HIRC Community Guidelines

Last Updated and Effective: September 4, 2026

These Community Guidelines are intended to promote a respectful, lawful, and productive environment for members and participants of the HIRC community.

By using HIRC’s forums, platforms, or community services (the “HIRC Service”), you agree to comply with these Guidelines, all applicable laws, the HIRC Terms of Use, the HIRC Privacy Policy, and any additional rules posted by HIRC.

When HIRC is notified of, or otherwise becomes aware of, a potential violation of these Guidelines, HIRC may review the matter and take appropriate action, including content removal or limiting, suspending, or terminating a user’s access to the HIRC Service, as further described in the Terms of Use.

HIRC may modify these Guidelines from time to time. Please review them periodically for updates.

Prohibited Conduct

You may not use the HIRC Service to engage in any of the following conduct or to post or share content prohibited below:

1. Illegal or Harmful Activity

Illegal activities, including commercial sexual activity or trafficking, or the promotion of dangerous or illegal acts.

2. Malicious or Disruptive Activity

The transmission of viruses, malware, or other malicious or destructive code, or activity that harms, interferes with, or disrupts the operation or security of the HIRC Service.

3. Hate Speech

Content that promotes hatred or violence toward individuals or groups based on race or ethnic origin, national origin, religion, disability, gender, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

4. Harassment, Bullying, or Abuse

Harassment, bullying, intimidation, or repeated targeting of others with unwanted communications, including unsolicited sexual material.

5. Violence or Threats

Graphic or gratuitous depictions of violence; threats against others; or organizing, encouraging, or endorsing real-world violence. HIRC may escalate matters to law enforcement when it perceives a genuine risk of physical harm or a threat to public safety.

6. Child Safety and Exploitation

Do not post images of minors.
In addition, do not upload, share, or distribute any content that exploits or abuses children, including child sexual abuse imagery or content that presents children in a sexual manner. HIRC will remove such content and take appropriate action, which includes account disabling and reporting to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and law enforcement.

7. Sexually Explicit Content

Sexually explicit material shared with or directed to other users, including content intended to drive traffic to pornography sites or forums.

8. Self-Harm or Substance Abuse Promotion

Content that promotes or encourages suicide, self-mutilation, eating disorders, or drug abuse.

9. Impersonation or Deceptive Practices

Impersonating others; providing false information; creating an account for anyone other than yourself; maintaining multiple accounts; engaging in phishing or other deceptive practices; or soliciting payments from other users.

10. Privacy and Confidentiality Violations

Sharing another person’s personal or confidential information without authorization, including financial data, account credentials, or non-public contact information.

11. Account Misuse

Accessing another user’s account without authorization or attempting to compromise user accounts.

12. Spam and Unauthorized Solicitation

Spam, including unwanted promotional or commercial content or unwanted or mass solicitation.

13. Intellectual Property Infringement

Posting content without the legal right to do so, including copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property violations. Accounts consisting solely of other people’s posts or content copied from the Internet may be disabled.

14. Regulated Goods

Attempting to buy, sell, or facilitate transactions involving regulated goods, including firearms, alcohol, tobacco, or adult products, through the HIRC Service.

15. Contests, Promotions, or Commercial Activity

Running contests, sweepstakes, or promotions, or soliciting users for business purposes, including advertisements, referral links, coupon codes, or sales offers.

16. Professional Standards, Competition, and Public Policy Activity

Use of the HIRC Service must comply with applicable laws governing trade associations and competition.

Users may not use the HIRC Service to coordinate or encourage unlawful anticompetitive conduct, including price-fixing, market allocation, or the unlawful sharing of competitively sensitive information.

Discussion of public policy issues is permitted; however, users may not represent their views as official HIRC positions on lobbying or political matters unless expressly authorized by HIRC.

Reporting Concerns

If you believe content or user activity violates these Guidelines, please report it to:

partners@hirc.org