Moderation Guidelines
Our commitment to maintaining a safe, respectful environment for all users.
Our Moderation Philosophy
At stash.chat, we believe in the fundamental right to private communication. However, we also recognize that with privacy comes responsibility. Our moderation approach balances user privacy with community safety, focusing on preventing harm while preserving the ephemeral nature of our platform.
Prohibited Content
The following content is strictly prohibited on stash.chat:
🚫 Illegal Content
- Child sexual abuse material (CSAM)
- Non-consensual intimate images
- Violence or threats of violence
- Drug trafficking or illegal substances
- Human trafficking
- Terrorism or extremist content
🚫 Harmful Content
- Harassment, bullying, or intimidation
- Hate speech or discrimination
- Self-harm or suicide content
- Spam or unsolicited commercial content
- Impersonation or fake accounts
- Doxxing or personal information exposure
Content Moderation Process
Automated Detection
Our systems use AI and pattern recognition to identify potentially harmful content, including:
- Known CSAM hashes and signatures
- Spam patterns and bot behavior
- Excessive reporting patterns
- Network abuse indicators
User Reporting
Users can report inappropriate content through:
- In-app reporting buttons
- Contact form submissions
- Email reports to abuse@stash.chat
- Anonymous reporting options
Human Review
Our moderation team reviews reported content within 24 hours:
- Trained content moderators
- Context-aware decision making
- Appeal process for disputed actions
- Regular training and updates
Action & Prevention
Appropriate actions are taken based on severity:
- Content removal and user warnings
- Account suspension or termination
- IP blocking for severe violations
- Law enforcement reporting when required
Special Considerations for Ephemeral Content
Privacy vs. Safety Balance
Our ephemeral design presents unique moderation challenges:
✅ What We Can Do
- Monitor metadata and patterns
- Track user behavior and reports
- Implement rate limiting
- Block known bad actors
- Use hash-based detection
❌ What We Cannot Do
- Read encrypted message content
- Access self-destructed messages
- Monitor private conversations
- Store user communications
- Provide message history to authorities
Reporting Guidelines
How to Report Content
- Immediate Action: If you encounter illegal content, report it immediately
- Provide Context: Include screenshots, timestamps, and user information when possible
- Be Specific: Describe exactly what you observed and why it violates our guidelines
- Follow Up: We'll respond to reports within 24 hours
🚨 Emergency Reporting
For immediate threats, violence, or CSAM, contact us immediately at abuse@stash.chat or use our emergency reporting form.
Appeals Process
If Your Content Was Removed
We understand that moderation decisions can sometimes be incorrect. Here's how to appeal:
1. Review the Decision
Check the email notification for the specific reason your content was removed.
2. Submit an Appeal
Send a detailed appeal to appeals@stash.chat within 30 days, including:
- Your account information
- Description of the removed content
- Why you believe the removal was incorrect
- Any additional context or evidence
3. Review Process
Our appeals team will review your case within 7 business days and provide a written response.
Transparency & Accountability
Moderation Statistics
We publish quarterly reports including:
- Number of reports received
- Actions taken by category
- Appeals and their outcomes
- Response time metrics
External Oversight
Our moderation practices are reviewed by:
- Independent auditors
- Privacy rights organizations
- Academic researchers
- Community advisory board
Contact Information
General Reports
abuse@stash.chat
Response within 24 hours
Emergency Reports
emergency@stash.chat
Immediate response
Appeals
appeals@stash.chat
Response within 7 days