Moderating Web 2.0 Discussions Can Be Like Navigating a Minefield

...As the founders of Digg, found out yesterday....

Sometime yesterday, someone posted a digital key which is supposed to enable those with the know how to unlock the copy protection on HD-DVDs on Digg.com. Facing a Cease and Desist order, Digg decided to remove all posts relating to the digital key.

What followed was a huge backlash by the online Digg community.

Today, one of the founders has decided that to suppress the discussion ran contrary to what Digg was all about and vowed to allow discussion on this topic, regardless of the legal consequences.

The situation highlights a few (self-evident?) truths.

1. If you're going to host an online community, you have to be very careful when you insert your right to moderation (links to porn and hate speech are obviously banned).

2. We're still learning "the rules" in a Web 2.0 world.

3. Ownership in an online world is very muddy. Who owns Digg? The founders or the community? The answer is both. One doesn't exist without the other. And they're still figuring out the power sharing.

Is all of the pain worth it?

Absolutely.