Child Protection

Connexa GmbH and all our mobile applications (NoMask, Relink, Blink, and other apps) are committed to protecting children and adolescents from sexual abuse, exploitation, and harm. Our comprehensive child protection standards and measures include:

1. Zero Tolerance Policy

Immediate Action: Any form of sexual abuse, exploitation, or the distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) will not be tolerated. Violations will result in immediate account termination, permanent device ban, and reporting to law enforcement authorities.

• All reports of child sexual abuse material are immediately forwarded to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or equivalent authorities in your jurisdiction
• We cooperate fully with law enforcement investigations
• We maintain detailed records of all reports and actions taken for law enforcement purposes

2. Age Verification and Restrictions

Minimum Age Requirement: Our applications are restricted to users aged 16 and older. This is enforced through:

• Age Verification: We may require age verification for account creation and certain features
• Parental Consent: Users between 16 and 18 years of age must have parental or guardian consent
• Account Termination: If we discover that a user is under the minimum age requirement, we will immediately terminate their account and delete their data
• Apple App Store Compliance: Our apps are rated 17+ (Mature) in the Apple App Store, indicating they are not intended for children
• COPPA Compliance: We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we discover such information, we will delete it immediately

3. Technical Safeguards

We implement multiple layers of technical safeguards to protect children:

• Physical Proximity Requirement: No public search or contact without physical meeting (NFC/Bluetooth pairing). This prevents anonymous online contact with minors
• No Anonymous Profiles: No possibility to create profiles anonymously or with fake identities. All users must verify their identity
• Content Moderation: Automated and manual monitoring of all content to detect and prevent abuse:
  • AI-powered content filtering for inappropriate content
  • Manual review by trained moderators
  • Real-time monitoring of suspicious activity patterns
  • PhotoDNA or similar technology to detect known CSAM
• Blocking and Reporting: Easy-to-use blocking and reporting mechanisms for all users
• Age-Gating: Certain features are restricted based on age to prevent inappropriate interactions

4. Reporting System

Users can easily and anonymously report suspicious activities or content through multiple channels:

• In-App Reporting: One-click reporting feature within the app
• Email Reporting: Direct email to [email protected] (highest priority)
• 24/7 Monitoring: Our safety team monitors reports 24/7 and responds immediately to child safety concerns
• Law Enforcement Cooperation: All reports involving minors are immediately forwarded to law enforcement and child protection organizations
• Anonymous Reporting: Users can report concerns anonymously if they prefer

5. Data Protection and Security

• Minimal Data Collection: We collect only the minimum data necessary to provide our services
• No Data Sharing: We do not share user data with third parties, except as required by law or for child protection purposes
• End-to-End Encryption: Private communications are protected with end-to-end encryption
• Secure Storage: All data is stored securely with encryption at rest and in transit
• Data Retention: We retain data only as long as necessary, and delete it promptly when no longer needed

6. Cooperation with Authorities

We maintain close collaboration with law enforcement agencies and child protection organizations:

• Immediate Reporting: We immediately report all suspected child sexual abuse material to:
  • National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) - United States
  • Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) - United Kingdom
  • Swiss Federal Office of Police (fedpol) - Switzerland
  • Local law enforcement agencies in your jurisdiction
• Legal Compliance: We comply with all legal requirements for the protection of children, including:
  • COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act)
  • GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)
  • Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP)
  • EU Directive on Combating Child Sexual Abuse
• Preservation of Evidence: We preserve all evidence related to child safety reports for law enforcement investigations

7. Education and Prevention

• Educational Resources: We provide information and resources about online safety for parents, guardians, and young users
• Support Services: We provide support services for affected individuals and their families
• Community Guidelines: Clear community guidelines that promote respectful and safe interaction
• Safety Tips: Regular safety tips and educational content within the app
• Parental Resources: Information and tools for parents to help protect their children online

8. Apple App Store Compliance

Our child protection measures comply with Apple App Store Review Guidelines:

• Guideline 1.1 - Safety: We prohibit all content that could harm children
• Guideline 1.2 - User Generated Content: We provide robust reporting and moderation for user-generated content
• Guideline 2.3.7 - Kids Category: While our apps are not in the Kids Category, we maintain strict child protection standards
• Age Rating: Our apps are properly rated (17+) to indicate they are not intended for children
• Content Filtering: We implement content filtering appropriate for our age rating