Community Guidelines

WhapApp Community Guidelines

Our Community Guidelines set out what’s allowed and not allowed on WhapApp, and apply to users and all types of content on our platform, including videos, comments, links, and thumbnails.

All WhapApp users have a shared responsibility to read and learn about the Community Guidelines and report violations of Community Guidelines to improve the user experience for all. Please take the time to carefully read the policies and guidelines below. To report violations of Community Guidelines, please flag the video with the violation by using the Flag feature on WhapApp or email WhapApp at info@whap.app.

Users are what make WhapApp great. Being a WhapApp user means that you’re a member of a global community. We look to you to act responsibly and decently.

As a user on WhapApp, you agree to follow our Terms of Service, Community Guidelines, Contest Rules and Data and Privacy Policies.

It’s important that you understand these guidelines and policies and your role in our shared responsibility to keep WhapApp a place that users will enjoy. Violating these guidelines and policies may result in your videos being deleted, or for serious or repeated violations, your user account being restricted or even terminated.

Best Practices - Content with Children

We want Users to continue to have fun and be creative, but we ask that you follow our Community Guidelines. You should always be smart about the content you post online and ask for permission before you upload a video featuring someone to WhapApp.

Anyone posting content with minors must do the following:

Respect privacy. Secure consent from the minor’s parent or legal guardian before featuring them in your video. Make sure their participation in your video is voluntary.
Moderate user comments on your videos. There are tools at your disposal to filter and review comments, and you can always flag comments to us for spam or abuse.
Manage your video’s privacy and embed settings. You have several options to control who can view your video and how it’s shared on external sites.

Please make sure you understand and follow the law. You must comply with all the laws, rules, and regulations related to videoing and/or working with minors.

WhapApp is a place where people come to share content, express thoughts and communicate with one another. We want to ensure Users and viewers feel comfortable doing so. While the majority of WhapApp’s Users and viewers want to share, learn, and connect, we know there are instances of abuse, or even harassment. Learn more about the policies and tools in place to protect users on WhapApp below.

Policies on Hate/Harassment

WhapApp has specific policies to help protect against hate and harassment.

Hate speech: This policy protects specific groups and members of those groups. We consider content hate speech when it incites hatred or violence against groups based on protected attributes such as age, gender, race, caste, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
Harassment: This policy protects specific individuals. We consider content harassment when it targets an individual with prolonged or malicious insults based on intrinsic attributes, including their protected group status or physical traits. This also includes harmful behavior such as threats, bullying, doxxing, or encouraging abusive fan behavior.

We want you to feel comfortable when you're on WhapApp. That’s why we encourage you to use the various tools available to help protect you against hate and harassment.

Important: If you believe you’re in danger, get in touch your local law enforcement.

Report inappropriate or abusive content or users

Report abuse and inappropriate content
Report a privacy violation
Report impersonations of you or your content

Block inappropriate or abusive comments, content or users

Block commenters
Block specific words in comments
Hold comments for review

Trusted partner resources for online safety (US Only)

If you’re concerned that your account has been hacked, hijacked, or compromised, and you cannot reset your password, please contact WhapApp at info@whap.app.

Spam and Deceptive Practices

WhapApp doesn’t allow spam, scams, or other deceptive practices that take advantage of the WhapApp community. We also don’t allow content where the main purpose is to trick others into leaving WhapApp for another site.

What these policies mean for you

Don’t post content on WhapApp if it fits any of the descriptions noted below.

Video Spam: Content that is excessively posted, repetitive, or untargeted and does one or more of the following:
- Promises viewers they'll see something but instead directs them off site.
- Gets clicks, views, or traffic off WhapApp by promising viewers that they’ll make money fast.
- Sends audiences to sites that spread harmful software, try to gather personal info, or other sites that have a negative impact.
Misleading Metadata or Thumbnails: Using the title, thumbnails, description, or tags to trick users into believing the content is something it is not.
Manipulated Media: Content that has been technically manipulated or doctored in a way to misleads users. This type of manipulated media goes beyond clips taken out of context and may pose a serious risk of egregious harm.
Scams: Content offering cash gifts, “get rich quick” schemes, or pyramid schemes (sending money without a tangible product in a pyramid structure).
Voter Suppression: Content aiming to mislead voters about the time, place, means, or eligibility requirements for voting, or false claims that could materially discourage voting.

Suppression of Census Participation: Content aiming to mislead participants about the time, means or eligibility requirements for participating in a census.

Candidate Eligibility: Content that advances false claims related to the technical eligibility requirements for current political candidates and sitting elected government officials to serve in office. Eligibility requirements considered are based on applicable national law, and include age, citizenship, or vital status.
Incitement to interfere with democratic processes: Content encouraging others to interfere with democratic processes. For example, obstructing or interrupting voting procedures.
Distribution of hacked materials: content that contains hacked info, the disclosure of which may interfere with democratic processes, such as elections and censuses.
Incentivization Spam: Content that sells engagement metrics such as views, likes, comments, or any other metric on WhapApp. This type of spam can also includes content where the only purpose is to boost subscribers, views, likes or other metrics. For example, offering to like another User’s video solely in exchange for them liking your video, also known as "Sub4Sub" content.
Comments Spam: Comments where the sole purpose is to gather personal info from viewers, misleadingly drive viewers off WhapApp, or perform any of the prohibited behaviors noted above.
Repetitive comments: Leaving large amounts of identical, untargeted or repetitive comments.
Live Stream Abuse: Live streams intended to stream content that belongs to somebody else and are not corrected after repeated warnings of possible abuse.

Note: You're allowed to encourage viewers to hit the like button, share, or leave a comment.

Please note this isn’t a complete list.

Fake Engagement

WhapApp doesn’t allow anything that artificially increases the number of views, likes, comments, or other metrics either by using automatic systems or serving up videos to unsuspecting viewers. Also, content that solely exists to incentivize viewers for engagement (views, likes, comments, etc) is prohibited.

We consider engagement to be legitimate when a human user’s primary intent is to authentically interact with the content. We consider engagement illegitimate, for example, when it results from coercion or deception, or when the sole purpose of the engagement is financial gain.

What this policy means for you

Don’t post content on WhapApp if it fits any of the descriptions noted below.

Links to or promotes third-party services that artificially inflate metrics like views, likes, and subscribers
Content linking to or promoting third-party view count or subscriber gaming websites or services
Content featuring a User purchasing their views from a third party with the intent of promoting the service

Please note this isn't a complete list.

Impersonation

Content intended to impersonate a person or account is not allowed on WhapApp. WhapApp also enforces trademark holder rights. When Content causes confusion about the source of goods and services advertised, it may not be allowed.

What these policies mean for you

Don’t post content on WhapApp if it fits any of the descriptions noted below.

Account impersonation: An account that copies another account’s profile, background, or overall look and feel in such a way that makes it look like someone else's account.
Personal impersonation: Content intended to look like someone else is posting it.

Please note that this isn't a complete list.

External Links

Links that send users to websites featuring content that violates our Community Guidelines are not allowed on WhapApp.

What this policy means for you

Don’t post links in your content on WhapApp if they fit any of the descriptions noted below.

Links to pornography
Links to websites or apps that install malware
Links to websites or apps phishing for a user’s login credentials, financial information, etc.
Links to websites, apps, or other information technology that give unauthorized free access to audio content, audiovisual content, full video games, software, or streaming services that normally require payment
Links to websites that seek to raise funds or recruit for terrorist organizations
Links to sites containing Child Sexual Abuse Imagery (CSAI)
Links to sites selling items noted in our regulated goods guidelines

Please note this is not a complete list.

Inactive Accounts

In general, users are expected to be active members within the WhapApp community. If an account is found to be inactive, the account may be reclaimed by WhapApp without notice. Inactivity may be considered as:

Not logging into the site for at least six months
Never having uploaded video content
Not actively partaking in watching or commenting on videos

Encouraging Violations of Terms of Service or Community Guidelines or Contest Rules

If you post content that encourages other users to violate our Terms of Service, Community Guidelines or Contest Rules, the content may be removed, your account may be penalized, and in some cases your account may be terminated.

Posting Previously Removed Content

If you post content previously removed for violating our Terms of Service, Community Guidelines or Contest Rules or content from Users who have been terminated, the content may be removed, your account may be penalized, and in some cases your account may be terminated.

Age Requirements on WhapApp Products

We may ask you to confirm your age if we think that you are not old enough to use WhapApp.

Playlists Policy

Playlists are a great way to combine videos that your community may want to watch as a series. We know it’s not often intentional, but there may be times when playlists contain content that’s not allowed on the platform. This means that playlists that violate our Community Guidelines are not allowed on WhapApp.

Here’s a simple way to think of it: if you were to combine all the playlists’ videos into one single video, and that video were to violate our Community Guidelines, then the playlist may violate Community Guidelines as well.

What this policy means for you

Don’t post playlists on WhapApp if they fit any of the descriptions noted below.

Playlists with thumbnails, titles or descriptions that violate our community guidelines, such as those that are pornographic, or that consist of images that are intended to shock or disgust.
Playlists with titles or descriptions that mislead viewers into thinking they’re about to view videos different than what the playlist contains.
Playlists with videos that don’t individually violate our policies, but are collected in a way that violates the guidelines. This includes but is not limited to:
- Educational content featuring nudity or sexual themes for the purpose of sexual gratification
- Non-sexual content but focus on specific body parts or activities for sexual gratification
- Documentary videos of graphic violence for the purpose of glorifying or shocking
Playlists that include multiple videos that have been removed for violating our guidelines. If you notice that multiple videos in your public playlists have been removed or deleted, please take some time to remove those videos from your playlists as well. If you notice that some videos in your public playlists violate our Community Guidelines, please flag them and remove them from your playlist.
Playlists that depict physical, sexual, or emotional mistreatment of minors.

Please note this is not a complete list.

Nudity and Sexual Content

Explicit content meant to be sexually gratifying is not allowed on WhapApp. Posting pornography may result in content removal or account termination. Videos containing fetish content will be removed. In most cases, violent, graphic, or humiliating fetishes are not allowed on WhapApp.

Sexually explicit content featuring minors and content that sexually exploits minors is not allowed on WhapApp. We report content containing child sexual abuse imagery to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, who work with global law enforcement agencies.

What this policy means for you

Don’t post content on WhapApp if it has any of the items below. Explicit content featuring the below policy violations could result in video removal and account termination.

Depiction of genitals, breasts, or buttocks (clothed or unclothed) for the purpose of sexual gratification
Pornography or depicting sexual acts, genitals, or fetishes for the purpose of sexual gratification on any surface (such as video, text, audio, images)
Explicit or implied depictions of sex acts for the purpose of sexual gratification
- This applies to real-world or dramatized content such as sex scenes, video games, or music
Masturbation, fondling, or groping
Masturbation or fondling of genitals, breasts, or buttocks
Using or displaying sex toys to provide viewers with sexual gratification
Animated or illustrated pornography, sex acts, or fetish content
Nudity or partial nudity for the purpose of sexual gratification
Bestiality or promotion of bestiality
Incest or promotion of incest
Non-consensual sex acts or unwanted sexualization
Celebrity wardrobe accidents or nude photo leaks
Violent, graphic, or humiliating fetish content where the purpose is sexual gratification
Aggregating content for the purpose of sexual gratification
Any sexual content involving minors

Please note this is not a complete list.

Child Safety

WhapApp doesn’t allow content that endangers the emotional and physical well-being of minors. A minor is defined as someone under the legal age of majority -- usually anyone younger than 18 years old in most countries/regions. Content that targets young minors and families but contains sexual themes, violence, obscene, or other mature themes not suitable for young audiences, is not allowed on WhapApp.

If you find content that violates this policy, please flag it. If you believe that a child is in danger, you should get in touch with your local law enforcement to report the situation immediately.

Instructions for reporting violations of our Community Guidelines are available below.

What this policy means for you

Don’t post content on WhapApp if it fits any of the descriptions below.

Sexualization of minors: Sexually explicit content featuring minors and content that sexually exploits minors. We report content containing child sexual abuse imagery to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, who work with global law enforcement agencies.
Harmful or dangerous acts involving minors: Content showing a minor participating in dangerous activities or encouraging minors to do dangerous activities. Never put minors in harmful situations that may lead to injury, including dangerous stunts, dares, or pranks.
Infliction of emotional distress on minors: Content that could cause minor participants or viewers emotional distress, including:
- Exposing minors to mature themes
- Simulating parental abuse
- Coercing minors
- Violence
Misleading family content: Content that targets young minors and families, but contains:
- Sexual themes
- Violence
- Obscenity or other mature themes not suitable for young audiences
- Family friendly cartoons that target young minors and contain adult or age-inappropriate themes such as violence, sex, death, drugs and more. Make sure your titles, descriptions, and tags match the audience you're targeting.
Cyberbullying and harassment involving minors: Content that:
- Targets individuals for abuse or humiliation
- Reveals personal information like email addresses or bank account numbers
- Records someone without their consent
- Sexually harasses
- Encourages others to bully or harass

Please note this is not a complete list.

Content featuring minors

To protect minors on WhapApp, content that doesn’t violate our policies but features children may have some features disabled at both the account and video level. These features may include:

Comments
Live chat
Live streaming
Video recommendations (how and when your video is recommended)
Community posts

How to protect minors in your content

Our goal is to protect both uploaders and viewers. Before posting content of yourself, your family, or friends, think carefully about whether it may put anyone at risk of negative attention.

Make sure the minor is supervised by an adult and is performing age-appropriate activities such as demonstrating hobbies, educational content or public performances.
Make sure the attire worn is age-appropriate. Avoid attire that overexposes the minor or is form-fitting.

Don’t post content on WhapApp that features minors and meets one or more of the following:

Filmed in private spaces at home such as bedrooms or bathrooms.
Features minors soliciting contact from strangers, dares or challenges online, or discussing adult topics.
Shows activities that could draw undesired attention to the minor, such as performing body contortions or ASMR.
Reveals personal details about a minor.

Please note this is not a complete list.

Custom Thumbnails

Thumbnails that violate our Community Guidelines are not allowed on WhapApp.

What this means for you

Don’t post a thumbnail on WhapApp that fits any of the descriptions noted below.

Thumbnails that include pornographic images depicting sexual acts, nudity, or other sexually gratifying imagery
Violent imagery intended to shock or disgust
Graphic or disturbing imagery with blood or gore
Thumbnails with vulgar or lewd language
Thumbnails misleading viewers into thinking they’re about to view something that’s not in the video

Please note this is not a complete list.

Suicide & self-injury policy

At WhapApp, we take the health and well-being of all our Users and viewers seriously. Awareness and understanding of mental health is important and we support Users sharing their stories, such as posting content discussing their experiences with depression, self-harm, or other mental health issues.

We do not, however, allow content on WhapApp that promotes suicide, self-harm, or is intended to shock or disgust users.

What to do if you find this content

If you come across content in which someone expresses suicidal thoughts or is engaging in self-harm, please contact local emergency services immediately for help and flag the video to bring it to our immediate attention.

What to do if you need support

If you are depressed, having thoughts of suicide, or self-harming, know there is help and you’re not alone. Many people turn to suicidal thinking and self-harm as ways to cope with painful emotions. Talking to a specialist can help you identify healthy, effective coping strategies and develop skills to manage difficult feelings.

Visit www.selfinjury.com: S.A.F.E Alternatives is a network and educational resource base committed to helping end self-harming behavior.
Visit www.sioutreach.org: SiOS is an outreach initiative providing information and resources about self-harm to those who self-harm, those who have recovered, and those who want to help.

Mental Health-Related Content

WhapApp users should not be afraid to speak openly about the topics of mental health or self-harm. However please don’t post content on WhapApp if it fits any of the descriptions noted below:

Promoting or glorifying suicide
Providing instructions on how to self-harm or die by suicide
Graphic images of self-harm posted to shock or disgust viewers

Please note this is not a complete list.

Vulgar Language

Some language may not be appropriate for viewers under 18. We may consider the following factors when deciding whether to age-restrict or remove content.

Use of sexually explicit language or narratives
Use of excessive profanity in your video
Use of heavy profanity in your video’s title, thumbnail or associated metadata

Keep in mind that this isn't a complete list.

Harmful or Dangerous Content

WhapApp doesn’t allow content that encourages dangerous or illegal activities that risk serious physical harm or death.

What this policy means for you

Don’t post content on WhapApp if it fits any of the descriptions noted below.

Extremely dangerous challenges: Challenges that pose an imminent risk of physical injury.
Dangerous or threatening pranks: Pranks that lead victims to fear imminent serious physical danger, or that create serious emotional distress in minors.
Instructions to kill or harm: Showing viewers how to perform activities meant to kill or maim others. For example, giving instructions to build a bomb meant to injure or kill others.
Hard drug use or creation: Content that depicts abuse of or giving instructions on how to create hard drugs such as cocaine or opioids. Hard drugs are defined as drugs that can (mostly) lead to physical addiction.
Eating Disorders: Content that praises, glorifies, or encourages viewers to imitate anorexia or other eating disorders. Eating disorders are characterized by abnormal or disturbed eating habits which negatively affect a person's health (including eating non-food items).
Violent Events: Promoting or glorifying violent tragedies, such as school shootings.
Instructional theft or cheating: Showing viewers how to steal tangible goods or promoting dishonest behavior
Hacking: Demonstrating how to use computers or information technology with the intent to steal credentials, compromise personal data or cause serious harm to others such as (but not limited to) hacking into social media accounts
Bypassing payment for digital content or services: Showing viewers how to use apps, websites, or other information technology to gain unauthorized free access to audio content, audiovisual content, full video games, software, or streaming services that normally require payment.
Promoting dangerous remedies or cures: Content which claims that harmful substances or treatments can have health benefits.

Keep in mind that this isn't a complete list.

Don’t post content showing a minor participating in dangerous activity, or encouraging minors to participate in dangerous activities. Never put minors in harmful situations that may lead to injury, including dangerous stunts, dares, or pranks.

Violent or Graphic Content

Violent or gory content intended to shock or disgust viewers is not allowed on WhapApp. Also, content that encourages others to commit violent acts is not allowed.

If you believe anyone is in imminent danger, you should get in touch with your local law enforcement agency to report the situation immediately.

What this policy means for you

Don’t post content on WhapApp if it fits any of the descriptions noted below.

Violent acts:

Inciting others to commit violent acts against individuals or a defined group of people.
Encouraging others to go to a particular place to commit violence, to perform violence at a particular time.
Targeting specific individuals or groups with violence.
Beatings or brawls outside the context of professional or professionally supervised sporting events.
Fights involving minors.
Actual school yard fights between minors. We may allow content if minors are pretend fighting and that is evident to viewers.

Graphic content:

Footage, audio, or imagery involving any of the following:
- Road accidents
- Natural disasters
- War aftermath
- Terrorist attack aftermath
- Street fights
- Physical attacks
- Sexual assaults
- Immolation
- Torture
- Corpses
- Protests or riots
- Robberies
- Medical procedures
- Other such scenarios with the intent to shock or disgust viewers
Footage or imagery of bodily fluids, such as blood or vomit, with the intent to shock or disgust viewers.
Footage of corpses with massive injuries, such as severed limbs.

Animal abuse or violence:

Content that includes a human maliciously causing an animal to experience suffering when not for traditional or standard purposes such as hunting or food preparation.
Content featuring animal rescue that has been staged and places the animal in harmful scenarios.
Content where animals are encouraged or coerced to fight by humans.

Dramatized or fictional footage:

Content featuring anything listed above where the viewer is not given enough context to understand that the footage is dramatized or fictional.

Please note that this is not a complete list.

Violent Criminal Organizations

Content intended to praise, promote, or aid violent criminal organizations is not allowed on WhapApp. These organizations are not allowed to use WhapApp for any purpose, including recruitment.

If you find content that violates this policy, report it by flagging it using the Flag feature. If you've found a few videos or comments or a User that you would like to report, you can let WhapApp know by emailing WhapApp at info@whap.app..

If you believe anyone is in immediate danger, you should reach out to your local law enforcement agency to report the situation immediately.

What this means for you

Don’t post content on WhapApp if it fits any of the descriptions noted below.

Content produced by violent criminal or terrorist organizations
Content praising or memorializing prominent terrorist or criminal figures in order to encourage others to carry out acts of violence
Content praising or justifying violent acts carried out by violent criminal or terrorist organizations
Content aimed at recruiting new members to violent criminal or terrorist organizations
Content depicting hostages or posted with the intent to solicit, threaten, or intimidate on behalf of a violent criminal or terrorist organization
Content that depicts the insignia, logos, or symbols of violent criminal or terrorist organizations in order to praise or promote them

If posting content related to terrorism or crime for an educational, documentary, scientific, or artistic purpose, be mindful to provide enough information in the video or audio itself so viewers understand the context. Graphic or controversial footage with sufficient context may be subject to age-restrictions or a warning screen.

Please note this is not a complete list.

Hate Speech

Hate speech is not allowed on WhapApp. We remove content promoting violence or hatred against individuals or groups based on any of the following attributes:

Age
Caste
Disability
Ethnicity
Gender Identity and Expression
Nationality
Race
Immigration Status
Religion
Sex/Gender
Sexual Orientation
Victims of a major violent event and their kin
Veteran Status

What this policy means for you

Don’t post content on WhapApp if the purpose of that content is to do one or more of the following.

Encourage violence against individuals or groups based on any of the attributes noted above. We don’t allow threats on WhapApp, and we treat implied calls for violence as real threats.
Incite hatred against individuals or groups based on any of the attributes noted above.

Keep in mind that this isn't a complete list.

Harassment and Cyberbullying

Content that threatens individuals is not allowed on WhapApp. We also don't allow content that targets an individual with prolonged or malicious insults based on intrinsic attributes. These attributes include their protected group status or physical traits.

If specific threats are made against you and you feel unsafe, report it directly to your local law enforcement agency.

What this policy means for you

Don’t post content on WhapApp if it fits any of the descriptions noted below.

Content that features prolonged name calling or malicious insults (such as racial slurs) based on someone's intrinsic attributes. These attributes include their protected group status, physical attributes, or their status as a survivor of sexual assault, domestic abuse, child abuse and more.
Content uploaded with the intent to shame, deceive or insult a minor. A minor is defined as an individual under the legal age of majority. This usually means anyone younger than 18 years old, but the age of a minor might vary by geography.

Keep in mind that this isn't a complete list.

Exceptions

If the primary purpose is educational, documentary, scientific, or artistic in nature, we may allow content that includes harassment. These exceptions are not a free pass to harass someone. Some examples include:

Debates related to high-profile officials or leaders: Content featuring debates or discussions of topical issues concerning individuals who have positions of power, like high-profile government officials or CEOs of major multinational corporations.
Scripted performances: Insults made in the context of an artistic medium such as scripted satire, stand up comedy, or music (such as a diss track). Note: This exception is not a free pass to harass someone and claim “I was joking.”
Harassment education or awareness: Content that features actual or simulated harassment for documentary purposes or with willing participants (such as actors) to combat cyberbullying or raise awareness.

Note: We take a harder line on content that maliciously insults someone based on their protected group status, regardless of whether or not they are a high-profile person.

Covid 19 Misinformation

WhapApp doesn't allow content about COVID-19 that poses a serious risk of egregious harm.

WhapApp doesn't allow content that spreads medical misinformation that contradicts local health authorities’ or the World Health Organization’s (WHO) medical information about COVID-19. This is limited to content that contradicts WHO or local health authorities’ guidance on:

Treatment
Prevention
Diagnosis
Transmission
Social distancing and self isolation guidelines
The existence of COVID-19

Note: WhapApp’s policies on COVID-19 are subject to change in response to changes to global or local health authorities’ guidance on the virus.

Content Featuring Firearms

Content intended to sell firearms, instruct viewers on how to make firearms, ammunition, and certain accessories, or instruct viewers on how to install those accessories is not allowed on WhapApp. WhapApp shouldn't be used as a platform to sell firearms or accessories noted below.

What this means for you

Don’t post content on WhapApp if the purpose is to do one or more of the following:

Sell firearms or certain firearms accessories through direct sales (e.g. private sales by individuals) or links to sites that sell these items. These accessories may include:
- Accessories that enable a firearm to simulate automatic fire,
- Accessories that convert a firearm to automatic fire, such as: bump stocks, gatling triggers, drop-in auto sears, or conversion kits,
- High capacity magazines or belts carrying more than 30 rounds.
Provide instructions on manufacturing any of the following:
- Firearms,
- Ammunition,
- High capacity magazines,
- Homemade silencers/suppressors,
- Accessories that enable a firearm to simulate automatic fire,
- Accessories that convert a firearm to automatic fire, such as: bump stocks, gatling triggers, drop-in auto sears, or conversion kits
Provide instructions on how to convert a firearm to automatic or simulated automatic firing capabilities.
Provides instructions on how to install the above-mentioned accessories or modifications.

Please note this is not a complete list.

Sale of Illegal or Regulated Goods

Content intended to sell certain regulated goods and services is not allowed on WhapApp.

What this policy means for you

Don't post content on WhapApp if it aims to directly sell, link to, or facilitate access to any of the regulated goods and services listed below. Making the sale of these items or facilitating the use of these services possible by posting links, email, phone number or other means to contact a seller directly is not allowed.

Alcohol
Bank account passwords, stolen credit cards, or other financial information
Counterfeit documents or currency
Controlled narcotics and other drugs
Explosives
Organs
Endangered species or parts of endangered species
Firearms and certain firearms accessories
Nicotine, including vaping products
Online gambling sites not yet reviewed by WhapApp or WhapApp
Pharmaceuticals without a prescription
Sex or escort services
Unlicensed medical services
Human smuggling

Please note this is not a complete list.

Legal Policies

WhapApp will only consider legal complaints when notified by the party in question or their authorized legal representative.

About Collecting Societies

What is a collecting society?

A collecting society is an organization that licenses and manages copyrighted works on behalf of copyright owners.

Songwriters and composers become members of collecting societies to collect royalties from use of their works. Collecting societies monitor performances and distribution of the works on radio, television, in public venues, and online.

How do collecting societies work?

Collecting societies typically operate in a particular country/region. The society enters into various agreements with collecting societies in other countries/regions. These agreements decide how royalties that are earned in one country/region are paid to the songwriters and composers in another.

How do collecting societies affect WhapApp creators?

You might get a notice that one of your videos may include copyrighted content administered by "Music Publishing Rights Collecting Society" or “one or more music publishing rights collecting societies.” It means WhapApp's one or more musical compositions in your video was found and collecting societies may claim a portion of the rights.

As a WhapApp creator, what actions can I take?

If you get a collecting society notice and believe your video was claimed in error, listen to your video again and ask yourself:

Is there music in the background?
Was someone singing or playing a cover version of a song?

If the answer is yes to either question, then these uses of a copyrighted work often require royalties be paid to the songwriter or composer.

If you're certain no copyrighted work is included in your video, intentionally or unintentionally, you can dispute the claim.

If you dispute a claim without valid reason, the content owner may request a take down of your video. If we get a valid takedown request for your video, your account will get a copyright violation notice.

Submit a copyright takedown request

If your copyright-protected work was posted on WhapApp without authorization, you can submit a copyright takedown request. Submitting a takedown request will start a legal process.

Before you submit a takedown request, you should know:

Copyright exceptions: You need to consider whether fair use, fair dealing, or a similar exception to copyright law applies. If an exception applies, then the takedown request you submit would be invalid.
Personal info:
- If a video is removed for copyright infringement, the name of the copyright owner will be visible on WhapApp in place of the video.
  - If you give us a valid legal alternative, such as the name of a company or authorized representative, we'll review and apply it if appropriate.
  - The copyright owner name you enter will become part of the public record of your request.
- Your full legal name is required to complete a takedown request. It may be shared with the uploader of the video removed for copyright infringement.
- The primary email address from your takedown request may be shared with the uploader of the video removed for copyright infringement. The uploader might get in touch with you to resolve their copyright strike.
- Your physical address and phone number will remain confidential unless requested as part of a lawsuit. If WhapApp is required to share any information, we’ll notify you before doing so.
Prevent copies: You can select the option to prevent copies of the videos you’re reporting from being reuploaded to WhapApp. If you select this option, your email address and copyright owner name may be shared with the user whose video is prevented from upload.
Scheduled requests: You can schedule takedown requests to take effect after 7 days. Scheduled requests will notify the uploader and give them 7 days before the content gets removed.
Non-video content: If you want to submit a takedown request for non-video content, such as account icon images, please email disputes@whap.app. Our webform doesn’t support non-video takedown requests.

How to submit a takedown request

The fastest and simplest way to submit a copyright takedown request is to fill out our webform on a computer or email disputes@whap.app. The copyright owner or agent authorized to act on the owner’s behalf should submit the request.

Do not make false claims. Misuse of the takedown process, such as submitting false information, may result in the suspension of your account or other legal consequences.

We also accept copyright takedown requests by mail at Firebit, Inc., Attn: Legal Dept, 1935 Stonebridge Road, West Bend, WI 53095.

Privacy

If a video contains your personal information without consent, including your image, name, or national identification number, please contact us at disputes@whap.app.

Trademarks

WhapApp policies prohibit videos that infringe trademarks. If your content uses someone else’s trademarks in a way that might cause confusion, your videos can be blocked.

If you think your trademark is being infringed, keep in mind that WhapApp doesn’t mediate trademark disputes between users and trademark owners. As a result, we strongly encourage trademark owners to speak directly with the user who posted the content in question. Contacting the uploader may fix the problem faster in a way that benefits everyone.

If you can't reach a resolution with the account holder in question, submit a trademark complaint through our online Trademark complaint form or by emailing disputes@whap.app.

Counterfeit Goods

Videos that promote or sell counterfeit goods may be removed.

If you believe a video or account is selling or promoting counterfeit goods, you may file a Counterfeit complaint through our online form or by sending an email to disputes@whap.app.

Keep in mind that abuse of our legal forms may result in termination of your WhapApp account.

Defamation

Defamation laws vary by country but usually concern content that damages the reputation of another person or business. Although the definition of defamation varies around the world, in general, defamation is any untrue statement that is harmful to someone's reputation or causes someone to be shunned or avoided.

We take into account local legal considerations in our defamation blocking process, and in some cases, we require a court order. For us to be able to process a defamation blocking request, the claim needs to be specific and strongly supported. For example, it needs to explain why you believe the statements are untrue and how it damages your reputation.

In some cases, uploaders willingly remove harmful content. Because obtaining a court order can be costly and time-consuming, we encourage users to contact the uploaders of the content in question directly.

If you are unable to reach the uploader, consider whether the video meets the standards for removal under our Community Guidelines.

Because we are not in a position to adjudicate the truthfulness of postings, we do not remove video postings due to allegations of defamation. Consistent with Section 230(c) of the Communications Decency Act, we recommend that you pursue any claims you may have directly against the person who posted the content. If you choose to pursue legal action against the content User, note that we may be prepared to comply with any order requiring the content User to remove the posting in question.

If there is a court order that involves content posted to www.WhapApp.com you may forward this to disputes@whap.app or mail to the following address: FireBit, Inc., Attn Legal Dept, 1935 Stonebridge Road, West Bend, WI 53095.

Alternatively, you may wish to contact the uploader.

If you have an additional concern relating to WhapApp Policy violations please email info@whap.app.

Legal Complaints and Court Orders

If you feel that certain content on the site violates your rights or applicable laws, you may submit a legal complaint under our trademark, defamation, counterfeit, or other legal complaint forms or email us at disputes@whap.app. If you have a court order against an uploader, you may attach a copy of the court order in response to the autoreply you get after you file the appropriate legal complaint. Each court order is examined and evaluated on a set of regional and global criteria.

Keep in mind that you also have other resources to bring content to our attention. For example, if you feel the content does not comply with our community guidelines, please flag it.

Circumvention of Technological Measures

When we say circumvention of technological measures, we’re referring to tools that allow users to evade a software’s licensing protocol. This can mean serial numbers, keygens, passwords, and other methods to hack software or games.

What is the difference between CTM and copyright?

CTM is a tool that will give users the means to access software. Copyright is concerned with the depiction of the software or the means to acquire it. If the software’s interface is in the video, or there's a download link to the software in the video or video description, you may wish to file a copyright takedown notice.

A CTM claim is appropriate when the infringed material isn’t present in the video (or directly linked to), but the video offers a way for users to access it illegitimately.

If you believe you have a valid CTM claim, please fill out our webform or email us at disputes@whap.app.

Captioning

If you've gotten a notice informing you that your video is in violation of the Communications and Video Accessibility Act, you may have uploaded content that was originally shown on TV with captions. The Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) requires that all pre-recorded video programming that is captioned on TV is also captioned on the internet. If you believe you're exempt from the CVAA requirement, you may select a certification for your content.

If you believe a video is required by the CVAA to contain captions, but the uploader has not made captions available, please flag it or submit a request via email to disputes@whap.app.

What Services and Products are Subject to the Terms of Service, Community Guidelines and Contest Rules.

The Terms of Service, Community Guidelines and Contest Rules apply to videos, video descriptions, comments, live streams, thumbnails, playlists, messages, and any other WhapApp product or feature.

What Happens if Content or User Violates Any of the Foregoing Policies

If you or your content violates any of the foregoing policies or guidelines, we’ll remove the content and send you an email to let you know. If it is your first time violating our Community Guidelines, you’ll likely get a violation warning with no penalty to your account. If it’s not, we may issue a violation notice against your account. If you get 3 violation notices or more within 180 days, your account will be terminated.

We may terminate your account for repeated violations of the Community Guidelines or Terms of Service. We may also terminate your account after a single case of severe abuse, or when the account is dedicated to a policy violation.