This is another oldy.
Back in 2012, I ran into a submission that I positively dare you to tell me what it does:
This plugin can be used to turn any WordPress powered site into an automated forced matrix recruiting system for any business opportunity. Even if opportunity is not set up as a matrix, such as a unilevel program you can use this system to create a downline that is structured like a matrix for it.
I was lost.
The key words for you:
- matrix
- recruiting
- unilevel
- downline
I think some people just went “Oh, shit.”
Give Up?
This person submitted an MLM recruiting plugin! Their website (which is long gone) got even better, and actually had MLM in the URL. And it was from the website that I confirmed this is an MLM plugin, but not just that…
[PluginName] is the only WordPress plugin which will allow you to build an expanding forced matrix recruiting system to build any network marketing or MLM downline, with no web design or programming knowledge required.
Hey look! It outright says MLM!
Now, my personal feelings about MLM being scams aside, there are a couple ways you could make a legit MLM-ish plugin for WordPress.
It’s not a secret I think MLMs are vile and prey on the people who are least equipped to spot them. They promise you money, but it’s all a pyramid scheme and the only way to get money is to trick more people just like you. It’s inhumane.
But the heart of the issue with this plugin was, as it turned out, collecting data from visitors to pull into the list of suckers people to contact. And no, not in any ethical, moral, or even legal way at all.
None of it was opt-in.
GDPR folks would have a heart attack if they saw that code.
The plugin was rejected and told we don’t want to host MLM schemes that track users without consent (hold on to that part please). It also tracked everything it could from the site admins. Meaning, if you installed it, all your data are belong to them.
Again, GDPR and privacy folks are screaming. I was screaming.
The author replied:
I beg to differ, this is not MLM, this is a recruiting system which can be used for MLM or really any other business someone wants to promote just like programs which promote affiliate sales.
It’s not an MLM, it’s just something that can be used for MLM and is intended to be used to make an MLM.
Oh did I mention the demo site says “Are You Ready To Finally Make It In MLM?”
And besides, they totally missed the point of collecting data without consent being an issue.
MLM = Adult Content?
No one replied to his reply as it got a little weird and hateful real fast.
Later on the creator posted on their own site that clearly Matt Mullenweg hated things. Also, and this made me interested, he said this with regards to being called an MLM:
I was floored, and then when I thought about it more I became appalled that my plugin was basically being categorized in the same league as an Adult or Offensive plugin by WordPress.org as there is only one reason in their guidelines (number nine) that they could use to ban this plugin…
MLM’s Website
Some points here:
- We actually allow adult plugins as long as the content posted in the directory isn’t pornographic itself (read – we allow plugins that let you embed from pornhub)
- Anyone who thinks an MLM isn’t offensive probably is in one
- We told them it was the collecting data sans consent
Now this was a while ago, so what was #9 back then?
The plugin must not do anything illegal, or be morally offensive. That’s subjective, we know. Still, if we don’t like it for any reason, it’s gone. This includes spam, for whatever definition of spam we want to use.
Guidline #9 circa 2012
Yeah, now I remember why I worked hard to update those. But still, tracking users without their consent is always going to be an issue, and this scam is part of why we pushed to add that sort of thing to the guidelines.
We Didn’t Say That
Again I (personally) feel MLMs are morally offensive — and scams.
But we did not say ‘adult.’ He did. We said “illegal” (regarding the tracking) or “morally offensive” (regarding the scam itself) and while that is incredibly subjective, an MLM is a pyramid scheme. Meaning, the person at the top gets more money the more people ‘buy in’ and the only way for the next person to get money is … get more people to ‘buy in.’
But it’s really telling that the creator jumped right to “Offensive can only be adult!” and not “offensive can be a ponzie scheme.” We don’t like black-hat SEO, we don’t like MLMs.
Could one work?
Could there, somewhere out there, be a version of this that the directory might accept?
Yes!
We call those mailing lists and affiliate programs, but there is a critical difference. Those are being used to collect CUSTOMERS. This MLM was collecting ‘partners’ and without consent. So basically they were collecting marks for the con.
[…] isn’t my plugin just a tool like any other plugin? I am not promoting a specific company, it is purely a tool to allow users to be more successful in the company they have chosen to promote.
Except they’re not promoting. I actually remember the code. It was basically scraping every ounce of information it could from visitors and the site admin and using it to general a list of marks they could use to build up their pyramid.
I can understand them not wanting something morally offensive such as plugins which support pornography or other sub-culture pursuits…
Actually we do allow most of those. As long as they’re not vulgar or actively harmful. I’m sure LGBTQ+ is a ‘sub-culture’ to this person.
[…] to single out the BUSINESS of MLM/Network Marketing and related services seems like a real failing, on their part, of their users.
Maybe if the business was ethical I’d feel worse. Instead, I think it was the right call.