Code of Conduct
Effective Date: April 8, 2026 Version: 2026.02
Gather Media is a platform for communities to collect and share media. This Code of Conduct applies to all users: collection administrators, curators, members, and anonymous contributors. It covers all content on the platform — media files, titles, descriptions, comments, tags, and entries.
1. Core Principles
Respect the Shared Space
Collections are collaborative. Treat other contributors and their contributions with respect. Remember that behind every upload is a person who took the time to contribute.
Contribute Honestly
Upload media you have the right to share. Do not misrepresent what a photo shows or when or where it was taken. Accurate metadata helps everyone.
Keep It Relevant
Contribute media that fits the collection's purpose. Collection teams define what is relevant for their collection.
2. Prohibited Behavior
2.1 Immediate Removal, Possible Account Ban
The following are prohibited across all collections. OCS will act immediately, without waiting for the collection team:
- Exploitation material. Child sexual abuse material (CSAM) or any content depicting the exploitation of minors.
- Harassment and intimidation. Content uploaded to harass, stalk, or intimidate a specific person.
- Malicious files. Malware, exploits, or files designed to harm systems or users.
- Impersonation. Pretending to be another user or a member of the collection team.
- Explicit or adult content. Prohibited platform-wide, in all collections.
2.2 Warning First, Then Escalation
The following behaviors will result in a warning to the contributor from the collection team. The offending content may also be hidden or removed. Repeated or serious violations may lead to suspension or removal of the contributor from the collection, and in some cases a platform-wide ban (see Section 3.1, Escalation Ladder).
- Spam. Bulk uploads of irrelevant content.
- Abusive comments. Harassing, threatening, or demeaning language directed at other users.
- Misleading metadata. Deliberately providing wrong dates, locations, or descriptions for uploaded media.
- Privacy violations. Uploading intimate images of others without their consent, or content that reveals private information about an identifiable person.
- Copyright violation. Uploading copyrighted material you do not have rights to share, after being informed.
2.3 Collection-Level Discretion
Individual collections may set their own standards for:
- What counts as "on topic" for the collection
- Whether certain types of content (screenshots, memes, edited images) are welcome
- Standards for title and description quality
- Any additional guidelines specific to the collection's purpose
These standards are set by the collection team and communicated through contributor instructions.
3. Enforcement
3.1 Escalation Ladder
| Level | Action | Who Decides |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Content hidden, private message to contributor | Any curator or administrator |
| 2 | Content removed, formal warning | Any curator or administrator |
| 3 | Temporary suspension from collection | Collection administrator |
| 4 | Permanent removal from collection | Collection administrator |
| 5 | Platform-wide ban | OCS |
3.2 Collection-First Principle
OCS does not intervene in collection-level moderation decisions unless:
- The collection team is unresponsive to reports for more than 7 days
- The content falls under Section 2.1 (immediate removal)
- The collection team itself is engaging in prohibited behavior
- A pattern of unaddressed reports suggests a systemic problem
3.3 When OCS Intervenes
When OCS determines that intervention is necessary:
- OCS can hide assets, suspend collections, or ban users platform-wide
- OCS will attempt to contact the collection team first, except for CSAM or illegal content (immediate action)
- Collection administrators can appeal OCS decisions by contacting conduct@opencivicsystems.org
3.4 Anonymous Contributors
Anonymous contributors are bound by this Code of Conduct as displayed on the share link page. Since anonymous contributors have no account, enforcement is limited to:
- Removing their uploaded content
- Revoking the upload token they used
- Rate limiting based on hashed IP address
4. Reporting
4.1 How to Report
- Collection members can flag content within their collection using the platform's reporting tools.
- Public reports may be available on public collections when enabled by the collection team.
- Email conduct@opencivicsystems.org for issues involving collection administrators, cross-collection problems, or situations where the collection team is unresponsive.
- Copyright claims are handled through a separate DMCA process (see our DMCA Policy).
4.2 What to Include in a Report
When reporting content or behavior, include:
- What content or behavior is at issue
- Which rule it violates
- Any context that helps understand the situation
4.3 Good Faith Reporting
Reports should be made in good faith. Repeatedly filing false or malicious reports may itself be treated as a violation of this Code of Conduct.
5. Changes
OCS may update this Code of Conduct as the platform evolves. Authenticated users will be notified of changes through the policy acceptance system.
6. Contact
For questions about this Code of Conduct, or to report an issue, contact conduct@opencivicsystems.org.