1. Zero-tolerance commitment
Proximate prohibits any content, conduct or use of the service that sexually exploits, abuses or endangers a child. This prohibition applies to profiles, photographs, videos, messages, Live Hubs, venue conversations, reviews, links, invitations and every other part of Proximate.
For these standards, a child is any person under 18. “CSAE” means child sexual abuse and exploitation. “CSAM” means child sexual abuse material, including visual depictions of a child engaged in sexually explicit conduct, whether real, altered or computer-generated where covered by applicable law.
2. Prohibited content and behaviour
Users must not use Proximate to create, upload, request, possess, store, link to, transmit, sell, promote or distribute CSAM or any material that facilitates child exploitation. Prohibited behaviour includes:
- grooming or befriending a child for sexual purposes;
- sexualising a child or soliciting sexual content involving a child;
- sextortion, threats or blackmail involving intimate material of a child;
- child sex trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation or related solicitation;
- encouraging inappropriate sexual interaction with a child;
- sharing links, instructions or coded language intended to obtain or distribute CSAM;
- impersonating a child or misrepresenting age to facilitate exploitation; and
- attempting to evade safety controls, reporting or enforcement.
3. Adults-only service
Proximate is intended only for people aged 18 or older. A person under 18 may not create or use a standard Proximate account. Age restriction does not reduce our obligation to prevent and respond to CSAE.
If we reasonably believe an account belongs to a minor, we may restrict or suspend it and take proportionate steps to delete or preserve information, depending on safety and legal requirements.
4. Prevention and platform safeguards
Proximate uses a combination of product rules, access controls, user reporting, account and content review, blocking tools, moderation records and enforcement processes. Safeguards may be updated as risks, technology and legal obligations change.
We encourage users to keep conversations on-platform, avoid sharing sensitive personal information, block suspicious accounts and report conduct that may place any person at risk.
5. How users can report a concern
In the Proximate app
Use the available report or block control from the relevant profile, conversation, message or venue flow. Reports should include enough context for us to locate the account or content. Users can also use the in-app Help and support channel.
By email
Email support@proximate.co.za with the subject “Urgent child safety report”. Include usernames, dates, the feature involved and a description of the concern. Do not attach or forward suspected CSAM.
A report to Proximate is not a substitute for contacting emergency services or law enforcement when a child may be in immediate danger.
6. How Proximate responds
When Proximate obtains actual knowledge of suspected CSAE or CSAM, we assess the report and take action appropriate to the facts, our published standards and applicable law. Action may include:
- restricting access to reported content;
- suspending or terminating accounts and preventing repeat access;
- preserving relevant records where lawful and necessary;
- escalating urgent matters for priority safety review;
- cooperating with valid requests from law enforcement; and
- reporting confirmed or apparent CSAM to the appropriate authority where required.
We may act without advance notice where notice could increase risk, compromise an investigation or conflict with a legal obligation.
7. Compliance with child-safety laws
Proximate seeks to comply with applicable child-protection, online-safety, evidence-preservation and reporting laws in the countries where it operates. Our process includes reporting confirmed or apparent CSAM to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children or the relevant regional authority when legally required or otherwise appropriate.
We respond to valid legal process and may provide information necessary to protect a child, investigate an offence or comply with law. Nothing in these standards limits mandatory reporting duties.
8. Evidence, confidentiality and privacy
Reports are handled on a need-to-know basis. We may retain report details, account identifiers, communications, access records and moderation decisions for safety, investigation, repeat-offender prevention, legal compliance and the establishment or defence of claims.
Users must not independently investigate suspected CSAM by saving or sharing it. Preserve non-content details such as the username, time and location within the app, then report the concern through the channels above.
9. Designated child-safety contact
The following contact is designated to receive child-safety and CSAE communications, including notices from Google Play, and can escalate them to the team responsible for review and enforcement.
Updates to these standards
We may update these standards as the service, risks or legal requirements change. The current version and effective date will remain available on this page.