Unable to View Forum Images in the UK

[Chris Hall]

For the last couple of weeks, photos posted into the Forum have been unavailable to this (UK based) member, as they trigger a message "content is not viewable in your region." This is new - previously there was no such problem. The text is showing, just not the pictures. Any way to change the format or the protocols so that these can be viewed?

[Bill Reidy]

Hi Chris,

Apparently Imgur (the photo hosting site I use) has blocked access in the UK.  Some details are in this reddit post:  https://www.reddit.com/r/pcmasterrace/comments/1nurvkp/imgur_blocks_access_to_uk_users_after_proposed/

From that post:

Image-hosting platform Imgur has blocked people in the UK from accessing its content.

Imgur is used by millions to make and share images such as memes across the web, particularly on Reddit and in online forums.

But UK users trying to access Imgur on Tuesday were met with an error message saying "content not available in your region" - with Imgur content shared on other websites also no longer showing.

The UK's data watchdog, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), said it recently notified the platform's parent company, MediaLab AI, of plans to fine Imgur after probing its approach to age checks and use of children's personal data.

The BBC has approached MediaLab AI for comment.

A help article on Imgur's US website, seen by the BBC, states that "from September 30, 2025, access to Imgur from the United Kingdom is no longer available".

"UK users will not be able to log in, view content, or upload images. Imgur content embedded on third-party sites will not display for UK users."

Not good.  I'll look into alternatives for hosting my photos for future posts.

[Benjamin Richards]

Many of us use postimg.cc, maybe that is the one to use now Bill...

[Bill Reidy]

Thanks, Ben.  Testing postimg.cc.  Can you see this image, Chris and Ben?  These are the new coach No. 9 trucks, assembled by Jerry and Carlos Steinke.  Photo taken last Saturday.

[Chris Hall]

Yes, that comes through clearly - many thanks!!

[Bill Reidy]

Thanks, Chris.

[Bill Reidy]

Testing more, since the first image I posted shows up in my laptop browser but does not on my iPhone browser.

[Bill Reidy]

Still no joy on my iPhone.  One more try:

[Carl G. Soderstrom]

No JOY here either

[Benjamin Richards]

I'm not sure what's going on... I can see all Bill's recent images on my PC web browser, as well as my Android AND iPhone.

Bill, I noticed your older posts from imgur are JPEG format, while your newer postimg ones are AVIF format. Maybe that's the difference?

[Bill Reidy]

Testing again...

[Bill Reidy]

And I now can view the photo in this last post.  Thanks, Ben.  My iPhone's photos are in "HEIC" format, which postimg.cc apparently converts to "AVIF" format.  My (older) iPhone apparently can't handle AVIF images.  I don't see a postimg.cc option to prevent/control that conversion.

This time, I first opened the photo in paint.net and saved it in JPEG format.  I then uploaded the JPEG copy to postimg.cc.