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British Dressage Social Media Policy

This Social Media Policy is part of the Members’ Code of Conduct and whenever using any form of social media (whether existing now or in the future) and participating in, submitting or responding to any internet postings, including blogs and wikis, however these are accessed, in each case using any device existing now or in the future, members shall comply with this Policy.

Any breach of this Policy by any member will be subject to the procedures relating to misconduct and complaints contained in the Members Code of Conduct and may result in disciplinary action. Civil and/or criminal proceedings could also be brought against members for breach of this Policy where applicable.

Scope of this policy

British Dressage recognises that the internet provides everyone with the ability to participate in interactive discussions and to share information on a wide variety of social media. This Social Media Policy relates to the use of social media by British Dressage members in so far as such use relates to or affects British Dressage, its employees, members and volunteers.

In this policy

BD People and BD Person means officers, staff, BD affiliated show organisers, selectors, judges, stewards (all of whom must be members of BD) sponsors and all other volunteers acting on behalf of British Dressage; and Members means members of British Dressage in all membership categories; and Social Media means all forms of social media that exist now or may exist in the future, including but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Vine, Tumblr, LinkedIn, Wikipedia, Flickr, MySpace, Pinterest, Google+ and all other social networking websites, all other internet posting sites, all blogs and wikis and all other internet forums.

Responsible use of social media

Every member must be respectful of British Dressage and they, and all other BD People, must;

  1. Be aware that publication of information and comment on social media carries the same obligations as any other kind of publication and should follow the same ethical and legal standards.
  2. Not post, share or otherwise submit on social media any statement, material, information or image which is malicious, misleading, threatening, derogatory, obscene, indecent, seditious, offensive, pornographic, abusive, disparaging, racist, discriminatory, menacing, inflammatory, blasphemous, intimidating or defamatory.
  3. Not post, share or otherwise submit comments about sensitive business related topics, such as British Dressage’s performance, or do anything to jeopardise British Dressage’s trade secrets, confidential information and intellectual property.
  4. Not post, share or otherwise submit on social media statements, material, information or images concerning, or which could directly or indirectly damage the name, business interests or reputation of British Dressage or any BD Person.
  5. Not disclose on any social media, any personal information relating to any other BD Person or any other information or image which has been provided to the poster by a BD Person in confidence.
  6. Only post comments about a BD Person that are respectful and which the poster would say directly to that person.
  7. Consider how other people reading a post might react before actually posting it on any social media.
  8. Not use BD logos, brand names, slogans or other trademarks, or post any of its confidential, proprietary or copyrighted information without BD’s prior written permission.
  9. Make it clear if using, referring to or otherwise disclosing their BD membership status in any way on social media that they are speaking on their own behalf and that their views do not represent those of British Dressage.
  10. Ensure that their profile and any content they post are consistent with the professional image they are required to present to clients and colleagues and all other BD People.
  11. Not use social media in a way that breaches any other rules, codes and policies in the BD Members’ Handbook.
  12. Show proper respect for the laws governing copyright and fair use/dealing of copyrighted material.

British Dressage accepts no liability for legal breaches by BD People on social media. BD People are fully accountable for the content they publish.

British Dressage reserves the right to monitor, intercept and review, without further notice, social media postings and activities that include references to it and/or its members, to ensure that its rules and this Policy are being complied with and for legitimate purposes. All members consent to such monitoring by their agreeing to abide by all the rules, codes and policies in the BD Members’ Handbook. British Dressage may remove posts, threads and any other form of submissions from its own forum which are in breach of this Policy and/or the forum rules without explanation and the BD person responsible could be liable for disciplinary action as outlined in the Members Code of Conduct.

British Dressage may require members to remove postings, comments or any other submissions made using social media that are deemed to be in breach of this Policy.

Failure to comply with such a request may in itself result in disciplinary action as outlined in the Members Code of Conduct. British Dressage will comply with any law, or request by any governmental or other regulatory authority, or order by a court or other authority of competent jurisdiction, requiring BD to disclose the identity or location of any Member posting any material in breach of this Policy. BD may share a BD person’s private information with the police or any other governmental authority if it is asked to do so in connection with the investigation of suspected illegal activities.

If you as a user identify potentially damaging content or content that is in breach of the Policy, please contact British Dressage. If you have a grievance with someone on social media regarding the sport of dressage, take it up with them directly or if the individual is a BD person, contact British Dressage by email; office@britishdressage.co.uk.