Safety Policy: Child Protection & Abuse Prevention

Effective Date: January 2025
Last Updated: January 2025

IRL is committed to creating a safe environment for all users, with a particular focus on protecting children and preventing child sexual abuse and exploitation. This Safety Policy outlines our zero-tolerance approach to child sexual abuse material (CSAM), our reporting mechanisms, and our commitment to compliance with applicable laws.

1. Zero Tolerance for Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM)

IRL maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy regarding child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and any content that exploits, endangers, or harms minors. We prohibit:

  • Any visual or written content depicting sexual activity involving minors
  • Content that sexualizes minors or presents minors in a sexualized manner
  • Any attempt to create, distribute, upload, share, or solicit CSAM
  • Grooming behaviors or attempts to exploit minors through the platform
  • Content that facilitates or enables child exploitation
  • Any communication, including direct messages, that seeks to exploit or harm minors

Violation of this policy results in immediate and permanent account termination, and we will report all instances to the appropriate law enforcement authorities, including the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in the United States.

2. Age Requirements and Age Verification

IRL requires users to be at least 13 years old to create an account. We implement age verification measures to the best of our ability:

  • Users must provide their date of birth during account registration
  • We may use additional verification methods to confirm age when necessary
  • Accounts suspected of belonging to users under 13 are immediately restricted and may be deleted
  • We may require additional verification for accounts that exhibit patterns consistent with underage users

If we discover that we have collected personal information from a child under 13, we will immediately delete that information and terminate the account.

3. Content Moderation and Detection

IRL employs a multi-layered approach to detect and prevent harmful content:

  • Automated Detection Systems: We use machine learning and automated systems to scan uploaded content for known CSAM using industry-standard hash matching technology and other detection methods
  • Human Review: Our safety team reviews reported content and suspicious activity promptly
  • Proactive Monitoring: We monitor for patterns of behavior associated with exploitation or grooming
  • User Reporting: Users can report suspicious content or behavior through in-app reporting tools

All uploaded content, including videos and reactions, is subject to review. Content that violates our policies is removed immediately, and accounts are subject to permanent suspension.

4. Reporting Mechanisms

If you encounter content or behavior that violates our safety policies, especially content involving minors, please report it immediately:

  • In-App Reporting: Use the report function within the IRL app on any content or user profile
  • Website Reporting: Visit theirlapp.com/contact to submit a safety report
  • Email Reporting: Send reports to mohoshirmo@gmail.com with "SAFETY REPORT" in the subject line
  • Emergency Situations: If you believe a child is in immediate danger, contact your local law enforcement immediately

When reporting, please include:

  • The username or profile link of the offending account
  • A description of the content or behavior
  • Screenshots or links to the content (if safe to capture)
  • Any relevant context or additional information

All reports are treated with the highest priority and reviewed promptly by our safety team.

5. Legal Compliance and Law Enforcement

IRL fully complies with applicable laws regarding child protection and online safety, including:

  • United States: We comply with federal laws including the PROTECT Act, which requires reporting of CSAM to NCMEC
  • International: We comply with applicable international laws and conventions regarding child protection
  • Reporting Requirements: When we identify CSAM or credible reports of child exploitation, we immediately report to NCMEC and may report to other appropriate law enforcement agencies
  • Preservation of Evidence: We preserve relevant information and content when required for law enforcement investigations

We cooperate fully with law enforcement investigations and respond promptly to valid legal requests, including preservation requests and subpoenas.

6. Account Actions and Enforcement

Accounts that violate our safety policies, especially those involving minors, face immediate and severe consequences:

  • Immediate Suspension: Accounts found to be sharing CSAM or engaging in exploitation are immediately and permanently suspended
  • Content Removal: All violating content is removed immediately
  • Device Blocking: We may block devices associated with violating accounts to prevent re-registration
  • Law Enforcement Notification: We report all instances of CSAM and exploitation to appropriate authorities
  • No Appeals: Violations involving child safety are not subject to appeal

7. Education and Awareness

IRL is committed to educating users about online safety:

  • We provide safety resources and guidelines for users
  • Parents and guardians are encouraged to supervise minor users' accounts
  • We encourage users to report suspicious behavior, even if they are uncertain
  • We maintain transparent communication about our safety policies and enforcement actions

8. Parental Controls and Supervision

IRL recommends that parents and guardians:

  • Supervise their minor children's use of the app
  • Regularly review their children's contacts and shared content
  • Educate their children about online safety and the importance of reporting suspicious behavior
  • Set appropriate privacy settings for minor accounts
  • Contact us if they have concerns about their child's account or safety

Parents and legal guardians may request account deletion or access to their minor child's account information as permitted by law. Please contact us through the methods listed above with verification of your relationship to the minor.

9. Grooming and Exploitation Prevention

IRL prohibits grooming behaviors and takes proactive steps to prevent exploitation:

  • We monitor for patterns of behavior associated with grooming, including attempts to establish inappropriate relationships with minors
  • We restrict certain features for accounts identified as belonging to minors, including limitations on unsolicited direct messages
  • We provide educational warnings about online safety
  • We encourage users to report any suspicious or inappropriate communication

10. Data Retention and Privacy

While we are committed to user privacy, we may retain certain information when necessary for:

  • Child safety investigations
  • Law enforcement requests
  • Prevention of future harm
  • Compliance with legal obligations

This includes content reported for CSAM or exploitation, which may be retained and shared with law enforcement even if it would otherwise be subject to deletion. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

11. Commitment to Continuous Improvement

IRL is committed to continuously improving our safety measures:

  • We regularly review and update our detection systems
  • We stay current with industry best practices and emerging threats
  • We collaborate with safety organizations and industry partners
  • We invest in technology and training to enhance our safety capabilities

12. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or need to report a safety issue, please contact us:

  • Email: mohoshirmo@gmail.com (include "SAFETY REPORT" in subject line for urgent matters)
  • Contact Form: theirlapp.com/contact
  • Mailing Address: Mohammad H Shirmohammadi, 3335 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90007

For emergencies or situations involving immediate danger to a child, please contact your local law enforcement immediately. In the United States, call 911 or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).

13. Additional Resources

If you or someone you know has been affected by online exploitation, help is available:

By using IRL, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to this Safety Policy. We take child safety seriously, and we expect all users to respect and uphold these standards.

This Safety Policy may be updated periodically to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. Material changes will be communicated through the app or via email. Continued use of IRL after such changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.