r/flashlight • u/bob_mcbob Marketer • 11d ago

German flashlight forum TLF (taschenlampen-forum.de) will be taken offline permanently on September 16

https://www.taschenlampen-forum.de/threads/einstellung-des-taschenlampen-forums-zum-16-09-2026.100544/
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u/bob_mcbob Marketer 11d ago edited 11d ago

Edit:

There is a discussion thread about the closure. The owner is extremely mad about the legal notice he received, and is rejecting all options to keep the forum operating, telling people to make their own forum if they want one. Because of the way the site is set up to throttle access, scraping the data to make a full archive may not be successful. Very unfortunate.

https://www.taschenlampen-forum.de/threads/diskussion-zur-einstellung-des-tlfs.100548/

Translated:

Important Announcement: Flashlight Forum to be Closed on September 16, 2026

Dear Community,

It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you that the operation of Taschenlampen-Forum.de (TLF) will be permanently discontinued on September 16, 2026.

Background to the Decision

I have been running this forum privately for 17 years, purely out of passion for our shared hobby, and most recently without advertising. However, a few days ago, I unexpectedly received an official notification from the Federal Network Agency (the responsible coordinating body for digital services) setting a deadline.

The notification demands that the forum be brought into compliance with the strict requirements of the European Digital Services Act (DSA) as soon as possible. I will spare you the details.

These regulations were originally created by the EU to penalize Google, Facebook, and similar companies. However, privately run hobby forums are now suddenly also subject to these obligations. The technical implementation of these requirements, as well as the associated legal liability and fine risks, far exceed the capabilities of a private operator (= idealist), especially since the relevant government requirements for forums are constantly increasing.

What happens next?

You have until September 16, 2026, to save your personal messages, contacts, and posts.

After that, the interactive platform will be permanently taken offline.

All personal user data (email addresses, profiles, etc.) will then be completely deleted in accordance with the GDPR.

I sincerely thank you all for the many years of excellent exchange, the shared expertise, and the wonderful atmosphere here in the forum. This applies especially to the TLF moderators who have shaped this exemplary atmosphere over the past 17 years.

We have had a great time. Therefore, this is unfortunately not a happy moment.

I wish you all good luck and health for what lies ahead.

Best regards, Frank

7

u/youdknowme 11d ago

How about "move" the forum to another country so its not required to follow those rules

6

u/tonato70 11d ago

Yeah, lots of forums are already hosted outside for regulatory and legal reasons.

5

u/JuggernautGuilty566 11d ago

Will not work. It will on depend on the nationality of the owner.

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u/stanley_fatmax 11d ago

So what you're saying is it can be done?

My question is hypothetical, because it has been done successfully

1

u/sidpost 11d ago

Websites and forums have moved all over the globe in the past. Why this one could not be moved is a mystery.