The content rules on Hey.Café are really simple. We are a clean and safe space where abuse or threats of any kind are not allowed. As well as the rules listed here and in our other guidelines, cafés (or groups) can have their own set of rules they can enforce. However, our global rules supersede those listed in cafés. We are human, and as a result we may make mistakes in enforcement or in not clearly depicting examples within the rules. Nonetheless, we expect you to act responsibly on our network and we will treat people fairly. ### A: Behaviour Standards ### #### 1. Discrimination #### Discrimination, including but not limited to racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, intentional misgendering, disparaging remarks about pronouns, or any form of hate speech and/or harassment, is not tolerated. #### 2. Political Campaigning #### We do not allow political campaigning, so political parties are not allowed to use our services for party advertisement. That being said, anyone who works in politics is allowed to have accounts as long as the non-campaigning policies and other rules are followed. #### 3. Constructive Communication #### Debates and discussions are encouraged, but they must remain respectful and factual. Avoid trolling, flame wars, and baiting behaviour. Use inclusive language and avoid slurs, even in joking. Provide content warnings (CW) for sensitive material when appropriate. ### B: Content & Media ### The following types of content are ** NOT ** appropriate to be shared on the network including in almost all cases private profiles and cafés. If there are any context exceptions they will be listed under each item. * 1. Spam * Repeated content across posts or comments to disrupt others use of the service. * Mass repeated promotions, political messages, commercial messages, or similar content directed at users that do not follow you. * Promote financial scams, phishing links, or abusive/misleading fundraising. * Non disclosure of paid partnerships or promotions, like brand deals. * Content that is AI-generated to be used as filler and/or trying pass as real or genuine. * Misleading content used as promotions like undisclosed sponsorships when talking about a product or affiliate links. * 2. Abuse * Content targeting a person or group to harass, or incite hatred or discrimination. * Targeted or hurtful content or media about a religion, race, sexual identity, or disability. * Content that depicts or describes physical or mental abuse inflicted on others in a way that knowingly causes harm. * Content involving abuse, torture, fighting, or exploitation of animals or people used to elicit a response. * References to someone’s sexuality or preferences with the intent to be disparaging. * Threats, intimidation, stalking, or harassment. * Language intended to insult and cause harm. * Bad-faith mass reporting or asking others to report content, accounts, or cafés to target and abuse. * Hostile or inflammatory language used to damage the public conversation environment. * Content made with the intent to anger, provoke, or belittle. * 3. Deception * Content that is libellous, defamatory, bigoted, fraudulent, deceptive, or misleading to others. * Make fraudulent offers for buying or selling products, items, or services to promote financial scams such as pyramid schemes. * 4. Illegal * Depiction, encouragement, or threats of acts that are illegal within Canada and/or a user's country. * Sexual content involving animals. * Content to facilitate controlled substances. * Content depicting illegal use or sale of weapons, firearms, ammunition, or other dangerous materials. * Content containing or linking to stolen or counterfeit items, forged documents, or other restricted goods. * 5. Adult Content * Sexually explicit media or messaging that depicts non-consensual activity. * Adult-themed sexual references, media, and depictions are not permitted in public spaces like public profiles or cafés. Adult-themed sexual content can be shared through private messages, cafés, or non-public profiles, but it must be accompanied by a warning (before following a private account or joining a café) and must be consensual between everyone involved. * 6. Child Exploitation * Content that sexualizes, exploits, or depicts minors or minor-aged characters in sexual or intimate situations. * Grooming behaviour, soliciting intimate content, personal information, asking to use private messaging services, or asking to meet minors. * Coercing to create or share intimate content. * Sharing information about minors like identifying information, location, or personal details. * Advertising or promoting gambling, controlled substances, tobacco, alcohol, or deceptive financial services. * 7. Copyright * Infringes or violates copyright, or intellectual properties. * Using or accessing our services to intentionally violate copyrights, trademarks, patents, trade secrets, or other proprietary rights. * 8. Personally Identifiable Information * Private information about others for example addresses, phone numbers, email address or any content that can be seen as private. * Financial or medical information including communications. * Collecting or attempting to collect personal information about others without their consent or knowledge. * 9. Harmful Health * Content that depicts, promotes or provides instructions for self-harm, suicide, eating disorders, or unhealthy dieting. * Content that depicts methods, instructions, or promotes dangerous activities, or the abuse of dangerous substances. * Sharing health related resources that claim to be scientific but instead are not based on pier reviewed medical data. * Information that contradicts medical health research on the prevention of specific health conditions, safety, efficacy or ingredients of currently approved medications and vaccines. * 10. Harmful Resources * Sharing or linking to viruses, harmful code, disruptive or destructive files. * Linking to resources that may break the rules or lead to violations of other policies such as linking to websites to view and watch illegal content. * 11. Impersonation * Content shared from a person or entity that may misrepresent your affiliation with this person or entity. * Reposting content that is not your own to deceive others as to your identity. * Set your avatar, header, name, or alias (username) in a way that makes yourself look like another person or entity. * 12. Service Interruptions * Disrupt or interfere with any other persons ability to use the service. * Abusing resources to willingly affect another’s access. * Attempts to avoid any filtering, security measures, rate limits or other systems designed to protect the service and the users of the service. * Accessing or attempting to access another individual's account, or attempting to breach security measures. * 13. Ban Evasion * Getting around bans and other enforcement actions. * Promoting or suggesting ways to others to avoid detection of our guidelines. * Making new accounts or methods to evade bans, content blocks, or other enforcement actions. ### C. Journalism & Advocacy ### Some content that might be on the edge of sharing references or mentions of things that violate section A and B might not be in violation if used for the reasons of public interest and wellbeing. This may include links to news stories, academic research, and educational content if following factual reporting of information for the public good. This would include sharing resources to articles or business for services like trans healthcare, advocacy, or safety. This may also include resources for support of mental and physical well-being from trained experts. ### D. Public Activism ### Activism and protests are essential for a healthy society. Therefore, using our service for communication and conversations during planning or reporting on protests falls under the same protections as section C (Journalism & Advocacy). The contents of the conversations must still follow section B content policies, and should not encourage attacks, damage of property, or threats of violence. ### E. Connection With Hey.Café ### We expect all users and or entities who use our services to follow the rules related to any content shared from within Hey.Café to external services or applications. If using our services, for example if you are using our account system for a SSO (Single Sign On) on an application or website, you must also follow the rules outlined in sections A and B. If you access our API for your own application, front end to the service, or content that is depicted as coming from our services or using any hosted content, it must follow the rules in sections A and B as the service or application can be seen as being related, approved, or associated with Hey.Cafe.