PokeRaid Child Safety Standards for Google Play

1. Introduction and Purpose

Welcome to PokeRaid! We are committed to providing a safe and positive environment for all our users to connect and enjoy Pokémon GO remote raids. This Child Safety Standards document outlines our policies and practices to protect younger users on our platform, in compliance with Google Play policies and relevant legal frameworks, including the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) where applicable.

Our goal is to foster a respectful community where trainers can coordinate raids effectively while minimizing risks to children. This document details our approach to age appropriateness, data privacy, content moderation, safe communication, and parental involvement.

2. Age Appropriateness and Access

• Target Audience: PokeRaid is intended for Pokémon GO players. While the Apple App Store lists an age rating of 12+, and Google Play categorizes the app as "Social," our services are not directed to children under the age of 13.

• Age Gate & Verification:

  • PokeRaid does not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13.

  • If we become aware that a child under the relevant minimum age has provided us with personal information without verifiable parental consent, we will take steps to delete such information from our servers promptly.

• Compliance with Google Play Policies: We adhere to Google Play's age rating system and policies concerning apps available to children, including the specific requirements for apps categorized as "Social".

3. Data Privacy and Protection

We take the privacy of our users, especially younger users, very seriously. Our data practices are detailed in our Privacy Policy, which is readily accessible within the app and on our website (https://pokeraid.me/privacy-policy.html). Key aspects relevant to child safety include:

• Information We Collect: We collect information necessary to provide and improve the PokeRaid service, such as:

  • User-provided information (e.g., username, friend codes for Pokémon GO, in-app messages for raid coordination).

  • Automatically collected data (e.g., device information, app usage data, approximate location for raid identification if permission is granted).

• Use of Information: Information is used to facilitate raid connections, improve app functionality, provide support, and maintain a safe platform.

• Data Sharing: We do not sell personal information to third parties. Information may be shared with third-party service providers for essential app functions (e.g., hosting, analytics, translation) under strict confidentiality agreements. We do not share precise location data with other trainers.

• Parental Rights (COPPA & relevant laws): For users identified as being under the minimum required age (in the event of accidental registration and subsequent notification), parents or legal guardians have the right to:

  • Review the personal information we have collected from their child.

  • Request the deletion of their child’s personal information.

  • Refuse further collection or use of their child’s personal information. Parents can exercise these rights by contacting our designated Child Safety Point of Contact (see Section 9).

• Data Security: We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect user data from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.

4. Content Moderation and Reporting

PokeRaid facilitates communication between users for the purpose of coordinating Pokémon GO raids. We strive to maintain a respectful environment free from harmful content.

• Published Standards Against CSAE: This document, along with our Terms of Service (https://pokeraid.me/privacy-policy.html), outlines our standards against Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (CSAE). These are publicly accessible and explicitly prohibit such content and related behaviors (e.g., grooming, sextortion).

• Prohibited Content: Users are strictly prohibited from creating, uploading, or distributing content that:

  • Constitutes Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) or facilitates the exploitation or abuse of children in any way.

  • Is violent, threatening, promotes illegal activities, or is excessively graphic.

  • Is harassing, bullying, hateful, discriminatory, or defamatory.

  • Is spam, intentionally misleading, or irrelevant to raid coordination.

  • Infringes on intellectual property rights.

  • Shares excessive personally identifiable information beyond what is necessary for raid coordination (e.g., full names, addresses, phone numbers unrelated to Pokémon GO friend codes).

• Moderation Efforts:

  • We employ a combination of automated filtering tools and rely on user reports to detect and review potentially harmful content or behavior.

  • We maintain an integrated rating system for trainers based on their raid participation, which can help identify problematic users.

• In-App Reporting Mechanism: PokeRaid provides a clear, easily accessible, and persistent in-app mechanism for users to report:

  • Inappropriate content or behavior violating our standards.

  • Users suspected of violating our Terms of Service or these Child Safety Standards.

  • Suspected CSAM or any activity that appears to endanger a child.

• Addressing CSAM and Violations:

  • We commit to promptly reviewing reports submitted through the in-app mechanism.

  • We take appropriate action to address CSAM and other policy violations upon obtaining actual knowledge. Actions include, but are not limited to, removing the offending content, issuing warnings, temporarily suspending, or permanently banning the offending user account(s).

  • In accordance with applicable laws and Google Play policies, we have a process to report confirmed CSAM to the relevant authorities, such as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in the U.S. or other regional bodies.

5. Safe Communication Guidelines

We encourage users to communicate responsibly and safely while using PokeRaid.

• Guidance for Users:

  • Be Cautious: Think carefully before sharing any information. Only share your Pokémon GO friend code when necessary for a raid.

  • Protect Personal Info: Never share sensitive personal details like your full real name, exact address, school, phone number, passwords, or financial information in PokeRaid chats.

  • Be Respectful: Treat other trainers politely and avoid offensive language or behavior.

  • Report & Block: If another user makes you feel uncomfortable, shares inappropriate content, or violates guidelines, use the in-app reporting feature immediately. Consider blocking the user within PokeRaid if necessary.

  • Global Community: Remember that you are interacting with users from around the world.

• Platform Features: PokeRaid offers an integrated translation service but users must still adhere to communication standards. Direct messaging is focused on raid coordination.

6. In-App Purchases

PokeRaid offers optional in-app purchases (e.g., coins for features like "Auto Join").

• Transparency: All items available for purchase are clearly marked within the app interface.

• Parental Controls for Purchases: We strongly recommend that parents and guardians utilize the built-in parental control features provided by the Google Play Store and their mobile device operating system to manage or restrict in-app purchases. PokeRaid respects and does not bypass these device-level settings.

7. Parental Controls and Resources

We support parents and guardians in guiding their children's online experiences.

• Open Communication: We encourage parents to have open conversations with their children about online safety, responsible app usage, and the types of information that are safe or unsafe to share online.

• Platform Tools: Parents can utilize tools like Google Family Link to manage app access, set screen time limits, and apply content filters on their child's Android device.

• Device-Level Controls: We advise parents to explore and utilize the parental control settings available on their child's specific mobile device and within the Google Play Store account settings.

• External Resources: Reputable resources provide valuable information on child online safety. Examples include:

  • Google's Be Internet Awesome: https://beinternetawesome.withgoogle.com/en_us/

  • ConnectSafely: https://www.connectsafely.org/

  • Internet Watch Foundation (IWF - UK): https://www.iwf.org.uk/

  • National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC - US): https://www.missingkids.org/

8. Compliance with Laws and Google Play Policies

• Legal Compliance: PokeRaid is committed to complying with all applicable child safety laws and regulations in the jurisdictions where our service is available, including COPPA in the United States and GDPR-K in relevant regions.

• Google Play Developer Policies: We strictly adhere to the Google Play Developer Program Policies, including all requirements outlined in the Families policies, User Generated Content (UGC) policy, and the specific Child Safety Standards for social apps. We certify our compliance with these standards within the Google Play Console.

9. Child Safety Point of Contact

For any inquiries, concerns, or reports specifically related to child safety on PokeRaid, or for parents/guardians wishing to exercise their rights under applicable privacy laws (like COPPA), please contact our designated Child Safety Point of Contact:

• Designated Email: [info@pyde.tech]

• Via In-App Support: Reports concerning immediate safety issues can also be made directly through the in-app reporting mechanism described in Section 4.

This contact information serves as the official channel for communication with users and Google Play regarding child safety matters, including potential notifications about CSAE content. We are committed to responding to such inquiries promptly and appropriately.

10. Updates to These Standards

We may revise these Child Safety Standards periodically to reflect updates in our services, changes in technology, evolving legal requirements, or modifications to Google Play policies. We will provide notice of significant changes through the app or other appropriate channels (e.g., website announcement). Continued use of PokeRaid after such changes constitutes acceptance of the revised standards. We encourage users and parents to review this document regularly.