Sonata Prohibited Content Policy

Table of Contents

Overview

This policy is a full breakdown of content types and behaviours that are not permitted on Sonata under any circumstances. It is split into six schedules, which each describe appropriate responses to yourself or your account if they are violated by your actions.

Under our policy of prioritising free expression, we keep this prohibited content policy as limited as possible while still maintaining our legal, technical and social responsibilities.

Everything listed within this section is material that cannot exist within a responsible platform.

To categorise the actions which are prohibited on Sonata, we have devised a number of schedules, numbered from most serious to least serious. Each schedule has a set of rules on how violations which fall into it must be handled. Moderation action on the part of Sonata without mandate from the correct schedule for a violation is not permitted.

There are no 'strikes' on Sonata, no hidden process or data from which a user's account can be permanently disrupted. All violations carry a set penalty with a set time of expiry. Schedule 3-6 violations do not carry the potential for permanent disabling of a user's account.

Each schedule defines how serious we consider a violation to be, the amount of resources we put into finding and dealing with them and the actions we will take once such content is discovered.

All articles and definitions within all schedules include hyperlinks to material of the same nature.

As Sonata is a new platform, it is likely that we will soon need to update this policy. Each time that we do, all users will be notified on their next login.

All users have the right to appeal any decision and reverse any action taken to their account if it was found to be taken in error.

With all schedules, documentary content may exempt the content from this policy.

With all schedules higher than Schedule 1, satirical or fictional context may exempt the content from this policy at our discretion.

Schedule Descriptions

Responsibility Categories: Legal, Social
Quick reference: Auto detection. Immediate removal. Report to police. Legal Action.

This schedule is used to combat the most serious breaches of our content policies and common law. We will prioritise user reports of any such content, as well as the automatic detection and removal systems we have in place.

Posting any schedule 1 content will, without any prior warning, result in permanent account restriction and removal of all public data and content associated with you.

We will also engage and co-operate with law enforcement by providing the personal information you have supplied to us and additional information we have created from your usage of our platform, as described in our Privacy Policy.

You will lose your invitation to create a new account with Sonata and any further accounts you do make or own will be subject to the same response as the account that was found to break these terms, with no further oversight or justification required.

If necessary, legal proceedings may be brought against you for any violations within this schedule, in order to recover losses of resources, finances, or reputation.

Appeal time: 1 week
Appeal restrictions: Must fully publicise all relevant data.

Responsibility Categories: Social, Technical
Quick reference: Auto detection. Immediate removal or suspension.

This schedule is used to combat serious breeches of socially acceptable behaviour, that has significant negative potential impact on a person or entity. It is also used to protect Sonata from technical abuses on our systems.

Posting any content of the following nature will result in account access restriction for a limited time, or indefinitely. The extent of this time must be detailed to you by us.

Appeal time: 4 weeks
Appeal restrictions: Must fully publicise all relevant data.

Responsibility Categories: Social
Quick reference: Suspension. Require declaration for reinstatement.

Posting any content of the following nature will result in account access restriction for a limited time. The user may be restricted from uploading images or video if these were used as part of the violation. The extent of this time must be detailed to the affected user.

We may require you to make certain declarations to us, or agree to additional policies in order to restore your account.

Schedule 3 items may never be upgraded to schedule 1 or 2.

Appeal time: 1 year.
Appeal restrictions: none

Responsibility Categories: Social
Quick reference: Temporary Account Limitation.

Posting any content of the following nature will result in action level restrictions being imposed for a limited time. These will be any combination of the following:

• Disabled posting
• Disabled replying
• Disabled from adding media to your posts
• Disabled from adding external links to your posts
• Prevention from interacting with certain people or certain groups of people.
• Deamplification to any level

Further infractions of schedule 4 items or items treated as schedule 4 may result in these later infractions being upgraded to schedule 3.

Appeal time: 3 years.
Appeal restrictions: none

Responsibility Categories: Social, Legal
Quick reference: Warning.

The following types of content being removed will result in a warning being issued to you.

Further infractions of schedule 5 items or items treated as schedule 5 may result in these later infractions being upgraded to schedule 4.

Repeat infractions after upgrades to schedule 4 may result in a further upgrade to schedule 3.

Appeal time: 3 years.
Appeal restrictions: none

Responsibility Categories: Any
Quick reference: Removal with no penalties.

Content is removed with no restrictions, warnings or flags being placed upon your account, either publicly or internally. No specific record of this action will be taken such that it ties the action with your account. A notification may or may not be sent.

Appeal time: 3 years.
Appeal restrictions: none

Schedule Articles

1. CSAM Material

Any material of or relating to the sexual abuse of children will not be tolerated on Sonata. This is defined as:

• Any media including images, video, audio or depictions, including real material, imitated material, AI generated material or edited material.
• Encouragement to find, consume or produce such material.
• Aid or guidance to find such material elsewhere on the internet.
• Re-noting such material causing additional exposure (reports should be used instead to bring it to the attention of moderators).

2. Personal Child Sexual Abuse

Any content or communication which aims to support, further or instruct the exploitation of a child for sexual abuse. This includes:

• Grooming, building an improper relationship with a child with the intention of preparing of a child for a sexual situation, either through media or through offline interaction.
• The coercion of a child into a sexual situation, either through media or through offline interaction.
• Arranging with either an adult or a child to expose or involve a child in a sexual encounter.
• Sharing sexual material with a child purposefully, such as replying to a post of theirs with a sexually explicit image or a link to such material, or as a direct message. Plausible denial that the user was aware that a child was involved may cause this violation to be downgraded to schedule 5. Self flagging the post as sexual material will grant immunity to the poster for this specific sub definition, as Sonata will ensure that it cannot be viewed by the child.

3. Material Encouraging Terrorism

Any material that aims to aid or educate users methods to commit terrorism offences will not be tolerated on Sonata. This is defined as:

• Guidance, instruction or personal aid in creating personal connections to terrorist organisations or persons representing such organisations.
  Example: 'Speak to this person about how to join ISIS'.
• Guidance, instruction or personal aid in joining a terrorist organisation or relocation to a terrorist state
  Example: 'Contact me for info on how to travel to ISIS held territory'.
• Guidance or instruction on creating an explosive or chemical device for the intention or plausible intention of causing harm to, or murdering others.
  Example: 'Anyone want to know how to make proper bombs out of stuff you can buy?'.
• Guidance, instruction or personal aid in supporting terrorist organisations through financial, material or promotional means.

Exceptions:

• Given the practical impossibility of creating one, detailing how nuclear weapons are built is not considered a violation.

4. High Risk Confidential Personal Information

Any material that corresponds to personal information that has not been made public that is posted with the effect of putting the victim into extreme risk of becoming a victim of fraud or a danger to their well-being. This includes:

• Credit or debit card details.
• Personal and private government issued numbers or registration details (such as Icelandic social security numbers, US social security numbers, UK national insurance numbers)
• Comprehensive breakdown of a person's personal information (known as doxx, fullz).
• Banking details.
• Financial data of a person or corporation such as bank statements.
• Birth certificates.
• Medical documentation as issued by an authority or medical company.
• Using the platform in attempt to obtain any above mentioned information.
• Attempting to sell any of the above mentioned information.

5. Attempt to Use the Platform To Trade Illicit or Restricted Goods Or Services (Tier 1)

Attempting to obtain, advertise, gift or trade any of the following, or any components of the following:

• Human blood or body parts.
• Non-consumable materials hazardous to life that have no legal market, such as radioactive waste.
• Stolen museum artefacts or artwork.
  Note: artwork must have been sold or donated through an official channel to violate this policy. Amateur or low value artwork (defined as being worth less than US$10,000) is also not considered.
• Endangered species.

6. Human Exploitation

Any material which promotes, encourages, requests or facilities any of the following:

• Forced criminal activity.
• Use of or recruitment of child soldiers.
• Sex trafficking.
• Forced marriages.
• Sale or illegal adoption of children.
• Bonded labour.
• Organ trafficking.
• Human smuggling.

7. Attempting to interfere with, damage or disrupt any part of the Sonata platform

Accessing, or attempting to access without authority, damage or disrupt:

• any part of our platform.
• any equipment or network on which our platform is stored.
• any software used in the provision of our platform.
• any equipment or network or software owned or used by any third party who provide any services to Sonata.

1. Stolen Personal Information

Personal information that was taken or recorded without consent. This includes:

• Any login information for one or multiple users.
• Password lists.
• Any information obtained through unauthorised entry to a computer system.

2. Spam

As defined by:

• Copied content posted multiple times, with or without minor deviation.
• Content created with the use of an automated tool that provides no information.
• Content created with the use of an automated tool which rewords or rearranges previously posted material.
• Excessive posts created with the use of an automated tool.
• Excessive posts created with the intention of spamming.

Exceptions:

• Accidental occurrences of spam will be treated as schedule 4.

3. Physical Harm

Content which creates a significant risk of a user or a victim of a user coming to physical harm, either from themselves or from others.

This is described as:

• Incitement to violence, including the aiding of such incitement.
• Threat of violence or of violent sexual acts to a specific person or group.
• Incitement or encouragement to commit acts of self harm.

Exceptions:

• Supporting the defence of a sovereign nation, or of a person helping with this defence.
• Reporting on the reality of a real situation, however harmful.
• Exposing the harm caused by an individual or a group for the purposes of awareness, documentation or justice.
• Resistance of support thereof against institutionalised oppression.

4. Incitement to Commit Rape or Torture

Content which aids or encourages others, or seeks encouragement from others, to commit acts of rape or torture.

5. Posting of Non Consensual Nudity or Non Consensual Sexual Material

Posting material containing nudity of a person who did not consent at the time of publication will not be tolerated. This is defined as:

• Revenge porn (including images).
• Media obtained through voyeurism.
• Media obtained through unauthorised access to a person's media.
• Media depicting sexual acts, including sexual touching.
• Necrophilia.

Material which contains nude adults in ways in which there is plausible argument that their inclusion was overlooked or accidental, will be treated as a schedule 5 violation.

Moderation Limitations:

• Automatic detection of material in this article is often not possible. We may require manual reports before being able to take action.

Additional Methods of Moderation:

1. Reports made to us by trusted relevant institutions.
2. Report made to us by proxy, at the victim's request.
3. Following reports, we may be able to automatically detect the exact content again in the future.

6. Impersonalisation of Genuine Users

As defined by:

• Use of tools to control many users, in which each user does not correspond to a real person and their own expression.
• Using real people to control many users, even on a 1-1 basis, for the purpose of manipulation.

7. Posting Content Depicting Fake Rescue of Animals

As defined by:

• Material which displays animal rescue in a matter that is evidenced to be contrived, in that the situation was purposely brought about for the purpose of creating the content.

Exceptions:

• Reporting or commenting on this behaviour.

8. Interference With The Process of Democracy In Democratic Countries

• Incitement or encouragement to commit voter fraud or tamper with state authority elections.
• Incitement or encouragement to conduct sedition in an established democracy.

9. Attempt to Use the Platform To Trade Illicit or Restricted Goods Or Services (Tier 2)

Attempting to obtain, advertise, gift or trade any of the following, or any components of the following:

• Private login details for any service.
• Fake reviews for any service.
• Data corresponding to identifiable persons.
• Unredeemed gift cards or coupons, such as Apple gift cards.

Exceptions:

• Links to deliberately faked data for testing purposes.
• Attempting to sell gift cards will be downgraded to Schedule 5 on the first infraction, providing no evidence was received to suggest the card had already been redeemed. Further infractions may be downgraded to Schedule 3 at a moderator's discretion.

10. Misuse of The Platform For Fraudulent Purposes

Attempting to use the platform to gain unlawful access to another's personal accounts or device, whether through the means of social engineering, malicious instruction or the dissemination of software which aims to gain access.

Attempting to gain uninvited access to another person's Sonata accounts through any means.

11. Advertising or Attempting to Conduct Financial Scams

Attempting to use the platform in any way to conduct financial scams, as defined by:

• Schemes, products or processes by which a person may be deprived of their money, or of a possession of value, to the benefit of another, for no benefit to the victim, especially when conducted with the false promise of benefit.

This includes:

• Ponzi Schemes.
• Romance Scams.
• Investment scams.
• Fake jobs conducted from home.
• Match fixing.

12. Seeking to directly and personally exploit others in a manner which contradicts their human rights.

Including:

• Extortion.
• Blackmail.
• Slavery.
• Forced Labour.
• Domestic Violence.
• Human Trafficking.

This article does not cover the documentation of any of these items, only content that seeks to continue or start these forms of exploitation.

13. Harassment (Tier 2)

• Initiating, either on Sonata or elsewhere, a co-ordinated campaign directly attacking an individual.

• Calling sincerely for death, self harm or the contraction of a life changing or terminal illness, directly to an individual.
  Example: 'I think you should go and kill yourself'.

  Exceptions:

• Non genuine instructions, such that they contextually carry a lesser meaning. For example, 'Fuck off and die' can be translated as 'go away and don't speak to me any more', rather than actual instruction for the person to leave and commit suicide.

1. Impersonation of another person, real entity or copyrighted entity in a way that appears to be their genuine expression, or the genuine expression of the entity's owners

This impersonation must also:

• Have a high potential to cause a reduction in that person or entity's reputation.

• Have a high potential for others to become scammed or otherwise dangerously misled.

  If either of these conditions are not met, this article is downgraded to schedule 4.

2. Attempt to Use the Platform To Trade Illicit or Restricted Goods Or Services (Tier 3)

Attempting to obtain, advertise, gift or trade any of the following, or any components of the following:

• Firearms.
• Treatments which have been demonstrated to be fake and that give harm to a user.
• False, fake or forged documents.
• False, fake or forged currency (counterfeit).

3. Non Sexual Child Nudity

Depictions of children nude, even in a non sexual context is not permitted, except in very specific circumstances. This violation is in schedule 3 as we understand that some cases will be non exploitative in intention, such as parents posting a picture of their child in the bath. However, if we decide that a case is exploitative in intention, we will upgrade the violation to schedule 1.

Circumstances in which non sexual child nudity may be permitted, depending on context:

• Journalistic material depicting the consequences of war, famine, genocide or crimes against humanity.

4. Harassment (Tier 3)

Harassing other users on Sonata under the following definitions is not permitted.

• Repeated unwanted attempts to contact a single person to solicit sexual advances or personal contact information.
• Taking part in a co-ordinated campaign directly attacking an individual.
• Attacking someone for their designation as a victim of a crime, or as the relatives of a victim.
• Posting content intended to humiliate a person publicly.

5. Posting AI Generated Text Without Attribution

Posting text generated with the use of large language model AIs, such as GPT or LLaMa, without attributing the source of the text, or by attempting to misrepresent the text as genuine human expression.

Examples of acceptable attribution, exempting the post from this violation:

• "GPT: A person walked down the road".
• "GPT gave me this: A person walked down the road".
• "A person walked down the road - GPT".
• "As a large language model, I cannot write you a message".

Exceptions:

• Linking to AI generated content does not require attribution.

Note: This article is solely for AI generated text, currently AI generated images, or any other media, such as video or sound are not affected.

6. Glorification, Promotion or Encouragement of Intimidating Criminal Acts

Defined specifically as the following acts:

• Home invasion.
• Destruction of property in manner which causes bystanders to fear for their safety.
• Assault.

1. Attempt to Use the Platform To Trade Illicit or Restricted Goods Or Services (Tier 4)

Attempting to obtain, advertise, gift or trade any of the following, or any components of the following:

• Illegal drugs, such as cocaine.
  • Early precursor chemicals may not be considered a component if they also have more standard uses.
  • Accessories with common other uses, such as small plastic bags are not considered components.

2. Use of Deceptive Practices

Sharing content which intentionally attempts to deceive others, through any of the following means:

• Like or share requirements – content which requires an action in order to continue.
• Misleading material – describing a particular type of material, while delivering or linking to something completely different.
• Typo squatting – impersonation of a website or brand by using misspellings in an effort to deceive.

1. Personal Information

Personal information about another person that is outside the scope of Prohibited Schedule 1.3 and Prohibited Schedule 2.1

2. Copyrighted Material

Any material that is the intellectual property of any individual, company or entity, is not permitted.

This includes:

• Direct posting of copyrighted material without permission.
• Unpublished source code belonging to another person or entity.
• Linking to external sources of such material.

3. Attempt to Use the Platform To Trade Illicit or Restricted Goods Or Services (Tier 5)

Attempting to obtain, advertise, gift or trade any of the following, or any components of the following:

• Prescription medicines, such as Botox

4. Posting Realistic Manipulated Images or Video Falsely Depicting a Person or Entity

Fake imagery or video that defames or smears a person or entity's reputation in a manner that appears genuine or realistic. This can be either manually or AI manipulated media.

Examples:

• Superimposing a person's appearance over nude or pornographic material.
• Adding elements to a photo that may cause serious damage to the depicted person or entity's reputation.

Moderation Limitations:

• Automatic detection of material in this article is often not possible. We may require manual reports before being able to take action.

Notes:

• This will require moderator discretion over the definition of 'realistic'.

1. New content policies

Content that is deemed to be unacceptable under a new version of our content policy.

Note that this does not apply to:

• Content that was also deemed unacceptable by our previous content policy active at the time, but that was only discovered at a later date. This content will be dealt with under the correct schedule.
• Content that fits into Schedule 1, 2

This article gives firm provisions that content of any description which is made a part of this prohibited content policy at a later date, will carry no repercussions on the account of the person who posted it.

2. Incorrect factual content pertaining to the person complaining

If a person or entity requests that we correct factual information pertaining to them, such as their phone number, as we cannot change information posted by any user, we must delete it.

Note that this is only applicable to factual information that is provably incorrect, not to opinions.

Physical Harm: A significant negative physical impact on a person, due to actions taken as a result of content consumed, either to themselves or from another person.

Terrorist organisation: A group or state deemed to be a terrorist organisation by the United States of America or the United Kingdom, as detailed on the follow lists:

1. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
2. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/proscribed-terror-groups-or-organisations--2/proscribed-terrorist-groups-or-organisations-accessible-version

Glorification or encouragement (of an ideology): Genuine praise, made with conviction.

Democratic Countries: Any country designated as 'Full Democracy' or 'Flawed Democracy' on the latest Economist Intelligence Unit report.

1. https://www.eiu.com/n/campaigns/democracy-index-2022/