Handling Abuse of the iVisit Service

iVisit has users from over 138 countries and many cultures; while the majority of users do respect the terms of use from time to time, as in any social system, some individuals may abuse the freedom communications software provides. Events like this are rare however iVisit understands they can be disturbing and so offers the following guide lines should you encounter any.

What do we mean by abuse?

A) Abuse - verb: Misuse, to make bad use of
B) Abuse - noun: Misuse, a perversion; an unjust or corrupt practice

What types of abuse could you encounter?

1. Verbal abuse, both public and private, in audio/chat (A)
2. Using a comment field to defame or harass another user (A)
3. Using a home name or comment to defame or harass another user (A)
4. A user calling repeatedly or following room to room (A/B)
5. Inappropriate video images in public places: e.g. flashers (B)
6. Video and chat related to illegal activities: e.g. terrorism (B)

What is the best way of dealing with these types of abuse?

1) Verbal abuse, both public and private, in audio/chat

• Ignore them completely
• Block their public chat text by hitting the C button above their Pencil icon in the Guest List window or their AV window. The worst verbal abuse can be via the Private chat and audio feature. Its creepier, and cowardly. Use the "block private by default" option in Preferences.
• If it's your home warn then Remove or Ban them
• If another's home ask the Owner/Moderator to Ban them
• Leave that home

2) A comment defames or harasses you

• Ask the person to change it
• Block them
• If it is your home warn then Remove or Ban them
• If another's home ask the Owner/Moderator to Ban them
• If this persists take their name and send that with a brief report to Admin

3) A home name or comment defames or harasses you

• Ask the person to change it
• Send a brief report stating room location and why offensive to Admin

4) A user calling repeatedly or following you room to room

• Never run in Auto Accept (green dot) mode
• Use the Block button if they call Use "Do Not Disturb" (red dot) mode
• If the person makes a threat to contact you in the physical world then you should call your local police. Give the users IP#, name and details. Save chat text, note the time and any witnesses etc. Take their IP number

• and use http://www.securityspace.com/swhois/whois.html to find the right email abuse@ address.
• Send a report of the incident to the ISP with the exact time the IP address was in use.
• Send a copy of this report to: Admin

5) Inappropriate video images in public places: e.g. flashers

• Ask the user to stop and change image
• Paste their video image in your window (reflect do not react)
• If it is your home Ban them
• If another's home ask the Owner/Moderator to Ban them
• Take their IP number and use http://www.securityspace.com/swhois/whois.html to find the right ISP details and abuse@email-address.
• Send a report of the incident to the ISP with a picture and all details you can gather. An ISP who wishes to identify an individual will need to know the exact time that IP number was in use.
• Send a copy of this report to: Admin

6) Video and chat related to illegal activities: e.g. terrorism, pedophile activity.

This is a delicate and dangerous area and if you're not prepared to follow through with a full report then get away from the user/leave the room at once. Without the proper details, and your willingness to make statements to the proper authorities, there can be no follow up or action taken; whilst iVisit remains vigilant against abuse of the service we can not act on heresay or gossip alone.

If you are willing to do this then please take the following approach;

1. Do not engage in conversation or interaction, simply collect the evidence required.
2. Take a copy of any Chat window text if relevant. Chat window 'Save as' or Copy/Paste the text.
3. Note the home or listing location - iVisit.net/neighborhood/home/location
4. Take a note of other usernames present in the room or listing.
5. Open the offending AV window(s) and drop down the lower panel of user information

This displays the users current IP number and date/time of connection.
6. Take a screen snap of your Desktop showing all the windows with IP number and time details, chat window, Address Book etc. This snapshot is your visual 'evidence' and must show every detail possible.
On a PC press 'Print Screen' to copy the Desktop to the Scrapbook then Paste it into Paint then 'Save As'
On a Mac press shift/Apple/3 and 'Picture 1.png' will be saved to your Desktop.

Who you send these details to will depend on the issue;

• Computer Security Incident (Hacking): http://www.cert.org/contact_cert/
• Cybertips Missing Abused Kids: http://www.missingkids.com/cybertip/
• National Information Protection Center: http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/cybercrime/ccpolicy.html
• FBI Main Site: http://www.fbi.gov/
• CIA: http://www.cia.gov/
• Interpol: http://www.interpol.com/
• FBI Crimes Against Children: http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cid/cac/crimesmain.htm
• Child Abuse Reporting Numbers: http://www.childwelfare.gov/can/index.cfm
• FBI Terrorist Reporting - The Internet Crime Complaint Center : http://www.ic3.gov/

And please always send a copy to: admin

Summary:

Abuse in one of these two forms (making a bad use of / a perversion or corrupt practice) will sadly always exist but hopefully from an ever decreasing number of the community. While iVisit does all it can to make the software and network "abuse free" and responds to complaints and issues in the best way it can, it's very important to remember that iVisit is the CARRIER not the CONTENT.

iVisit modifies and improves the software and network; adds new features and functions so that users can manage their own interactions and space. We do not want to manage peoples use of iVisit. Users can help us make the space better and safer by handling any abuse they encounter using the six protocols above.