26 Jul 2022

Social media abuse, defamatory remarks and the good name of the Society.

After a week of celebrating our wonderful breed on the greatest stage where their images have been broadcast all over the world via a variety of platforms, the Society sadly needs to draw attention to an important element of members’ responsibilities and decorum.
The Society reminds all members and users of social media that these platforms are not for abuse and bullying.
If a member has a valid complaint regarding any element of the Society’s activities or those of any of its appointed panel judges, the correct and proper action is to lodge a formal complaint via the Society’s complaints procedure
The social media and internet policy is detailed below as a reminder to those who post online.
21. SOCIAL MEDIA AND INTERNET POLICY
No Member of The Welsh Pony and Cob Society shall conduct him or herself in a manner or be guilty of behaviour which is derogatory to the character or prejudicial to the interests of The Welsh Pony and Cob Society and in particular (but without prejudice to the generality to the foregoing) no Member shall behave in an abusive or unpleasant manner to any person at any show or at any other location where Welsh Pony and Cob Society business is being transacted or via social media or the internet or via any publication in whatever format or via any other written or electronic format.
21.1. Introduction
The Welsh Pony and Cob Society acknowledges the importance of the internet and social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, home web-pages, chat rooms, messaging services and all other forms of electronic communication and the role that “social media” plays in the day to day lives of members. This policy note is to remind members that the Rules of The Welsh Pony and Cob Society apply to members when using social media and the internet. Failure to adhere to this policy note could lead to disciplinary action being taken against a member.
21.2. Using social media
21.2.1 You should be aware that The Welsh Pony and Cob Society may from time to time carry out internet searches to identify postings which include references to The Welsh Pony and Cob Society and its members.
21.2.2 Images produced by The Welsh Pony and Cob Society are the subject of copyright and should not be copied or used in social media save as provided in The Welsh Pony and Cob Society website user terms and conditions.
21.2.3 You should ensure that any material that you transmit or post to social media is clearly stated to be your personal view and is not held out to be, or could be mistaken as, the view of The Welsh Pony and Cob Society.
21.2.4 You must not post or transmit any material which could damage the name or reputation of The Welsh Pony and Cob Society, its members or former members, or which is derogatory to the character of or prejudicial to the interests of The Welsh Pony and Cob Society.
21.2.5 You must not post or transmit any material relating to The Welsh Pony and Cob Society, members or former members or their horses or ponies, or their business or private lives or which could otherwise be associated with or which may reasonably be attributed as coming from The Welsh Pony and Cob Society:
a) that is threatening, defamatory, obscene, indecent, seditious, offensive, pornographic, abusive, liable to incite racial hatred, discriminatory, menacing, scandalous, inflammatory, blasphemous, in breach of confidence, in breach of privacy or which may cause annoyance, distress or inconvenience; or
b) Which constitutes or encourages conduct that would be in breach of the WPCS rules, or constitutes a criminal offence, or which could give rise to civil liability, or otherwise be contrary to the laws of, or infringe the rights of any third party in, the UK or any other country in the world.
21.2.6 Any breach of this policy may constitute a breach of The Welsh Pony and Cob Society rules and could also lead to civil and/or criminal proceedings being brought against you.
21.3. Disclosure under law or regulation
You should be aware that The Welsh Pony and Cob Society will fully co-operate with any law enforcement authorities or court order requesting or directing The Welsh Pony and Cob Society to disclose the identity or locate anyone posting any material in breach of this policy. If we are requested by the police or any other regulatory or government authority investigating suspected illegal activities to provide your personal information, The Welsh Pony and Cob Society is entitled to do so.
ENDS

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