Online meetings are a way for us to connect across borders and seas. Finding our tribe is such an important need for us as humans. Those that choose a power dynamic style of relationship can feel isolated and marginalised. Finding a group of people that understand your perspective can be a huge comfort.
We use Zoom conferencing software, which is incredibly easy to install and use. Full instructions are given in the invitation to join and can be used on PC, Mac, Iphone/iPad or Android devices.
In these online meetings there is the option to use audio (voice) and/or video, and/or just text.
Risks involved when attending an online video or audio conference (Click to expand)
For many people privacy is very important and the risk of stigma associated with diverse sexuality and relationship styles in today's society is high. The negative impact on careers, family and friends is still sadly a risk for many people. This can often prevent people from reaching out and connecting and result in them feeling isolated. We recognise that attending an online meeting would raise these fears for anyone and its important to acknowledge those fears as very real and justified. Privacy and safety online can seem like a minefield sometimes so we’re making it easier for you to take part in an online meeting safely and easily by giving you important information about the risks and offering some useful solutions to maintaining your privacy.
FACT: If someone wants to record an online meeting there really nothing that can be done to prevent it. Even if we incorporated ways to stop screen recording a person could literally video the screen with a camera.
Solutions:
- Don’t use your real name when attending online meetings, use a nickname.
- Use a webcam filter software – we’ve used ManyCam and think it’s kinda cool. It's free and contains various levels of disguise so you can still be seen but not recognised. For Mac users we recommend Cam Mask.
- Use a voice changer – again ManyCam can do this for you by changing your voice just a little bit – enough that you won’t be recognised but you’ll still be understood and clear. Voxal Voice Changer is another free voice changer software we've tried and tested.
MYTH: I’ll be identified by my IP address!
INFO: It is highly unlikely that you could be identified by your IP address. These days most private households are using shared dynamic IP addresses…so the best that could be identified is a region, depending on your Internet Service Provider. The only organisation that could tell your physical address from your IP address in this instance is your ISP and the information they hold is personal information covered by the Data Protection Act. However, logging in at your company or University that may be using a fixed IP address and monitored network could be traced back to a machine and a login. It is worth mentioning at this point that these discussions are a perfectly legal activity and we struggle to see any legitimate reason that anyone would seek to obtain your identity from your ISP. Americans with NSA paranoia?….well…again….not sure why they would be interested….they’d probably find our discussions incredibly boring. The conferencing software we are using is not peer-to-peer and we go through an external server to connect to the meeting. This means nobody in the meeting can know your IP address.
Solution:
If you’re really worried about this sort of thing, use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) – this will piggy back you onto someone else’s IP address and location – Hotspot Shield is a popular VPN with free option. This will also protect you from having information accessed about your Internet viewing habits generally - which may have been worrying some UK residents after the rather inflated media coverage of the new Bill in the UK relating to Internet browsing history being stored by ISPs and made available to Government agencies.
Useful tips for attending a meeting:
- Please mute your mic when your not speaking. Remember to unmute yourself when you want to speak.
- Inappropriate video use e.g. sexual exhibitionism, is not allowed and will result in you being removed from the meeting. Repeat offenders will be blocked from attending future meetings.
- You are responsible for ensuring your own privacy. We’ve shared information above to help you reach the desired level of privacy.
- No unauthorised recording of meetings is allowed.
- There is a “hand-up” feature which will be used in discussions. This will be explained at the start of each meetings.
- Please be respectful and play nice. Rude, abusive or inappropriate behaviour will not be tolerated and will result in removal from the meeting. Repeat offenders will be blocked from attending future meetings.