Can no longer use [url] tag in the forum

[Chaqa]

I used to be able to provide a URL with display text, which was useful for mafia and forum game purposes. Not sure when this changed, but it was allowed at least in May of 2023, as seen here:
https://www.webdiplomacy.net/contrib/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=4714

I now get the following error:

[Jamiet99uk]

I assume this was done to prevent bots spamming links?

[dargorygel]

I assume this was done to prevent bots spamming links?

That is my understanding... what little understanding I am able to bring to the table. A lot of things were done to combat the bot invasions. I regret this 'loss,' too.

[learnedSloth]

I assume this was done to prevent bots spamming links?

That is my understanding... what little understanding I am able to bring to the table. A lot of things were done to combat the bot invasions. I regret this 'loss,' too.

It doesn't even stop them from spamming urls. For example:

https://www.webdiplomacy.net/

It only prevents turning them into clickable links for convenience.

[captainmeme]

I'm not sure when this change happened, but as someone who has been having to ban hammer these spammers I'm pretty supportive of it. The problem with the URL tags is that you can disguise a link as something else - hide it in a punctuation mark for example - and that's always what they do.

[learnedSloth]

I'm not sure when this change happened, but as someone who has been having to ban hammer these spammers I'm pretty supportive of it. The problem with the URL tags is that you can disguise a link as something else - hide it in a punctuation mark for example - and that's always what they do.

Wouldn't setting a minimum length make it more visible?

[Chaqa]

I'm not sure when this change happened, but as someone who has been having to ban hammer these spammers I'm pretty supportive of it. The problem with the URL tags is that you can disguise a link as something else - hide it in a punctuation mark for example - and that's always what they do.

Could we perhaps link the tag to some sort of role on the forum?