AddisToday Acceptable Use Policy

Last Updated: December 28, 2025

AddisToday exists to connect people with amazing events and experiences in Addis Ababa. To keep our community safe, welcoming, and valuable for everyone, we've established these guidelines for acceptable use.

This policy applies to:
- All users of AddisToday (attendees, event organizers, and visitors)
- All content posted on our platform (events, experiences, reviews, messages, profiles)
- All activities conducted through our Services

By using AddisToday, you agree to follow these guidelines. Violations may result in content removal, account suspension, or permanent termination without prior notice.

Our Community Principles

AddisToday is built on these core values:

1. Authenticity: Events and content should be real and truthful
2. Respect: Treat others with kindness and consideration
3. Safety: Don't put yourself or others at risk
4. Legality: Comply with all applicable laws and regulations
5. Quality: Contribute valuable, relevant content to our community

Prohibited Activities

The following activities are strictly prohibited on AddisToday:

1. Illegal Content and Activities

You may not use AddisToday to:

❌ Illegal Events: Promote, organize, or facilitate illegal activities, including but not limited to:
- Drug sales or distribution
- Prostitution or sex trafficking
- Gambling (where prohibited by Ethiopian law)
- Sale of weapons, explosives, or other regulated items without proper permits
- Tax evasion or money laundering schemes
- Pyramid schemes or illegal business practices

❌ Intellectual Property Theft: Post content that infringes on copyrights, trademarks, patents, or other intellectual property rights of others

❌ Fraud and Deception:
- Create fake events with no intention of hosting them
- Misrepresent event details (location, date, pricing, amenities)
- Impersonate other people, organizations, or businesses
- Use false identities or stolen credentials

❌ Data Theft: Collect, scrape, or extract information from accounts that don't belong to you

❌ Malware and Hacking:
- Upload viruses, malware, ransomware, or other malicious code
- Attempt to hack, disable, or bypass our security features
- Use exploits or vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access
- Deploy tracking scripts, web bugs, or hidden pixels without authorization

2. Harmful or Dangerous Content

You may not post:

❌ Violence and Threats:
- Content that incites, glorifies, or threatens violence
- Instructions for creating weapons or explosives
- Content that could lead to physical harm

❌ Self-Harm Content:
- Content that promotes suicide or self-injury
- Pro-anorexia or pro-bulimia content
- Content that encourages dangerous challenges or stunts

❌ Dangerous Events:
- Events that pose serious safety risks without proper precautions
- Events that violate health and safety regulations
- Events that could endanger participants or the public

3. Hateful and Discriminatory Content

You may not post content that:

❌ Promotes Hate: Targets individuals or groups based on:
- Race, ethnicity, or national origin
- Religion or religious beliefs
- Gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation
- Disability or medical condition
- Age
- Caste, social class, or other protected characteristics

❌ Harasses or Bullies:
- Personal attacks or insults
- Doxxing (publishing private information)
- Coordinated harassment campaigns
- Stalking or unwanted contact after being asked to stop

❌ Discriminates:
- Event listings that exclude people based on protected characteristics (except where legally permitted, e.g., women-only fitness classes)
- Discriminatory pricing or access policies
- Hostile or exclusionary language in event descriptions

4. Sexual and Adult Content

❌ Explicit Sexual Content:
- Pornography or sexually explicit imagery
- Sexual services or solicitation
- Nudity (except in artistic, educational, or cultural contexts)

❌ Exploitation:
- Child sexual abuse material (CSAM) - zero tolerance, reported to authorities
- Non-consensual intimate imagery (revenge porn)
- Sexual exploitation of any kind

✅ Permitted with Age Restrictions:
- Adult-oriented events (nightclubs, bars, etc.) must be properly labeled with 18+ age restrictions
- Artistic or cultural events with partial nudity must include appropriate warnings
- Educational content about sexual health must be clearly marked

5. Spam and Misleading Content

You may not:

❌ Spam:
- Post repetitive or irrelevant content
- Create multiple duplicate event listings
- Send unsolicited bulk messages or inquiries
- Use automated bots or scripts to create accounts or content
- Manipulate reviews, ratings, or engagement metrics

❌ Misleading Information:
- Clickbait titles that don't reflect actual event content
- Fake reviews or ratings (including paying for positive reviews)
- False scarcity claims ("Only 2 tickets left!" when there are 100)
- Bait-and-switch tactics (advertising one event, delivering another)
- Undisclosed paid promotions or sponsorships

❌ Phishing and Scams:
- Fake login pages or credential harvesting
- Investment scams or get-rich-quick schemes
- Advance fee fraud (Nigerian prince scams, etc.)
- Fake charity events or fundraisers

6. Platform Abuse

You may not:

❌ Circumvent Our Systems:
- Use multiple accounts to evade bans or restrictions
- Create fake accounts to manipulate ratings or reviews
- Bypass content moderation or age verification
- Use VPNs or proxy services to circumvent geographic restrictions (except for legitimate privacy reasons)

❌ Interfere with Service:
- Overload our servers with excessive requests (DDoS attacks)
- Attempt to reverse engineer our code or algorithms
- Exploit bugs or vulnerabilities (please report these to security@addistoday.com instead)
- Scrape data without permission

❌ Misuse Features:
- Report events or users falsely or maliciously
- Abuse the review system with fake or retaliatory reviews
- Manipulate search rankings or discovery algorithms
- Use messaging for commercial spam or solicitation

7. Misrepresentation and Dishonesty

You may not:

❌ Fake Events or Services:
- List events that don't exist or you don't intend to host
- List experiences you can't or won't deliver
- Advertise amenities, performers, or features that won't be present

❌ Impersonation:
- Pretend to be someone else (individual, business, or organization)
- Use someone else's photos or content without permission
- Claim affiliations you don't have
- Misrepresent your credentials or qualifications

❌ Price Manipulation:
- List fake prices with hidden fees revealed later
- Charge attendees different prices than advertised
- Use deceptive discount tactics
- Inflate prices only to offer fake "discounts"

Event Listing Requirements

To maintain quality and trust, all event listings must meet these standards:

Required Information

✅ Accurate Details:
- Real event name and complete description
- Correct date, time, and duration
- Accurate location address (street address, landmark, or GPS coordinates)
- True pricing information (including all fees)
- Honest representation of what attendees will experience

✅ Contact Information:
- Working email address or phone number for inquiries
- Response to attendee questions within reasonable timeframe (48 hours recommended)

✅ Appropriate Categorization:
- List events in the correct category
- Use relevant tags and keywords
- Don't spam multiple categories with the same event

Image Requirements

✅ Event Images Must:
- Be relevant to your actual event
- Be photos you own or have permission to use
- Show what attendees will actually see/experience
- Not contain watermarks from other event platforms
- Meet basic quality standards (not blurry, pixelated, or distorted)

❌ Don't Use:
- Stock photos unrelated to your event
- Photos of other people's events
- Copyrighted images without permission
- Screenshots from other websites
- Heavily filtered or misleading images

Event Descriptions

✅ Write Descriptions That:
- Accurately describe what attendees will experience
- Include important details (dress code, age restrictions, accessibility info)
- Are written in clear, grammatically correct language
- Provide enough information for informed decisions

❌ Avoid:
- ALL CAPS or excessive punctuation!!!!!!
- Misleading or exaggerated claims
- Irrelevant keywords for SEO manipulation
- Offensive or inappropriate language

Review Guidelines

Reviews help our community make informed decisions. To keep reviews trustworthy:

You Must

✅ Base Reviews on Real Experiences:
- Only review events or experiences you actually attended
- Provide honest, constructive feedback
- Focus on facts and your personal experience
- Be fair and balanced (mention both positives and negatives)

✅ Be Respectful:
- Criticize the event, not the person
- Avoid profanity and offensive language
- Don't include personal attacks
- Respect others' opinions even if you disagree

You Must Not

❌ Manipulate Reviews:
- Post fake reviews for events you didn't attend
- Review your own events or those of close associates
- Pay for positive reviews or solicit reviews in exchange for compensation
- Post negative reviews to harm competitors
- Create multiple accounts to post multiple reviews

❌ Include Inappropriate Content:
- Personal information (phone numbers, addresses, email)
- Unverified accusations or allegations
- Content that violates other parts of this policy
- Off-topic commentary unrelated to the event

❌ Use Reviews for:
- Commercial advertisements
- Political campaigning
- Personal grievances unrelated to the event
- Spam or promotional content

Message and Communication Guidelines

AddisToday provides messaging features to connect attendees with organizers. Use them responsibly:

Acceptable Use

✅ Appropriate Messages:
- Genuine questions about events or experiences
- Coordination with event organizers
- Follow-up after attending an event
- Professional networking related to events

Prohibited Use

❌ Don't Send:
- Spam or unsolicited commercial messages
- Harassment, threats, or abusive messages
- Sexually explicit or unwanted romantic advances
- Pyramid schemes or MLM recruitment
- Phishing attempts or scam messages
- Messages after being asked to stop

Organizer-Specific Requirements

If you're an event organizer on AddisToday, you have additional responsibilities:

Legal Compliance

✅ You Must:
- Obtain all necessary permits and licenses for your events (venue permits, alcohol licenses, etc.)
- Comply with Ethiopian laws and regulations
- Follow local health and safety guidelines
- Collect and remit any applicable taxes
- Have appropriate insurance coverage (recommended)
- Follow labor laws if you employ staff

✅ Verify Ages if hosting age-restricted events:
- 18+ events (nightclubs, alcohol service, etc.)
- 21+ events (if applicable)
- Minors-only events (implement proper supervision)

Organizer Conduct

✅ Respond Professionally:
- Answer inquiries in a timely manner
- Be polite and helpful to attendees
- Handle complaints gracefully
- Honor commitments made in listings

✅ Honor Your Commitments:
- Deliver what you promise in your event description
- Provide refunds if you cancel (establish clear refund policy)
- Notify attendees promptly of changes or cancellations
- Maintain quality standards

❌ Don't:
- Retaliate against attendees who leave negative reviews
- Share attendees' personal information without consent
- Discriminate against attendees
- Engage in bait-and-switch tactics

Reporting Violations

How to Report

If you see content or behavior that violates this policy:

1. Use Our Reporting Tools: Click "Report" on the event, review, or profile
2. Email Us: abuse@addistoday.com or report@addistoday.com
3. Provide Details:
   - URL of the content or profile
   - Description of the violation
   - Screenshots (if applicable)
   - Date and time of incident

What Happens After You Report

1. We Review: Our team investigates all reports
2. We Act: We may remove content, warn users, or suspend/terminate accounts
3. We Respond: We may contact you for additional information
4. We Protect Privacy: Reporter identity is kept confidential

Emergency Situations

For immediate safety threats:
- Police: Contact local authorities first
- Then Us: Report to safety@addistoday.com with "URGENT" in subject line

For child sexual abuse material (CSAM):
- We report directly to authorities and remove content immediately
- Zero tolerance policy

Consequences of Violations

Violations of this Acceptable Use Policy may result in:

1. Content Removal

• Offending content is deleted
• You're notified (unless legally prohibited)
• May include warning for first offense

2. Account Warnings

• Written warning about policy violation
• Requirements to complete specific actions (e.g., remove content)
• Restrictions on certain features

3. Temporary Suspension

• Loss of access for specific period (days to weeks)
• All content remains hidden during suspension
• Account may be restored after review

4. Permanent Termination

• Complete loss of account access
• All content permanently removed
• IP ban to prevent new account creation
• Possible legal action for serious violations

5. Legal Action

• Reporting to law enforcement (illegal activities)
• Civil lawsuits (fraud, defamation, damages)
• Cooperation with legal investigations

Factors We Consider

When determining consequences:
- Severity of violation
- Intent (malicious vs. accidental)
- Previous violations
- Impact on community
- Responsiveness to warnings

Appeals Process

If you believe we made a mistake:

1. Email appeals@addistoday.com within 30 days
2. Include:
   - Your account email/username
   - Description of the action taken
   - Explanation of why you believe it was incorrect
   - Any supporting evidence
3. We'll Review: Independent review within 7 business days
4. Final Decision: Appeals decision is final

Special Considerations

Cultural Sensitivity

AddisToday serves Addis Ababa's diverse community. Please:
- Respect Ethiopian cultural norms and traditions
- Be mindful of religious sensitivities
- Use inclusive language
- Respect local customs and holidays

Political Content

✅ Allowed:
- Civic events (community meetings, public forums)
- Educational political discussions
- Awareness campaigns

❌ Not Allowed:
- Hate speech against political groups
- Violent political rhetoric
- Foreign political interference
- Disinformation campaigns

Health and Wellness Events

Events related to health, fitness, or wellness must:
- Not make unverified medical claims
- Disclose if you're not a licensed professional
- Recommend consulting doctors for medical advice
- Not promote dangerous health practices

Financial and Investment Events

Events about finance or investment must:
- Disclose financial relationships and conflicts of interest
- Not guarantee returns or make unrealistic promises
- Comply with Ethiopian financial regulations
- Warn that investments carry risk

Updates to This Policy

We may update this Acceptable Use Policy to:
- Address new types of abuse
- Clarify existing rules
- Comply with legal requirements
- Reflect community feedback

When we update:
- "Last Updated" date changes
- Significant changes communicated via email
- Continued use constitutes acceptance

Related Policies

• Terms of Service: Legal agreement for using AddisToday
• Privacy Policy: How we handle your personal data
• Cookie Policy: Our use of cookies and tracking

Contact Us

Reporting Abuse

• Email: abuse@addistoday.com or report@addistoday.com
• Safety Emergencies: safety@addistoday.com

Policy Questions

• Email: legal@addistoday.com
• General Support: support@addistoday.com

Security Issues

• Email: security@addistoday.com
• For responsible disclosure of vulnerabilities

Our Commitment

We're committed to:
- Enforcing these policies fairly and consistently
- Protecting our community from harmful content
- Respecting freedom of expression within legal and ethical bounds
- Continuously improving based on feedback
- Transparency about our moderation practices

Thank you for helping keep AddisToday safe, welcoming, and valuable for the entire Addis Ababa community.

This Acceptable Use Policy was adapted from Basecamp's open-source policies under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and customized specifically for AddisToday's platform as an events and lifestyle community for Addis Ababa, based on our actual features and use cases.

Last reviewed: December 28, 2025