This has been discussed a lot in the other thread; IFTF have sought legal advice, and decided they can’t take the risk.
You’re right, almost certainly this would never come to anything, but (to my mind) the risk is some scenario like:
- One day, someone in this community is unfortunate enough to become the Main Character on social media for whatever reason (maybe nothing to do with IFComp or IF at all).
- Everything they’ve done and everyone nearby suddenly comes under massive scrutiny from the worst people.
- The Daily Mail gets hold of it and runs some unhinged story about this community of sick woke freaks, finding something in the IF world to quote out of context and distort.
- The UK government is embarrassed and wants to appease the Mail, as is its habit, and leans on Ofcom.
- Ofcom finds something IFTF has done actionable under the UK OSA and threatens (as it is permitted/mandated to do) £18m fines etc, which is “approximately a thousand times as much money as [IFTF has] in [its] bank account”. (As I understand it, by the time Ofcom are talking to you, you’re already in breach [citation needed]). IFTF is forced to fold in some direction. Its officers fear travel to the UK forever.