Illegally Activity in Our Spaces

We cannot allow any online Signpost spaces to become places where illegal or exploitative activity can be facilitated or promoted. Discussion of illegal activity in our spaces could bring harm to our users and get us banned from operating in a particular environment. As  a result, Signpost has a zero tolerance policy for any posts promoting illegal or exploitative activity in our spaces.

Examples of illegal or exploitative activity can include:

• The promotion of smuggling
• The selling and marketing of fake documentation
• Illegal employment
• The promotion of ways to circumvent legal asylum/border processes
• Any activity that might result in someone’s exploitation 

It is important that we make users’ expectations on this clear. All Signpost social media spaces should include in their guidelines wording that explains that promoting illegal activity is not allowed. Talk to your manager if you can’t find these guidelines for your instance.  

Looking Out for Suspicious Posts  

Posts promoting illegal activities may appear in an obvious or in a veiled way. It is important that digital community liaisons draw on their past experience and cultural perspectives to help identify these posts. If something seems suspicious but you are not sure, raise to your Moderation Lead.

Here are two examples of posts promoting smuggling picked up by our DCLs in Greece:

Example 1:

Example 2: 

• Signpost commenter: "Damn you Greece, keeping us like animals. Open the borders and let us leave."
• Smuggler: "Brother it does not have to be this way, message me for more information."

People may also sometimes post photos, stories or videos of illegal activities in an attempt to promote them eg. videos of a group of people successfully crossing a river to enter Europe.  

Responding to Posts Promoting Illegal Activity 

When responding to posts promoting illegal activity on the page consider your responses with intention. Here are some tips:

• Delete any comments that promote illegal activity immediately.
• If you’re not sure if a post promotes illegal activity, hide the comment and then talk to your manager.
• If someone posts photos or videos promoting illegal activity:
  • Take a screenshot of the photo or download the video.
  • Delete the photo/video from the page if you are certain it promotes illegal activity.
  • Hide the photo/video if you are not sure if it promotes illegal activity.
  • Forward the copy of the photo/video to your manager.
  • Your manager will tell you how to proceed. 

Banning Users & Deciphering Motives

When moderating illegal activity on the page you need to consider motive when deciding whether to ban users from our spaces. It is important to remember that many of our users are in desperate situations and often the only way out they can see is through illegal or dangerous routes eg. smuggling. When we ban someone from our page or group they will no longer be able to see any of our information, which could result in harm coming to them, so we need to be really sure we are doing the right thing by banning them.

When deciding whether to ban users Signpost makes an important distinction around a users’ motives. We need to distinguish between people looking for help and people looking to profit from the user's circumstances.

If someone comments asking for advice on illegal activity or help (eg. help getting smuggled), then:

• Delete the comment.
• Do not ban the commenter.
• Message the commenter in private explaining that we have deleted the comment and do not allow the discussion of illegal activity in our spaces. 

If someone comments trying to profit in some way from our users through illegal activity then:

• Delete the comment.
• Ban the commenter.
• As always, if you are unsure, speak to your manager.  

	Protecting Against Illegal Activity Checklist
	The DOs:
	Delete any comments that advertise or promote illegal activity.
	Ban any commenters looking to profit from our users through illegal activity.
	Hide a comment if you are unsure whether it is promoting illegal activities, then talk to your manager.
	Make copies of any photos or videos promoting illegal activity before you delete them. Then forward them onto your manager.
	Remind users looking for help that may be illegal that discussion of illegal activity is not allowed in our spaces.
	Talk to your manager if you can't find public user guidelines prohibiting discussion of illegal activities for your instance
	The DON'Ts:
	Ban people asking for advice on smuggling/illegal activity from the page.
	Ignore content that could be promoting illegal activity.