User Conduct Policy

This User Conduct Policy establishes community standards for Karuna Nidhan platform users. Compliance with this policy is mandatory. Violations may result in account suspension, permanent termination, legal action, and law enforcement reporting.

1. Core Community Values

Karuna Nidhan Community Standards:

• Compassion for Animals: Prioritize animal welfare and wellbeing in all interactions
• Truthfulness: Provide accurate, honest information in all reports
• Respect for Community: Treat all users, rescuers, and NGOs with dignity
• Lawfulness: Comply with all applicable Indian laws
• Safety Priority: Prioritize safety of animals, humans, and property
• Inclusivity: Welcome users from all backgrounds without discrimination

2. Prohibited Conduct Categories

2.1 Tier 1: Absolute Zero-Tolerance Violations

The following violations result in immediate, permanent account termination and law enforcement reporting:

2.2 Tier 2: Severe Violations

Severe violations result in account suspension/termination and potential legal action:

2.3 Tier 3: Moderate Violations

Moderate violations result in warning, temporary suspension, or account limitations:

2.4 Tier 4: Minor Violations

Minor violations result in warning or content removal:

• Low-Quality Reports: Unclear information; poor photo quality; incomplete details → Content coaching/improvement notice
• Excessive Notifications: Sending too many messages/reports → Frequency limitation applied
• Inappropriate Tags: Misusing report categories → Category correction + Warning
• Off-Topic Comments: Posting non-rescue related content → Content removal + Guidance

3. Specific Conduct Requirements

3.1 Rescue Report Conduct Standards

When submitting rescue reports, you must:

• Provide accurate animal description and location
• Honestly assess urgency and injury severity
• Not exaggerate or dramatize animal condition
• Include only genuine photos of the actual situation
• Not submit multiple reports for the same incident
• Update status as situation changes
• Not obstruct rescue operations
• Provide follow-up information when requested

3.2 Communication Conduct Standards

In all platform communications, you must:

• Communicate respectfully with all users
• Not use offensive, abusive, or threatening language
• Not harass or deliberately antagonize other users
• Respect privacy of individuals mentioned in conversations
• Not spam or send unsolicited mass messages
• Maintain professionalism when coordinating rescues
• Not share others' private information without consent
• Not threaten, blackmail, or extort any individual

3.3 NGO & Rescuer Conduct Standards

If registered as NGO or rescuer, you additionally must:

• Maintain accurate organization information
• Respond to assigned rescue reports professionally
• Not abandon or ignore reports without explanation
• Maintain confidentiality of reporter information
• Provide status updates to reporters
• Not charge unreasonable fees for rescue coordination
• Comply with animal welfare laws during rescue operations
• Not discriminate in serving rescue requests
• Maintain professional conduct with all stakeholders

3.4 Media/Photo Upload Standards

When uploading photos or media, you must:

• Own the copyright or have permission to share
• Not violate anyone's privacy through photo inclusion
• Submit genuine, unmanipulated images
• Not use AI-generated images falsely as real documentation
• Not include graphic violence unless essential for documentation
• Not include any minors' faces without parental consent
• Respect moral and community standards
• Label trigger warnings for sensitive content

4. Enforcement Actions & Progressive Discipline

4.1 Enforcement Mechanism

Karuna Nidhan enforces this policy through:

• Automated Detection: AI and hash-matching for CSAM, spam, and abuse patterns
• User Reporting: Community members can report violations
• Manual Review: Content moderation team reviews flagged content
• Third-Party Investigation: Law enforcement cooperation when required
• User Appeals: Disputed actions can be appealed

4.2 Enforcement Actions Available

• Warning: First-time minor violations; educational notification
• Content Removal: Removal of prohibited content; user notification
• Comment Restriction: Temporarily limit user posting privileges
• Report Suspension: Prevent user from submitting new rescue reports (7 days to permanent)
• Temporary Suspension: Account disabled for 24 hours to 30 days
• Permanent Suspension: Permanent account termination
• Law Enforcement Referral: Report to police, CBI, or relevant authorities
• IP Ban: Blocking access from specific IP addresses
• Device Ban: Preventing access from specific devices

4.3 Progressive Discipline Policy

For non-severe violations, we apply progressive discipline:

1. First Violation: Warning + explanation of policy violation
2. Second Violation (within 90 days): Content removal + 24-hour suspension
3. Third Violation (within 90 days): 7-day suspension
4. Fourth Violation (within 90 days): 30-day suspension
5. Fifth+ Violation: Permanent account termination

Exception: Severe violations (Tier 1-2) bypass progressive discipline and result in immediate action.

4.4 Immediate Termination Triggers

The following result in immediate, permanent account termination without progressive discipline:

• CSAM or child exploitation involvement
• Violent crime promotion
• Terrorism or radicalization
• Repeated severe harassment after multiple warnings
• Hacking or unauthorized system access
• Creating fake accounts to evade enforcement
• Persistent fraudulent activity
• Doxxing with intent to harm

5. Reporting Violations & Grievance Process

5.1 How to Report Violations

5.2 Report Review Timeline

• Urgent (CSAM, Violence, Threats): Reviewed within 1 hour; action within 24 hours
• Serious (Harassment, Fraud): Reviewed within 24 hours; action within 72 hours
• Moderate (Spam, Misinformation): Reviewed within 72 hours; action within 7 days
• Minor (Low-priority): Reviewed within 7 days; action as appropriate

5.3 Grievance Process (IT Act Section 79 Compliance)

If your account is suspended or terminated, you can appeal:

1. File Appeal: Email ezioauditore.as12.as@gmail.com within 30 days with subject "Appeal - Account Suspension"
2. Provide Evidence: Include detailed explanation and supporting documentation
3. Appeal Review: Senior moderation team reviews within 15 days
4. Decision Communication: Appeal decision provided within 20 days with detailed reasoning
5. Escalation: If unsatisfied, request escalation to grievance officer

5.4 False Reporting Consequences

Submitting false reports to harm other users is itself a conduct violation that can result in:

• Warning for obvious false reports
• Temporary suspension for repeated false reporting
• Permanent ban for systematic false reporting campaigns
• Legal action if reporting is malicious and causes damages

6. Appeals & Account Recovery

6.1 Appeal Rights

You have the right to appeal the following enforcement actions within 30 days:

• Temporary account suspension
• Permanent account termination
• Report submission restrictions
• Comment/messaging restrictions
• Content removal decisions

6.2 Appeal Submission Requirements

To appeal, provide:

• Your registered email address and username
• Type of enforcement action appealed
• Date of action
• Detailed explanation of why action was unjust
• Supporting evidence or documentation
• Declaration that information is true and accurate

6.3 Appeal Review Standards

Appeals are reviewed for:

• Whether violation actually occurred
• Whether action was proportionate to violation
• Whether due process was followed
• Whether new evidence changes the analysis
• Whether user demonstrates commitment to compliance

6.4 Post-Appeal Actions

• Upheld: Enforcement action remains in effect
• Partially Overturned: Reduced penalty applied (e.g., suspension shortened)
• Fully Overturned: Account restored and any flags removed
• Final Decision: No further appeals available

7. Legal Compliance & Cooperation

7.1 Law Enforcement Cooperation

Karuna Nidhan cooperates fully with law enforcement, including:

• Providing user information in response to legal process
• Preserving evidence for criminal investigations
• Reporting CSAM to NCMEC and CBI
• Responding to court orders and subpoenas
• Assisting in prevention of serious crimes

7.2 Legal Obligations

Users acknowledge that conduct violations may trigger legal obligations, resulting in:

• Police complaints and criminal investigation
• Imprisonment and criminal penalties
• Civil lawsuits and monetary damages
• Permanent criminal record
• Employment and professional consequences

7.3 Applicable Indian Laws

This policy enforces compliance with:

• Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 292, 293, 354, 355, 420, 429, 506, 507, 509, 511
• Information Technology Act, 2000 Sections 66-67A, 69, 79
• Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023
• Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960
• Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 equivalent provisions

8. Special Provisions

8.1 NGO & Organization Conduct

NGOs and organizations registered on Karuna Nidhan must additionally:

• Maintain accurate registration information
• Respond professionally to rescue assignments
• Maintain transparent communication with reporters
• Report serious incidents to authorities as required
• Maintain confidentiality of sensitive information
• Comply with animal welfare laws
• Not discriminate in service provision

8.2 Government & Official Body Access

Government agencies and official bodies using Karuna Nidhan must:

• Maintain official identification and registration
• Use platform only for authorized purposes
• Maintain confidentiality of sensitive operational information
• Comply with applicable data protection laws
• Report violations to Karuna Nidhan authorities

9. Policy Updates & Changes

9.1 Right to Modify

Karuna Nidhan reserves the right to modify this policy at any time. Material changes will be notified via:

• Email notification to registered address
• In-app notification
• Prominent banner on platform

9.2 Grandfathering

Past conduct that was permitted under previous policies cannot be retroactively punished unless it was illegal at the time.

9.3 Severability

If any provision is found unenforceable, remaining provisions continue in full effect.

10. Contact for Policy Questions