Child Safety and Protection Policy

1. Age Restriction — 18+ Only

Silent Sparks is strictly an 18+ platform. Users must be at least 18 years of age to register and use the application. We do not permit any individual under the age of 18 to use our Services under any circumstances.

During registration, users are required to verify their identity using a phone number and OTP. If we have reason to believe that a user is under the age of 18, we will immediately suspend and permanently delete that user's account and all associated data, without prior notice.

Parents or guardians who believe their child may have created an account on Silent Sparks should contact us immediately at legal@silentsparks.in. We will investigate and take prompt action.

2. Zero Tolerance for Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Material (CSAEM)

Hidden Leaf Technologies has zero tolerance for Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) or any content that sexually exploits minors. This includes, but is not limited to:

- Any image, video, text, or other content that depicts or promotes the sexual abuse or exploitation of minors.
- Any attempt to use the platform to groom, solicit, or exploit individuals under the age of 18.
- Any communication or behaviour intended to facilitate access to minors for sexual purposes.

Any user found to be engaging in, facilitating, or attempting to facilitate such behaviour will have their account permanently banned and their details reported to the appropriate law enforcement authorities, including the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) and local police, as required under applicable Indian law including the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 and the Information Technology Act, 2000.

3. How We Protect Minors

We take the following measures to prevent minors from accessing the platform and to prevent the exploitation of minors:

1. OTP Verification: All users must verify their identity via a phone number and one-time password before accessing the app. This creates an accountable, verifiable identity for every user.

2. Contacts-Only Model: Silent Sparks only shows users people from their existing contact list. This closed-circle model significantly reduces the risk of unknown individuals, including bad actors, accessing or targeting other users.

3. No Public Profiles: Silent Sparks does not feature any publicly accessible user profiles. Users are not visible to anyone who does not already have their phone number. This protects all users, including potential minors who may have inadvertently gained access.

4. Mutual Match Only: No user is notified of another user's interest unless the interest is mutual. This prevents one-sided contact initiation and reduces the risk of targeted harassment or grooming attempts.

5. Account Review: Hidden Leaf Technologies may review accounts flagged for suspicious behaviour and take appropriate action, including account suspension, data deletion, and reporting to law enforcement.

4. Reporting CSAE Content or Behaviour

If you become aware of any content or behaviour on Silent Sparks that you believe constitutes child sexual abuse or exploitation, we urge you to report it immediately.

Report to us:
Email: legal@silentsparks.in
Subject line: CSAE Report

Please include as much detail as possible, including the phone number or any identifiable information about the reported account, and a description of the behaviour or content.

Report to authorities:
You may also report CSAE content directly to:
- Cyber Crime Portal (India): https://cybercrime.gov.in
- National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR): https://ncpcr.gov.in
- POCSO e-Box: https://pocso.ncpcr.gov.in
- Local Police

Hidden Leaf Technologies will cooperate fully with law enforcement authorities in any investigation related to child sexual abuse or exploitation.

5. Our Response to Reports

Upon receiving a report of CSAE content or behaviour, Hidden Leaf Technologies will:

1. Acknowledge the report within 24 hours.
2. Immediately suspend the reported account pending investigation.
3. Investigate the report promptly.
4. Permanently ban any account found to have engaged in CSAE behaviour.
5. Report confirmed CSAE cases to the relevant law enforcement authorities and, where legally required, to the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) or equivalent Indian authority.
6. Preserve relevant evidence in accordance with applicable law.

6. Legal Framework

This policy is framed in accordance with the following Indian laws and regulations:

- Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012
- Information Technology Act, 2000 and its amendments
- Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021
- Indian Penal Code, 1860 (as applicable)
- Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023

7. Policy Updates

Hidden Leaf Technologies may update this policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, applicable laws, or platform features. Updates will be posted at https://www.silentsparks.in/child-safety-policy. We encourage users to review this policy periodically.

8. Contact

For any questions, concerns, or reports related to child safety on Silent Sparks, please contact:

Grievance Officer / Child Safety Contact
Hidden Leaf Technologies
Email: legal@silentsparks.in
#39, 8th Main Road, Vasanth Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560052