Spam & Malicious Activity Policy

By Koo App
October 18, 2022

What is Spam? 

Koo understands spam to mean:

• Unsolicited, identical or nearly identical Koos, comments, ReKoos, or messages sent by a user or group of users across the Koo platform, typically in large numbers and to multiple users.
• Repeatedly “@” mentioning a user in a short period of time. Such behaviour when directed at women and children may also amount to harassment.
• Bot accounts created to generate artificial engagement such as likes, followers, ReKoos, etc in bulk.
• Using hashtags or keywords irrelevant to the context of a Koo/ReKoo/Comment in order to gain an artificial boost or entry into trending sections. Use of multiple unrelated trending hashtags in a similar manner also amounts to spam.
• Soliciting users to use or invest in quick-money schemes, encouraging users buying/generating cryptocurrency and seeking users’ personal information including but not limited to bank account details, Aadhaar details, etc.
• Repeatedly posting content in chat rooms which is irrelevant to the topic of that chat room.
• Repeatedly sharing links across the Koo platform.
• Continuously posting irrelevant comments under Koos posted by other users.
• Posting content in violation of system rate limitations set up Koo
• Posting/reposting content that is same or similar to original pre-existing content of another user in order to gain an artificial boost.

What is Malicious Activity?

Koo enables and encourages a free exchange of thoughts and opinions among all users and prohibits Malicious Activity or behavior of any kind.

Malicious Activity or behavior is defined as user(s) acting in concert or collusion to intentionally and artificially boost or hinder Content or User(s). Such activity is prohibited and may be illegal under law. By way of example and without limitation, such activity includes: 

1. A user or group of users engaging (liking, commenting, Re-Kooing, copy-pasting the same content in their Koos) with each other’s content, repeatedly and with an intention to give such content an artificial boost in visibility on the Koo platform, including in the trending sections. 
2. A user or group of users creating multiple accounts to post Koos/Comments/ReKoos about a particular topic to give that topic an artificial boost in visibility on the platform.
3. A user or group of users hindering any Content of User(s) in their access or use or engagement on Koo with or without an intent to bully or overpower or harass.
4. Use of bots or scripts or any other artificial means to influence Content on the platform either by boosting or hindering such Content. 

In certain circumstances Malicious Activity may also be illegal and punishable under the Information Technology Act, 2000. 

How is Spam Or Malicious Activity identified? 

Spam or Malicious Activity leads to bad user experience and adversely impacts the work of original content creators. Koo is committed to identifying and reducing the impact of Spam on the Koo platform and its users.

Any Koo user can report Spam on the Koo App or website by the following steps: 

1. Click on the two dots ( : ) on the top right corner of any Koo posted by a user. 
2. Choose ‘Report User’ from the pop up menu. 
3. Choose ‘Spamming, Scamming or Phishing’ from the options. 

Any Koo user can report Malicious Activity on the Koo App or website by the following steps: 

1. Click on the two dots ( : ) on the top right corner of any Koo posted by a user. 
2. Choose ‘Report Koo’ from the pop up menu. 
3. Choose ‘Malicious Programmes, URL or Code’ from the options. 

In addition, Koo’s security algorithms routinely identify content that falls within the definition of Spam or Malicious Activity. Such identification is based on correlation of User behavior over a large period of time.  

What actions does Koo take on Spam, Spammers and Malicious Behavior? 

At its discretion, Koo may remove, reduce visibility or hide such content. Users are also encouraged to not post such content by informing them through reminders and direct notifications. 

If a user believes that their content has been erroneously removed or hidden they may file an appeal for reinstatement using our Reporting and Redressal Forms in accordance with the IT Rules, 2021.

At its discretion, Koo may also take all or some of the following actions on the Profile of users who frequently post Spam or engage in Malicious Behavior

• Reduced or no visibility in feed and search results
• Reduced or no ability to comment 
• Reduced or no ability post content
• Malicious Activity may also be reported to authorities for investigation under the IT Act, 2000

In accordance with Rule 8(b) of IT Rules, when an action has been taken on a profile, users may request for a review of the action by filling out the form for Reinstatement of Profile available at our Reporting and Redressal Forms page.