Content Policy

Introduction

OEH Chat is committed to providing a safe, respectful, and welcoming environment for all users. This Content Policy outlines what content is prohibited on our platform and how we enforce these rules.

Because OEH Chat uses server-side encryption (not end-to-end encryption), we can detect and remove prohibited content. See our Security Disclosure for details.

Our Principles

Prohibited Content

1. Violence and Graphic Content

• Prohibited:
  • Graphic violence, gore, or mutilation
  • Animal abuse or cruelty
  • Threats of violence against individuals or groups
  • Glorification of violence
  • Instructions for making weapons or explosives
  • Terrorist propaganda or recruitment
• Context Matters: News coverage of violent events may be allowed with appropriate context

2. Hate Speech and Harassment

• Prohibited:
  • Hate speech based on race, ethnicity, religion, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or other protected characteristics
  • Calls for violence or discrimination
  • Dehumanizing language or imagery
  • Holocaust denial or genocide denial
  • Harassment, bullying, or sustained targeting of individuals
  • Doxing (sharing private information without consent)
  • Stalking or unwanted sexual advances

3. Adult Content

• Prohibited:
  • Pornographic or sexually explicit content
  • Non-consensual intimate images ("revenge porn")
  • Sexually suggestive content involving minors
  • Solicitation of sexual services
• Allowed: Artistic nudity may be allowed with appropriate context (e.g., classical art, educational content)

4. Self-Harm and Suicide

• Prohibited:
  • Encouraging or promoting self-harm or suicide
  • Instructions or methods for self-harm
  • Graphic depictions of self-harm
• Allowed: Support groups and resources for mental health (in appropriate context)
• Resources: If you're struggling, please contact:
  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 (US)
  • Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
  • International: findahelpline.com

5. Spam and Manipulation

• Prohibited:
  • Unsolicited bulk messages (spam)
  • Phishing or scam attempts
  • Malware, viruses, or malicious links
  • Impersonation of individuals, organizations, or brands
  • Fake accounts or bot accounts
  • Chain letters or pyramid schemes
  • Misleading or manipulated media
  • Coordinated inauthentic behavior

6. Illegal Goods and Services

• Prohibited:
  • Illegal drugs or controlled substances
  • Prescription drugs without valid prescription
  • Firearms, ammunition, or explosives
  • Stolen goods or services
  • Counterfeit or pirated items
  • Endangered species or protected wildlife
  • Human organs or body parts

7. Intellectual Property Violations

• Prohibited:
  • Copyright infringement (sharing pirated content)
  • Trademark infringement
  • Sharing copyrighted materials without permission
• DMCA: Copyright holders can submit takedown requests to support@oehchat.com

8. Privacy Violations

• Prohibited:
  • Sharing others' private information without consent (doxing)
  • Non-consensual intimate images
  • Hacking or account takeover
  • Unauthorized surveillance or monitoring

9. Misinformation

• Prohibited:
  • Dangerous medical misinformation (e.g., fake COVID cures)
  • Election interference or voter suppression
  • Deliberately misleading manipulated media ("deepfakes")
• Context: We don't prohibit all misinformation, but dangerous false information that could cause real-world harm

10. Platform Abuse

• Prohibited:
  • Scraping or data mining
  • Reverse engineering the app
  • Circumventing security measures
  • DDoS attacks or server overload
  • Creating multiple accounts to evade bans
  • Selling accounts or access

Enforcement and Penalties

How We Detect Violations

• Automated Systems: AI and machine learning to detect CSAM, terrorism, spam
• User Reports: Community members report violations
• Manual Review: Trust & Safety team reviews flagged content
• Proactive Monitoring: Random sampling for quality control

Enforcement Actions

Strike System

• 1st Strike: Warning + content removal
• 2nd Strike: 7-day suspension
• 3rd Strike: 30-day suspension
• 4th Strike: Permanent ban

Note: Severe violations (CSAM, terrorism, etc.) result in immediate permanent ban regardless of strikes.

Appeals Process

Reporting Violations

How to Report

What Happens After You Report

• Report is reviewed by our Trust & Safety team (typically within 24 hours)
• Violating content may be removed
• Appropriate action taken against violator
• You may receive confirmation (depending on severity)
• Your report is confidential (violator won't know who reported them)

Emergency Situations

Special Cases

1. News and Educational Content

Content that would otherwise be prohibited may be allowed if:

• It has clear educational or documentary purpose
• It's newsworthy and in the public interest
• Appropriate context and warnings are provided
• It doesn't glorify or promote harmful behavior

2. Artistic Expression

Artistic content may receive more leeway, but:

• Must not violate laws (e.g., no CSAM even in "art")
• Context must be clear
• Cannot be used to circumvent policies

3. Satire and Parody

Satire and parody are generally allowed, but:

• Must be clearly identifiable as satire
• Cannot be used for harassment
• Cannot spread dangerous misinformation

4. Private vs. Public Spaces

• One-on-One Chats: More privacy, but illegal content still prohibited
• Groups: Moderators can set additional rules
• Communities & Channels: Higher moderation standards due to public nature
• Status Updates: Visible to contacts, subject to all policies

Regional Compliance

OEH Chat operates globally and complies with regional laws:

European Union (GDPR & DSA)

• Right to be forgotten (data deletion)
• Data portability
• Transparent content moderation
• Appeals process for EU users

United States

• COPPA compliance (children under 13)
• DMCA copyright takedowns
• NCMEC CSAM reporting
• Section 230 protections

Other Regions

• We comply with local laws where we operate
• Some content may be restricted in specific countries
• Contact us for region-specific questions

Guidelines for Group and Community Admins

If you're an admin of a group, community, or channel, you have additional responsibilities:

Admin Responsibilities

• Enforce Policies: Remove content that violates this Content Policy
• Set Clear Rules: Establish group-specific rules (must not conflict with our policies)
• Moderate Actively: Monitor group for violations
• Remove Bad Actors: Ban users who repeatedly violate rules
• Report Serious Violations: Report illegal content to OEH Chat immediately

Admin Powers

• Remove messages and members
• Set group permissions
• Approve new members (if enabled)
• Promote/demote other admins

Admin Accountability

• Admins can be held responsible for group content
• Groups with persistent violations may be deleted
• Admins who allow illegal content will be banned

Changes to Content Policy

We may update this Content Policy to address new issues or clarify existing rules. Changes will be communicated via:

• In-app notification
• Email to registered users
• Updated "Last Updated" date

Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.