Acceptable Use Policy

1. Purpose

This Acceptable Use Policy ("AUP") governs your conduct on The ForgeHQ. Organizations of many kinds build and run their communities here, so maintaining accuracy, respect, and safety across every org matters to us.

Violation of this AUP may result in content removal, account suspension, or permanent ban.

2. Core Principles

All users must adhere to these fundamental principles:

1. Accuracy First - Only share information you reasonably believe to be true
2. Respect Privacy - Protect the identities and personal information of others
3. Support Safety - Never compromise an active emergency response or operation
4. Be Respectful - Treat all community members with dignity
5. Act Legally - Comply with all applicable laws and regulations

3. Posting Standards

3.1 DO - Best Practices

• Verify before posting - Confirm information from reliable sources when possible
• Use the correct category - Select the type or mode that actually matches what you're submitting
• Be specific - Include relevant locations, dates, or details as appropriate
• Update as situations evolve - Add notes when new information is available
• Mark unconfirmed info - Indicate when details are preliminary or unverified
• Close resolved items - Update status when a request, incident, or item is handled

3.2 DO NOT - Prohibited Posting

• False reports - Fabricating incidents, requests, or events is strictly prohibited
• Exaggeration - Do not inflate severity or details for engagement
• Speculation as fact - Clearly distinguish confirmed information from rumors
• Duplicate posts - Check for existing reports before creating new ones
• Sensitive details - Do not share victim names, medical conditions, or other identifying information; see Section 4 of the Terms of Service on sensitive and regulated information

4. Content Restrictions

4.1 Prohibited Content

The following content is strictly prohibited:

4.2 Sensitive Situations

Use extra caution when posting about any of the following, in orgs where they come up:

• Active shooter / hostage situations
• Law enforcement or tactical operations
• Domestic violence calls
• Mental health crises
• Incidents involving minors

5. Communication Standards

5.1 Expected Conduct

• Keep communications professional and on-topic
• Use clear, concise language
• Respect differing viewpoints
• Support new community members
• Report inappropriate content to moderators

5.2 Prohibited Conduct

• Personal attacks or insults
• Discriminatory language or slurs
• Excessive profanity
• Sharing private conversations publicly
• Impersonating other users or officials
• Flooding channels with spam

6. Account Usage

6.1 One Account Per Person

Users may maintain only one active account. Multiple accounts (sockpuppets) are prohibited.

6.2 No Account Sharing

Account credentials must not be shared with others. You are responsible for all activity under your account.

6.3 No Impersonation

Do not impersonate:

• Emergency services personnel
• Government officials
• Platform or organization administrators
• Other users

6.4 Accurate Profiles

Display names and profiles should not mislead others about your identity or affiliation.

7. Technical Restrictions

7.1 Prohibited Technical Activities

• Automated scraping without permission
• Denial of service attacks
• Exploiting vulnerabilities (report them instead)
• Circumventing security measures
• Reverse engineering platform code
• Using unauthorized APIs or bots
• Interfering with other users' access

7.2 Rate Limits

Respect API and request rate limits. Excessive requests may result in temporary or permanent blocks.

7.3 Bug Reporting

If you discover a security vulnerability, please report it responsibly to support@theforgehq.app. Do not exploit or publicly disclose vulnerabilities.

8. Tier-Specific Responsibilities

8.1 Operator Tier and Above

Members with elevated tiers or org roles have elevated responsibilities:

• Maintain higher accuracy standards
• Use creation and edit tools responsibly
• Help moderate community discussions
• Mentor new members

8.2 Command Tier and Org Admins

Members with admin-level tiers or org roles have additional expectations:

• Use admin tools judiciously
• Follow moderation guidelines
• Document significant actions
• Escalate complex issues appropriately

9. Enforcement

9.1 Violation Consequences

9.2 Appeal Process

If you believe an enforcement action was made in error:

1. Email support@theforgehq.app within 14 days
2. Include your username and explanation
3. Provide any relevant evidence
4. Allow up to 30 days for review

9.3 Moderator Discretion

Moderators may take action on violations not explicitly listed if conduct clearly violates the spirit of this policy.

10. Reporting Violations

Help maintain community standards by reporting violations:

• In-App: Use the report function on content or users
• Email: support@theforgehq.app
• Emergency: For imminent safety threats, contact local authorities first

All reports are reviewed confidentially.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this AUP as needed. Changes take effect upon posting. Continued use constitutes acceptance of updated terms.

12. Questions

For questions about this Acceptable Use Policy:

• Email: support@theforgehq.app
• Subject: "AUP Question"

By using The ForgeHQ, you agree to abide by this Acceptable Use Policy. Help us build a safe, accurate, and respectful community.