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Last Updated: January 27th, 2025

Introduction

Stryde (“the App”) is committed to creating a safe and secure online environment for all users, especially children and vulnerable individuals. This document outlines our zero-tolerance policy for Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (CSAE) and details the steps we take to prevent, identify, report, and respond to such activities.

Scope

This policy applies to all users of the App, including but not limited to:

  • Registered and unregistered users.
  • Staff, moderators, and administrators.
  • Third-party services and integrations.

It covers all content, communications, and interactions occurring on or facilitated by the App.

Zero-Tolerance Policy

  1. Prohibited Activities:
    • Sharing, storing, or transmitting material that depicts or promotes child sexual abuse.
    • Grooming or attempts to exploit minors.
    • Using the platform to solicit or facilitate CSAE.
  2. Immediate Action:
    • Any content or behavior associated with CSAE will result in immediate account suspension or termination.
    • Law enforcement will be notified where required by law or deemed appropriate.

Prevention Measures

  1. Age Verification:
    • All users are required to provide their date of birth during registration.
    • Users under the minimum age (13 in most jurisdictions) are not permitted to create an account without verifiable parental consent.
    • A parental consent email is sent to the parent or guardian for users under 13, detailing the registration request and including an approval link.
  2. Parental Consent Workflow:
    • Upon receiving parental consent, the child’s account is activated.
    • Parents are reminded to monitor their child’s activity and educate them about online safety.
    • The parental consent email highlights CSAE prevention and includes actionable tips for parents.
  3. Restricted Accounts for Minors:
    • Minors are automatically placed under a “Restricted Mode,” limiting:
      • Messaging to verified contacts.
      • Public visibility of personal information.
  4. Content Moderation:
    • Discussion Reporting System:
      • Users can report inappropriate discussions using the Report feature available on every discussion.
      • Each report includes a reason and is reviewed by moderators.
      • Our system tracks these reports and facilitates moderation.
  5. Platform Design:
    • All profiles for users under 18 are private by default.
    • Personal information (e.g., email addresses, phone numbers) is not publicly visible.
  6. Child Activation Notification:
    • Once parental consent is granted, an email is sent to the child notifying them that their account is active, including reminders about online safety and CSAE prevention.

Reporting Mechanisms

  1. In-App Reporting Tools:
    • Users can report any content or behavior suspected to involve CSAE directly within the app.
    • Reporting categories include:
      • Inappropriate media.
      • Grooming or harassment.
      • Child exploitation.
    • Reports are handled internally, enabling moderators to track and address issues.
  2. Mandatory Reporting:
    • All reports of CSAE are escalated.
    • Where required by law, reports are forwarded to:
      • National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
      • Local law enforcement or relevant authorities.

Detection and Monitoring

  1. Existing Moderation Tools:
    • Flagged discussions and comments are reviewed regularly.
    • Admin-only endpoints enable oversight of reported or flagged content.
  2. Parental Oversight:
    • Parents are encouraged to monitor their child’s activities regularly and use the app’s reporting tools if necessary.

Response to CSAE

  1. Content Removal:
    • Content confirmed to involve CSAE is immediately removed using moderation APIs.
  2. Account Actions:
    • Offending accounts are permanently banned.
    • Devices associated with the account may also be blacklisted.
  3. Reporting to Authorities:
    • Reports are filed with local law enforcement or appropriate child protection agencies within 24 hours.
  4. User Notification:
    • Users who report CSAE will be informed that their report has been received and is under review.

User Education and Resources

  1. Safety Hub:
    • The App features a dedicated Safety Hub with:
      • Guides on recognizing and reporting inappropriate behavior.
      • Information on online grooming and CSAE prevention.
  2. Educational Emails:
    • Parental consent and child activation emails include safety reminders and guidance on staying safe online.

Data and Privacy Protection

  1. Secure Storage:
    • All flagged content is stored in encrypted formats.
    • Access is restricted to authorized personnel only.
  2. Retention Policy:
    • CSAE-related data is retained only as long as necessary for investigations and reporting, in compliance with legal requirements.

Compliance and Accountability

  1. Legal Frameworks:
    • This policy complies with:
      • COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act).
      • GDPR and GDPR-K (for EU-based users).
      • Local and international laws on CSAE.
  2. Annual Reviews:
    • The policy is reviewed annually to ensure effectiveness and compliance with evolving legal and technological standards.
  3. Audit Logs:
    • Detailed logs of all reports and actions related to CSAE are maintained for accountability and legal compliance.

Contact Information

For concerns or inquiries regarding this policy, please contact us:

Together, we can create a safer online space for everyone.