the identification of businesses or services are exempt from this restriction.
c.
Political and Election Content.
Users are prohibited from posting comments, regardless of context, regarding their support or distant for any political party, candidate, or other political stance.
This does not prohibit users from commenting on their opinions on the actions, or inaction, of local government agencies such as taxes, crime, etc.
While NCST does at times report on information regarding local politics, it is not a political website, holds no political bias in its reporting, and has no position on elections outside its preference that citizens vote.
d.
Off-Topic Comments.
Users are expected to keep comments in line with the topic of the post on which they are posting.
e.
Circumventing Comment Restrictions.
Users are prohibited from commenting on a post in which comments are allowed regarding a post in which comments have been restricted in an attempt to circumvent those restrictions.
f.
Personal Information, Doxing.
Users are prohibited from making comments that include personal information, including but not limited to, their address, phone number, or employer, of other users or community members for any reason.
g.
Victim Identification.
Users are prohibited from identifying the name, or any other personal information, regarding victims who have not already been identified by NCST.
If you have information regarding an incident or victim, please send us a DM or email.
h.
Images and Videos.
Users are prohibited from posting images or videos of accidents or crime scenes in which vehicles, victims, or witnesses are visible.
If you have video or images from an accident or incident, please send them to us via a DM or email.
i.
Links to outside sources.
Users are prohibited from posting links to outside sources of information.
If you have a link to important information, please send it to us in a DM or email.