Unfortunately the moderation tools just aren’t there yet - ideally I’d love for users to set their own instance blocks and for us admin’s to leave that up to users (unless in the case of illegal/CSAM content) and if those tools ever do become available, then we’d probably refederate as an instance and allow users to decide.

As that isn’t the case currently we need to take broader steps towards moderation. If CSAM/illegal material makes its way on to this server, we’re just as much on the hook for it which jeopardises the instance.

In terms of what counts as illegal, I personally live in the UK which has stricter laws around this than some other countries, i.e. the USA, which are summarised here. Specifically, it is an offence to host: web pages with pictures, videos or descriptions that glorify violence against anyone due to their race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or because they are transgender.

EH has posted “memes” which could be argued violate this law. I also need to be mindful of the content held in other countries as part of hosting the site, i.e. in Germany, and their local laws.

While I’m very unlikely to have my front door kicked in over a meme, it does in the long term risk the instance if content like this continues to be produced by EH.

Unlike many other instances, we haven’t defederated with anyone else (except threads) at all, instead allowing users to choose, but it does come to a point when I find myself asking the question about the risk vs the content, and then I feel it needs to go to the community to be involved in that decision.

Personally I don’t feel they produce anything of importance that we’ll miss by not being federated, but maybe I’m in a bubble, hence why we’re asking the community!