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Ported from fitkind-legacy. Review and update for FitKind v2 before publishing.

FitKind Child Safety Policy

Last Modification: This Policy was last modified on 20 December 2025.

Purpose

FitKind is committed to protecting children from sexual exploitation and abuse. While our platform is intended strictly for users aged 18 and over, we have adopted proactive child safety measures to detect, report, and remove any content or behaviour that violates these principles.

This policy aligns with obligations under UK law, including the Sexual Offences Act 2003, the Online Safety Act 2023, and applicable platform policies (e.g., Apple App Store Review Guidelines, Google Play Developer Policy).

Scope

This policy applies to:

  • All users and user-generated content (UGC)
  • All features and functionalities of the platform (e.g., profiles, Moments, progress photos, comments, direct messages, The Stream, The Pulse)
  • All employees, moderators, contractors, and third-party partners

Standards and Prohibited Content

FitKind has a zero-tolerance policy for Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (CSAE) content or behaviour, including but not limited to:

  • Sexual abuse material involving children (imagery, audio, video, text descriptions)
  • Grooming or attempts to contact or exploit children for sexual purposes
  • Sexualised depictions or simulated abuse involving minors (real or fictional)
  • Content implying or promoting child sexual abuse or exploitation
  • Attempts to solicit, trade, or share CSAE material
  • Any user misrepresenting their age to appear as a minor, or engaging in sexual roleplay involving minors
  • Progress photos or fitness content involving anyone under 18

All such content is strictly prohibited and will be removed and reported to relevant authorities, along with immediate suspension and permanent removal of relevant accounts.

Age Restriction and Access Controls

FitKind is a platform for users aged 18 and over only. In line with a proportionate approach to age assurance, we rely on user reporting and post-registration moderation to uphold our 18+ policy:

  • User reporting tools that allow suspected underage accounts to be flagged by other users
  • Manual review of all reports concerning underage use or potential CSAE behaviour
  • Timely suspension and investigation of any account reported as potentially underage
  • Age verification prompts during registration requiring users to confirm they are 18 or older
  • Monitoring of reported accounts for behaviour or content suggesting underage use

If a child is identified or reasonably suspected to be using the platform, their account will be immediately deactivated and escalated to our Safety and Compliance team for further action, including:

  1. Permanent account termination
  2. Deletion of all user data in accordance with our data retention policies
  3. Assessment of whether any content requires reporting to authorities
  4. Documentation of the incident for compliance and audit purposes

Detection and Moderation Measures

We use a combination of tools and human oversight to keep our platform safe from CSAE content:

Automated Detection:

  • Automated scanning of images using trusted industry-standard tools and databases
  • Hash-matching technology to detect known CSAE material
  • AI-assisted flagging of potentially problematic content for human review

Human Moderation:

  • Manual review by trained moderators who quickly escalate any suspected CSAE content
  • 24/7 monitoring of high-priority reports
  • Specialist training for moderators on CSAE identification and trauma-informed practices

Continuous Improvement:

  • Regular updates to our moderation policies and detection tools
  • Ongoing staff training on child safety, CSAE recognition, and legal obligations
  • Collaboration with industry partners and child safety organisations
  • Participation in hash-sharing initiatives to combat CSAE material

Reporting and Escalation Procedures

User Reporting

Users can report content or accounts using clearly labelled, accessible reporting tools within the app:

In-App Reporting:

  1. Tap the three dots (...) on any post, comment, profile, or message
  2. Select "Report"
  3. Choose "Child Safety Concern" or "Underage User"
  4. Provide additional context if possible
  5. Submit the report

Email Reporting:

All reports are treated with the highest priority and reviewed by trained safety moderators.

Internal Response

Reports are prioritised based on severity, and any CSAE-related reports follow this immediate escalation pathway:

Immediate Actions:

  1. Content preservation (for law enforcement purposes only, stored securely and separately)
  2. Content removal from public view within 1 hour of confirmation
  3. Account suspension (temporary or permanent depending on severity)
  4. Logging of user metadata (account details, IP addresses, device identifiers, content type, timestamps)
  5. Escalation to Safety and Compliance team for external reporting determination

Investigation:

  • Detailed review of reported content and account history
  • Assessment of whether content meets CSAE definitions under UK law
  • Determination of appropriate external reporting obligations
  • Documentation of all actions taken

External Reporting

FitKind reports all confirmed or suspected CSAE material to the appropriate authorities:

For CSAM (Child Sexual Abuse Material) - imagery, video, or text:

  • Internet Watch Foundation (IWF)
  • Website: https://www.iwf.org.uk/report
  • Phone: 01223 203030
  • All confirmed CSAM is reported within 24 hours of identification

For grooming or child protection concerns:

For imminent danger to a child:

  • Emergency services via 999 (UK)
  • Local law enforcement in relevant jurisdiction
  • Immediate escalation to authorities with all available information

For international incidents:

  • National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) CyberTipline (US-based users or servers)
  • Website: https://report.cybertip.org/
  • Coordination with international law enforcement as required

All incidents are documented in our Child Safety Incident Log for audit, compliance, and follow-up purposes.

Cooperation with Law Enforcement

FitKind fully cooperates with law enforcement investigations related to child safety:

  • Timely response to lawful requests for information
  • Preservation of evidence in accordance with legal requirements
  • Production of user data pursuant to valid legal process (warrants, court orders, etc.)
  • Proactive reporting of CSAE material and suspected offenders
  • Testimony and support in prosecutions when required
  • Transparency in our Law Enforcement Guidelines (available upon request)

We comply with UK data protection laws while prioritising child safety and legal obligations.

Data Retention and Privacy

CSAE-related data is handled securely and in line with the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR. Specifically:

Content Retention:

  • CSAE content is retained only where necessary for investigation and law enforcement cooperation
  • Content is stored in secure, encrypted, access-controlled systems separate from production databases
  • Content is never duplicated beyond what is legally required
  • Content is permanently deleted once law enforcement confirms it is no longer needed, or after statutory retention periods expire

Access Controls:

  • Access to CSAE content is strictly limited to trained Safety and Compliance personnel
  • All access is logged and audited
  • Personnel undergo background checks and specialist training
  • Access is granted on a need-to-know basis only

User Data:

  • Account data for suspended users is retained for 12 months to prevent re-registration and assist ongoing investigations
  • IP addresses, device identifiers, and metadata are retained in accordance with legal obligations
  • All data handling follows our Privacy Policy and UK data protection laws

Deletion:

  • Upon confirmation from law enforcement, CSAE material is securely and permanently deleted
  • Deleted accounts' personal data is removed in accordance with GDPR right to erasure, except where retention is legally required

User Education and Awareness

FitKind is committed to educating our community about child safety:

In-App Resources:

  • Clear child safety reporting instructions in Help Center
  • Community Guidelines emphasising 18+ age requirement
  • Safety tips for protecting privacy and recognising suspicious behaviour

Transparency:

  • Annual Child Safety Transparency Report (first report to be published in 2026)
  • Clear communication about our zero-tolerance policies
  • Updates to this policy communicated to users

Community Engagement:

  • Partnerships with child safety organisations
  • Participation in industry initiatives (e.g., Technology Coalition, INHOPE)
  • Support for awareness campaigns

Compliance and Review

This policy is reviewed:

  • Annually, as part of our regular compliance review cycle
  • In response to new legislation, platform policy changes, or regulatory guidance
  • Following significant incidents or emerging threats
  • Based on feedback from law enforcement, child safety experts, or platform partners

Responsible Parties:

  • Safety and Compliance Team: Day-to-day implementation and reporting
  • Legal Team: Ensures compliance with UK law and international obligations
  • Executive Team: Oversight and resource allocation
  • Board of Directors: Annual review and approval

Documentation:

  • All policy updates are documented and version-controlled
  • Previous versions are archived and available for reference
  • Material changes are communicated to users

Staff Training

All FitKind employees and contractors who handle user content or reports receive mandatory child safety training:

Training Topics:

  • Recognising CSAE content and behaviour
  • UK legal obligations under Sexual Offences Act 2003 and Online Safety Act 2023
  • Reporting procedures and escalation pathways
  • Trauma-informed content moderation practices
  • Data protection and evidence handling
  • Self-care and psychological support for moderators

Training Frequency:

  • Initial onboarding training for all new hires
  • Annual refresher training for all staff
  • Specialist advanced training for Safety and Compliance team members
  • Ad-hoc training in response to new threats or policy changes

Contact and Escalation

All urgent concerns or questions related to this policy, including reports of CSAE content or suspected underage users, should be directed to:

FitKind Safety & Compliance Team

  • Email: [email protected] (monitored 24/7)
  • Emergency escalation: For imminent danger, contact emergency services (999 in UK) first, then notify us

Other Contacts:

Response Times:

  • CSAE reports: Reviewed within 1 hour, actioned within 24 hours
  • Underage user reports: Reviewed within 24 hours
  • General safety concerns: Reviewed within 48 hours

Definitions

For the purposes of this policy:

"Child" or "Minor": Any person under the age of 18 years.

"CSAE": Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation, encompassing all forms of sexual abuse, exploitation, and related material involving children.

"CSAM": Child Sexual Abuse Material, including photographs, videos, audio, text, or any other format depicting or describing sexual abuse of children.

"Grooming": Building a relationship with a child or young person (or their family/carers) to gain their trust for the purposes of sexual abuse or exploitation.

"User-Generated Content (UGC)": Any content created or uploaded by users, including photos, videos, text posts (Moments), comments, messages, profile information, and workout data.

Accountability

FitKind takes full responsibility for implementing and enforcing this Child Safety Policy. We are accountable to:

  • Our users and their expectation of a safe platform
  • UK regulators including Ofcom (Online Safety Act 2023)
  • Law enforcement and child protection agencies
  • Platform partners (Apple, Google) and their safety requirements
  • The public and our commitment to corporate social responsibility

We welcome scrutiny, feedback, and collaboration to continuously improve child safety on FitKind.

Version History

  • Version 1.0 - 20 December 2025: Initial publication

Previous versions of our Child Safety Policy can be reviewed by contacting [email protected].

FitKind is committed to being a safe platform for adults only. We will continue to invest in technology, training, and partnerships to protect children and prevent CSAE material from appearing on our platform.

If you have concerns about child safety on FitKind, please report them immediately to [email protected] or use our in-app reporting tools.

This Child Safety Policy is part of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. All users and staff must comply with this policy.

Child safety concerns? Email [email protected]