Child Safety Standards Policy

Our Commitment to Child Safety

Nearby is committed to maintaining a safe environment for all users. We have zero tolerance for any content or behavior that exploits, abuses, or endangers children. This policy outlines our standards and procedures for preventing and responding to child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSAE) on our platform. CSAE refers to child sexual abuse and exploitation, including content or behavior that sexually exploits, abuses, or endangers children. This includes, but is not limited to: grooming a child for sexual exploitation, sextorting a child, trafficking of a child for sex, or otherwise sexually exploiting a child.

Zero Tolerance Policy

Nearby maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy against:

• Child sexual abuse material (CSAM) of any kind
• Content that sexualizes minors
• Grooming behavior targeting children
• Any attempts to solicit or exploit minors
• Sharing or distribution of exploitative content involving children
• Any communication intended to facilitate child sexual exploitation

Violations of this policy will result in immediate account termination, content removal, and reporting to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and relevant law enforcement authorities.

Age Restriction

Nearby is intended for users aged 18 years and older. We implement the following measures to enforce this restriction:

• Users must confirm they are 18+ during registration
• Profile verification systems to detect underage users
• Immediate account suspension for users found to be underage
• Regular monitoring and enforcement of age restrictions

How to Report CSAE

If you encounter any content or behavior that exploits, abuses, or endangers children on Nearby, please report it immediately. We prioritize these reports and review them with urgency. To report within the app:

• Tap on the profile of the user you wish to report
• Click on the three dots (⋮) menu icon
• Select "Report User"
• Choose "Child Sexual Abuse & Exploitation" as the reason
• Provide as much detail as possible about the incident
• Submit the report

Reports involving children are flagged as critical priority and are reviewed immediately by our safety team. We may contact relevant authorities based on the nature of the report.

Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) Handling

We take the following actions when CSAM or suspected CSAM is identified:

• Immediate removal of the content from our platform
• Permanent suspension of the offending account
• Preservation of evidence for law enforcement
• Mandatory reporting to NCMEC via CyberTipline
• Full cooperation with law enforcement investigations
• Review of related accounts and content for additional violations

Proactive Safety Measures

Nearby employs multiple proactive measures to protect children:

• Automated detection systems to identify potential CSAM
• PhotoDNA hash matching technology to detect known CSAM
• AI-powered content moderation for text and images
• Behavioral analysis to detect grooming patterns
• Regular audits of our safety systems and procedures
• Staff training on child safety and CSAE recognition

Moderation and Response

Our moderation team is trained to handle child safety reports with the highest priority:

• 24/7 review of critical safety reports
• Specialized training for handling CSAE cases
• Direct escalation pathways for severe violations
• Coordination with NCMEC and law enforcement
• Regular policy updates based on evolving threats

Compliance with Child Safety Laws

Nearby complies with all applicable child safety laws and regulations, including:

• The PROTECT Our Children Act
• 18 U.S.C. § 2258A (mandatory reporting requirements)
• Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)
• Applicable state and international child protection laws
• Google Play's Child Safety Standards policy

We regularly review and update our policies to ensure compliance with new regulations and best practices in child safety.

Cooperation with Authorities

We fully cooperate with law enforcement and child protection agencies:

• Responding promptly to valid legal requests
• Preserving evidence when required by law
• Providing information to aid investigations
• Working with NCMEC for CSAM reporting
• Participating in industry coalitions against child exploitation

Child Safety Point of Contact

For child safety concerns, reports, or inquiries, you can reach our dedicated child safety team:

For immediate child safety emergencies, please contact your local law enforcement or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or CyberTipline.org.

Policy Updates

This Child Safety Standards Policy may be updated periodically to reflect changes in our practices, technologies, or legal requirements. We will notify users of significant changes through the app or via email. Your continued use of Nearby after policy updates constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.