1. Purpose:
This policy aims to ensure a safe and inclusive environment within our grid by restricting the creation, distribution, and display of content that portrays illegal or harmful material - as well as fostering an active consent environment. These restrictions encompass depictions of racism, torture, pornography involving non-consenting parties, violence, hate speech, racism, and discrimination.
2. Scope:
This policy applies to all users, creators, and administrators within our grid. It encompasses any virtual objects, images, textures, animations, or other forms of content that are generated or uploaded onto our platform – including public or private conversations when it comes to harassment.
3. General Content Restrictions:
Completely prohibited is REAL content, depicting:
- Minors: Content that includes real life minors, fully or partially, including modelling.
- Racism: Content that promotes or glorifies racial discrimination, hatred, or violence against individuals or groups based on race, ethnicity, or nationality is strictly prohibited.
- Torture: Depictions of torture or any form of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment are prohibited.
- Non-Consensual Pornography: Content that depicts or promotes sexual acts or sexualisation involving non-consenting parties (i.e. minors, non-consenting adults…), including individuals under the age of consent or scenarios depicting rape or coercion, is strictly prohibited.
- Violence: Graphic or gratuitous violence, including but not limited to scenes of intense physical harm, mutilation, or death, is prohibited.
- Hate Speech: Content that promotes or incites hatred, violence, or discrimination against individuals or groups based on characteristics such as race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or nationality is prohibited.
- Discrimination: Content that discriminates against individuals or groups based on any protected characteristic, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or nationality, is prohibited.
4. Guidelines for CGI (Computer Generated Images):
CGI images that contain nudity must easily be identifiable as computer generated, images that appear to be realistic are prohibited.
- Realism Boundaries: The boundaries of realism in virtual content are constantly evolving, and it is incumbent upon content creators to exercise discretion and sensitivity when depicting potentially harmful or illegal activities. While realism can enhance immersive experiences, it should not be pursued at the expense of ethical considerations. Content creators should avoid hyper-realistic depictions of violence, abuse, or other illegal acts that may cause distress or harm to users.
- Realistic: A CGI generated image portraying a person of colour being tortured, or a sexualised minor, with a clear intention of approaching an hyper-realistic look.
- Interpretation: To err on the safer side, CGI images whose realism is subject to interpretation or subjective, are included in this restriction.
- Harassment of any form, including but not limited to verbal, written, physical, or digital harassment, is strictly prohibited within our grid.
- Users are expected to treat each other with respect and refrain from engaging in behaviour that may cause distress or discomfort to others.
- Any reports of harassment will be thoroughly investigated by our grid’s administrators, and appropriate actions will be taken against offenders, including but not limited to account suspension or termination.
- Sending or sharing unsolicited sexual or sensitive images, including but not limited to pornography, explicit content, or graphic depictions of violence, is strictly prohibited within our grid.
- Users are not permitted to share such images without the explicit consent of all parties involved.
- Disciplinary actions on content:
- Content that violates this policy will be subject to removal by administrators of the Open Simulator Grid.
- Penalties for violation of the policy will depend on the severity, including, but not limited to, Warning, Suspension or Permanent Ban of the individual(s) concerned.
- Disciplinary action on harassment:
- Harassment of any form, including but not limited to verbal, written, physical, or digital harassment, is strictly prohibited within our grid.
- Users are expected to treat each other with respect and refrain from engaging in behaviour that may cause distress or discomfort to others.
- Any reports of harassment will be thoroughly investigated by grid administrators, and appropriate actions will be taken against offenders, including but not limited to account suspension or termination.
Accounting for sensitivity of individuals, BOTH the above, including non-realistic images, are prohibited from public areas, or areas of free access to individuals (as well as free rental areas) – including A rated ones.Non-realistic CGI images are allowed in non-public, private, regions - where they aren’t easily viewable, and can’t potentially harm ‘bypassers’ sensitivity.
5. Geo-political considerations and regional Compliance:
While leveraging latest US regulations as baseline, the grid will side with legal regional law and regulation standards and ensure their compliance.
Individual users are encouraged to adjust their content restrictions to align with the laws and regulations of their respective countries.
Users should always adopt a more restrictive stance than the baseline standards set by our grid, ensuring compliance with their local legal requirements.
6. Exception Clause for Non-Inclusive Countries:
In countries where laws or regulations discriminate against individuals or groups based on characteristics such as religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other protected attributes, users are exempt from adhering to such discriminatory provisions within our grid.
Users are encouraged to promote inclusivity, diversity, and respect for all individuals regardless of their background, and to resist and challenge discriminatory laws and practices within their respective countries.
Our grid stands as a platform for fostering inclusivity, understanding, and respect, and users are encouraged to contribute to creating a welcoming and supportive environment for all members of the community.
7. Profiles and sensitivity:
All user profiles should fall within PG standards, both in images and text, given their public nature.
8. Harassment and Active Consent:
9. Championing Active Consent:
Active consent is fundamental to respectful interactions within our grid community. Users must obtain explicit consent before engaging in any activity that may be perceived as invasive or unwelcome.
Consent must be freely given, informed, enthusiastic, and specific to the activity in question. Silence, absence of a clear response, or coercion do not constitute consent.
Users are encouraged to communicate openly and respectfully with each other to ensure that all interactions are consensual and mutually enjoyable.
10. Enforcement:
Disciplinary actions of this policy will take effect seven calendar days after its publication, as a grace period for users to adhere to it.
All reported violations of the above policy will be fully investigated by administrators.
Users are encouraged to report any content or behaviour that they believe violates this policy to the grid administrators.