Privy Community Guidelines

Our Commitment

Privy is built on privacy, security, and respect. These Community Guidelines help ensure that our platform remains safe, welcoming, and focused on secure communication for everyone.

Core Principles

What's Not Allowed

Illegal Activity

• Child sexual abuse material (CSAM) or child exploitation
• Human trafficking or exploitation
• Terrorism or violent extremism
• Drug trafficking or illegal substance distribution
• Fraud, scams, or financial crimes
• Identity theft or impersonation for malicious purposes
• Copyright infringement or piracy

Action: Immediate account termination and reporting to law enforcement

Harmful Content

Not permitted:

• Threats of violence or harm to yourself or others
• Content promoting self-harm or suicide
• Harassment, bullying, or targeted abuse
• Non-consensual intimate images ("revenge porn")
• Hate speech based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or other protected characteristics
• Graphic violence or gore (except in newsworthy contexts)
• Malicious software, viruses, or phishing attempts

Action: Content removal, warning, suspension, or account termination

Spam and Abuse

Not allowed:

• Automated messaging (bots) without explicit permission
• Bulk unsolicited messages (spam)
• Chain messages or pyramid schemes
• Repeated unwanted contact after being asked to stop
• Creating multiple accounts to evade bans
• Manipulating or gaming security features

Action: Rate limiting, temporary suspension, or account termination

Privacy Violations

Respect others' privacy:

• Don't share someone else's personal information without consent (doxxing)
• Don't screenshot and share private conversations without permission
• Don't attempt to hack, compromise, or impersonate other users
• Don't use device vulnerabilities to access others' data

Action: Account suspension or termination

What We Encourage

Positive Communication

• Be Kind - Treat others as you'd like to be treated
• Be Patient - Not everyone communicates the same way
• Be Respectful - Respect boundaries and consent
• Be Supportive - Build each other up

Responsible Use

• Verify Safety Numbers - Confirm identity of important contacts
• Use Strong Security - Enable MFA, use strong passwords
• Report Issues - Help us identify problems
• Protect Your Keys - Back up encryption keys safely

Community Values

• Privacy Advocacy - Share knowledge about privacy and security
• Constructive Feedback - Help us improve Privy
• Peer Support - Help other users when you can
• Transparency - Be honest in your interactions

Content Moderation

Our Approach

We rely on:

• User Reports - Community members flagging violations
• Metadata Analysis - Patterns suggesting abuse (spam, harassment)
• Account Behavior - Unusual activity patterns
• Automated Systems - Rate limiting and anti-spam measures

Limitations

We cannot moderate:

• Encrypted message content (we can't see it)
• Private conversations (unless reported)
• Shared media content (until reported)

We can moderate:

• Public profile information
• Username and display names
• Account-level behavior patterns
• Reported content (after decryption by reporter)

Reporting

What to Include:

• Username and tag of the violator
• Description of the violation
• Screenshots (if appropriate and safe)
• Dates and times of incidents
• Any other relevant context

What Happens Next:

• We review all reports promptly
• We may request additional information
• We take appropriate action based on severity
• We protect reporter anonymity when possible

Enforcement

Warning System

Appeals

If you believe an enforcement action was made in error:

Appeal Process:

1. Email: appeals@privyapp.org
2. Subject: "Account [username] - Appeal"
3. Include: Your explanation, any evidence, and account details
4. Response within 5-7 business days

Appeals will be reviewed by:

• A different team member than who issued the action
• With fresh perspective on the situation
• Based on our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines

Appeal decisions are final.

Special Situations

Emergencies

Crisis Resources:

• Suicide Prevention: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (US)
• Domestic Violence: 1-800-799-7233 (US)
• CSAM Reports: NCMEC CyberTipline (cybertipline.org)

Law Enforcement Cooperation

We cooperate with law enforcement when legally required:

• We respond to valid legal process (subpoenas, warrants, court orders)
• We can only provide metadata (sender, recipient, timestamps)
• We cannot provide message content (end-to-end encrypted)
• We may notify users when legally permitted

Research and Journalism

We support legitimate research and journalism, but:

• Respect privacy and consent
• Follow ethical guidelines
• Don't abuse the platform for data harvesting
• Don't compromise security for research purposes

Contact research@privyapp.org if you're conducting research involving Privy.

Privacy and Safety Tips

Protect Yourself

Red Flags

Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, it probably is.

For Parents and Guardians

If Your Child Uses Privy

Privy is for ages 13+. If your child is under 18:

Talk to them about:

• Who they're talking to online
• What information they share
• How to recognize red flags
• When to come to you with concerns

Set boundaries:

• Agree on appropriate use times
• Discuss privacy settings
• Establish rules about strangers
• Review contacts periodically

Monitor (while respecting privacy):

• Know who they're communicating with
• Watch for behavioral changes
• Keep devices in common areas
• Maintain open communication

Resources:

• NetSmartz.org - Internet safety resources
• ConnectSafely.org - Digital citizenship guides
• NCMEC.org - Child safety organization

Updates to Community Guidelines

We may update these guidelines to:

• Address new types of abuse or harm
• Clarify existing policies
• Reflect changes in law or regulations
• Incorporate community feedback

When we update:

• We'll notify users of material changes
• Updates will be posted with revision date
• Continued use constitutes acceptance

Contact Us

General Support: support@privyapp.org

Final Note

Privy is a tool for private, secure communication. How you use that tool is your responsibility. We're committed to providing a safe platform, but we need your help to maintain a positive community.

Together, we can build a messaging platform that respects privacy while fostering safe, meaningful connections.