Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) Policy & Standards

Last updated: April 3, 2026

Zero Tolerance Policy. Vault has an absolute zero-tolerance policy for child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and any form of child sexual exploitation. Any content that sexually exploits or endangers children will result in immediate account termination, content removal, and reporting to the appropriate authorities.

Our Commitment

Vault is committed to combating the creation, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material. We work to ensure our platform is never used to harm, exploit, or endanger children in any way.

What Is Prohibited

The following content and conduct are strictly prohibited on Vault:

Child sexual abuse material (CSAM) — any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor (anyone under 18 years of age)
Child sexual exploitation — any content that depicts, promotes, facilitates, or encourages child sexual exploitation, including but not limited to grooming, solicitation, and sextortion
Sexualization of minors — any content that sexualizes minors, including digitally altered, AI-generated, or drawn imagery
Grooming behavior — any conduct designed to build a relationship with a minor for the purpose of sexual exploitation
Sharing of non-sexual imagery of minors in a sexualized context or with sexually suggestive commentary

Detection & Prevention Measures

Vault employs the following measures to detect and prevent CSAM on our platform:

Age verification — all users must verify they are at least 18 years of age before accessing the platform
Hash matching — uploaded images are checked against known CSAM hash databases (when enabled via our CSAM checking pipeline)
Automated content scanning — text messages are scanned against moderation patterns to detect grooming language and other harmful content
User reporting — all users can report content and accounts directly within the app
Moderation team — reports are reviewed by trained moderators who can hide content, warn users, suspend accounts, and escalate to law enforcement
Auto-hide threshold — content that receives multiple reports is automatically hidden pending review

Reporting & Response

When CSAM or child exploitation is detected or reported:

The content is immediately removed from the platform
The associated account is permanently banned
All relevant content is preserved for law enforcement
A report is filed with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) via the CyberTipline, as required by U.S. federal law (18 U.S.C. § 2258A)
Additional reports may be filed with local law enforcement and the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) as appropriate
We cooperate fully with law enforcement investigations

NCMEC CyberTipline Reporting

Vault is committed to compliance with the REPORT Act and related federal requirements. As an electronic service provider, we report apparent violations involving CSAM to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) CyberTipline at www.missingkids.org/gethelpnow/cybertipline.

How to Report

If you encounter any content on Vault that you believe depicts or promotes child sexual exploitation:

In the app: Long-press the content and select "Report" — choose the appropriate category
By email: Contact us at safety@the-vault-app.com with the subject line "CSAM Report"
To NCMEC directly: File a report at CyberTipline
To law enforcement: If a child is in immediate danger, contact your local law enforcement or call 911

Data Retention for Safety

When content is flagged as potential CSAM, we retain the content and associated metadata (including account information, IP addresses, timestamps, and device information) as required by law for reporting to NCMEC and cooperation with law enforcement. This data is stored securely and is only accessible to authorized safety personnel and law enforcement.

Employee & Moderator Training

All members of our trust and safety team receive training on:

Identifying CSAM and child exploitation indicators
Proper handling and reporting procedures
Psychological well-being and support resources for reviewers
Legal obligations under federal and international law

Relevant Laws & Standards

This policy is informed by and compliant with:

18 U.S.C. § 2258A — Reporting requirements for electronic service providers
18 U.S.C. § 2256 — Definitions relating to child sexual exploitation
The REPORT Act — Strengthening reporting obligations
Canadian National Strategy for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation
Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) standards and best practices
WeProtect Global Alliance Model National Response

Contact

For questions about this policy or to report a concern:

Safety team: safety@the-vault-app.com
General inquiries: support@the-vault-app.com