Acceptable Use Policy

1. Purpose

Market Cross is a community platform for local towns. We want every member to feel safe, welcome, and respected. This Acceptable Use Policy ("AUP") sets out the standards of behaviour we expect from everyone who uses the Service.

By using Market Cross, you agree to abide by this AUP. These rules apply to all content you post, including posts, comments, events, listings, images, and private messages.

2. Prohibited content and behaviour

You must not use Market Cross to:

2.1 Harassment and abuse

• Bully, harass, intimidate, or threaten other members.
• Engage in personal attacks or targeted campaigns against individuals.
• Stalk or repeatedly contact someone who has asked you to stop.

2.2 Hate speech and discrimination

• Post content that promotes hatred, violence, or discrimination based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or age.
• Use slurs, derogatory language, or dehumanising rhetoric.

2.3 Illegal content and copyright infringement

• Post content that is illegal under the laws of England and Wales.
• Promote, encourage, or facilitate illegal activity.
• Share copyrighted material (including photographs, images, artwork, music, video, or text) without the express permission of the rights holder. This includes material found on other websites, social media, or search engines — the fact that content is publicly accessible online does not mean you have the right to repost it.
• Remove, alter, or obscure any copyright notice, watermark, or attribution from material you share.
• Claim ownership of content you did not create.

If you believe content on Market Cross infringes your copyright, please see the Copyright complaints and takedown section of our Terms & Conditions.

2.4 Spam and manipulation

• Post unsolicited advertising, promotional material, or spam.
• Create multiple accounts to evade bans or manipulate discussions.
• Use automated tools, bots, or scripts to post content or interact with the Service.

2.5 Privacy violations

• Share someone's personal information without their consent (doxxing), including real names, addresses, phone numbers, or workplace details.
• Post photos or videos of others without their reasonable consent.

2.6 Misinformation

• Deliberately spread false or misleading information, particularly where it could cause harm to individuals or the community.
• Impersonate another person, organisation, or public body.

2.7 Harmful content

• Post sexually explicit content or pornography.
• Post graphic violence or content that glorifies suffering.
• Share content that promotes self-harm, eating disorders, or substance abuse.

3. Enforcement

Violations of this AUP are addressed proportionally. Depending on the severity and frequency of the violation, we may take one or more of the following actions:

1. Warning: A written notice explaining the violation and expected behaviour.
2. Content removal: Removal of the offending content.
3. Temporary suspension: Suspension of your account for a defined period (typically 7–30 days).
4. Permanent ban: Permanent removal of your account and all associated content.

Severe violations (threats of violence, illegal content, child exploitation material) will result in immediate permanent ban and may be reported to law enforcement.

4. Reporting

If you see content that violates this AUP, please report it. You can report content directly using the report button on any post or comment. You can also email us at moderation@marketcross.online.

All reports are reviewed by our moderation team. We take every report seriously and aim to respond within 48 hours.

5. Appeals

If your content has been removed or your account has been suspended, and you believe this was done in error, you may appeal by emailing moderation@marketcross.online with "Appeal" in the subject line. Please include:

• Your account email address.
• A description of what was removed or restricted.
• Why you believe the action was incorrect.

Appeals will be reviewed within 7 working days by a member of staff who was not involved in the original decision.

6. Changes to this policy

We may update this AUP from time to time to reflect changes in the law or evolving community standards. Material changes will be communicated via email or a notice on the Service.

7. Contact us

For any questions about this Acceptable Use Policy, contact us at: