Misleading and Deceptive Identities Policy

You may not impersonate individuals, groups, or organizations to mislead, confuse, or deceive others, nor use a fake identity in a manner that disrupts the experience of others on Cantina.

What is a misleading or deceptive identity?

One of the main elements of an identity on Cantina is an account’s profile, which includes a username (@handle), account name, profile image, and bio.  

An account’s identity is deceptive under this policy if it uses false profile information to represent itself as a person or entity that is not associated with the account owner, such that it may mislead others who use Cantina. Deceptive identities may feature the likeness of another person or organization in a manner that confuses others about the account’s affiliation. Fake identities, which may use stolen or computer-generated photos and fabricated names to pose as a person or organization that doesn’t exist, are also considered deceptive when they engage in disruptive or manipulative behavior.

What is in violation of this policy?

We prohibit the following behaviors under this policy:

• Impersonation
  You can’t pose as an existing person, group, or organization in a confusing or deceptive manner.
  
  
• Deceptive Fake Identities
  You can’t use a fake identity to disrupt the experience of others on Cantina. Using fake accounts in conjunction with other behaviors that violate Cantina's Community Guidelines will result in stricter enforcement actions. This includes operating fake accounts to engage in spam, interfere in civic processes, carry out financial scams, artificially inflate engagement, or abuse and harass others. Common features of fake accounts include:
  • Stock or stolen profile photos, particularly those depicting other people;
  • Stolen or copied profile bios; and/or
  • Intentionally misleading profile information, such as profile location.

What is not a violation of this policy?

Cantina allows the use of pseudonymous accounts, meaning an account’s profile is not required to use the real name or image of the account owner. Accounts that use pseudonyms or that appear similar to others on Cantina are not necessarily in violation of this policy, so long as their purpose is not to deceive or manipulate others. The following, for example, are not in violation of this policy:

• Accounts that share your name but have no other commonalities
• Accounts with usernames, account names, or appearances that are similar to others on Cantina
• Using Cantina pseudonymously

Who can report violations of this policy?

Anyone can report a suspected misleading or deceptive identity directly from the account’s profile.

In cases where an account is suspected of misusing a specific individual or entity’s identity, we may need more information to determine whether the account is run or authorized by the entity portrayed in the profile. To ensure we have enough context, we may need a report from the portrayed party or their authorized representative in order to take action.

How can I report violations of this policy?

If you believe an account is posing as you or your brand, you or your authorized representative can file a report. If you believe an account is using a deceptive fake identity or misusing the identity of somebody else, you can flag it as a bystander by reporting directly from the account’s profile.

By working together, we can ensure that Cantina is a safe and accepting platform for all.