Purpose and guiding principles
PipChat! exists for open, constructive, community-driven public conversations — especially around real places, local life, and community services. This policy covers all content and communications on PipChat!, including public threads, communities, status posts, Business Inbox messages, broadcasts, professional listings, forms, and catalog items.
Zero-tolerance categories
- CSAE/CSAM: Any content involving sexual exploitation of minors is strictly prohibited on all channels. See CSAE Safety Standards.
- Incitement to violence or self-harm: Threats, calls for violence, or promotion of self-harm.
- Terrorism and violent extremist content: Promotion or coordination of terrorist activity.
- Fraud and scams: Phishing, impersonation, deceptive schemes, and fraudulent transactions.
Prohibited content and behaviors
Do not post, share, or promote on any PipChat! channel:
- Harassment, bullying, hate speech, or targeted abuse of individuals or groups.
- Non-consensual intimate imagery, sexual exploitation, or extremely explicit content.
- Illegal drug sales, weapon sales, or instructions for serious wrongdoing (e.g., hacking, building weapons).
- Personal data of others without consent (doxxing), including addresses, phone numbers, IDs, or private images.
- Copyright or trademark infringement (see §Copyright & DMCA).
- Spam, bot activity, misleading promotions, or artificially boosting engagement.
- False or misleading professional credentials or business information.
- Unsolicited commercial messages or broadcasts to users who have not opted in.
Content audience and privacy controls
Depending on your account type and subscription plan, you may control who can see certain content:
- Public: Visible to all PipChat! users and potentially discoverable. Paid-tier accounts only.
- Followers: Visible to users who follow you.
- Friends: Visible only to mutual friends.
- Friends and followers: Visible to both followers and mutual friends. This is the default for status posts.
You are responsible for choosing appropriate audience settings. Content set to a broader audience should comply with public content standards.
Ephemeral status content
Status posts (text, images, or videos) expire from display after 24 hours. However:
- All Posting Policy rules apply to status content, including zero-tolerance categories.
- Status media is subject to automated content moderation upon upload.
- Moderation records from status posts may be retained beyond the 24-hour display window.
- Do not use status posts to circumvent content policies by relying on ephemeral deletion.
Business Inbox messages and broadcasts
Business and Government account holders using Business Inbox must comply with the following:
- All messages sent through Business Inbox, including automated messages, chatbot flows, scheduled messages, and broadcasts, must comply with this Posting Policy.
- Broadcast messages may only be sent to contacts who have opted in to receive them. Mass unsolicited messaging is prohibited.
- CSAT surveys must be sent only to users who have had genuine service interactions.
- Away auto-reply messages must be accurate and not deceptive.
- Chatbot flows and automation rules must not be used to deceive users, impersonate humans without disclosure, or circumvent safety controls.
- Business contacts and CRM data must be handled in compliance with applicable data protection laws.
Professional profiles and service listings
- All professional profile information and service listings must be accurate and not misleading.
- Do not misrepresent qualifications, credentials, pricing, or service availability.
- Do not intentionally list services in incorrect locations to gain undue visibility.
- Catalog items and professional listings are subject to the same zero-tolerance and prohibited content standards as all other content.
Forms, bookings, and structured content
- Forms (registration, survey, feedback) must not be used to collect personal data deceptively or unlawfully.
- Forms must clearly state their purpose to users who are asked to respond.
- Booking service descriptions must be accurate and not deceptive.
- Do not use forms or bookings as a mechanism for spam, data harvesting, or phishing.
Accuracy, misinformation, and public harm
Because PipChat! is location-based and community-visible, misinformation can cause real-world harm. Avoid posting unverified claims as facts, especially about emergencies, public safety, or accusations against individuals.
- If you share a report, include context and avoid naming private individuals unless you have lawful grounds and clear evidence.
- Do not coordinate harassment or vigilantism through the platform.
- Do not create or spread false rumors about businesses, government entities, or individuals.
Privacy and sensitive information
- Do not share anyone’s personally identifiable information without their authorization.
- Do not post confidential government or business information without permission.
- Avoid posting your own sensitive data (phone numbers, addresses, financial identifiers) in public threads.
Location and map integrity
Posts are pinned to approximate locations. Do not intentionally mislead users by placing posts, listings, or service locations in incorrect locations to manipulate visibility or cause confusion.
Automated moderation
PipChat! uses automated content moderation to help enforce these rules:
- Image analysis: Uploaded images are screened for prohibited content using machine learning models (including NSFWJS). Content scoring above thresholds is blocked or flagged for human review.
- Video analysis: Video uploads are processed using frame extraction to evaluate content safety.
- Text screening: Post text is screened against keyword lists in 12+ languages.
- Minor restrictions: Users under 18 are subject to additional upload restrictions enforced at the platform level.
Automated moderation is not perfect. You can appeal decisions through in-app reporting or by emailing [email protected].
Copyright, trademarks, and DMCA
Do not post content that infringes the copyright, trademarks, or other intellectual property rights of any person or entity. To submit a DMCA takedown request:
- In-app: Use the Legal Center in the PipChat! app.
- Email: Send your request to [email protected].
DMCA notices must include: identification of the copyrighted work, identification of the infringing content, your contact information, a good-faith statement, and a declaration of accuracy. We will review valid notices and may remove infringing content. Repeat infringers are subject to account termination.
Enforcement, reporting, and appeals
We may use automated signals, community reporting, and human review to enforce these rules. Enforcement actions can include content removal, reduced visibility, warnings, feature restrictions, suspension, or permanent bans.
- Report: Use in-app reporting where available. For urgent matters, email [email protected].
- Appeals: If you believe an enforcement action was incorrect, contact support with details. Serious violations are not subject to appeal.
- Urgent safety issues: For issues involving child safety, see CSAE Safety Standards.
Business, government, and sponsors
Business/Government accounts and sponsors may publish catalog items or sponsored placements. All promotional content must comply with this Posting Policy. Deceptive advertising, scams, or prohibited products/services are not allowed. Broadcast messages must only go to opted-in contacts.
Changes to this policy
We may update this Posting Policy as PipChat! evolves. Continued use of the Service indicates acceptance of updates.
Contact
For content policy questions, email [email protected]. For DMCA/copyright: [email protected].
For urgent safety issues involving minors, see CSAE Safety Standards.