kakaotalk

KakaoTalk Operation Policy shall be applied to chat service areas and chat-related additional services (ex. Talk Profile, Talk Board, Open Chat Cover, Open Chat Board, Open Profile/Posts, Channel Comment, etc). Other service areas and any content unprescribed in KakaoTalk Operation Policy shall be subject to Kakao Terms and Conditionsopen a new window and Kakao Operation Policyopen a new window

KakaoTalk operates the service in accordance with fundamental principles as follows:

First, privacy is the priority for all messages sent to/from users.KakaoTalk provides relevant functions to report chat messages from non-friends not to invade privacy of its users in Regular Chats, Group Chats and Secret Chats. Also, Kakao judges whether its operation policy is violated based on the reported messages and takes necessary measures if required to protect its users or services, such as limiting service usage and the like.

Second, Kakao applies more stringent standards for services that are accessible to any KakaoTalk users.For service areas that KakaoTalk users can view or engage in, such as Open Chat and Talk Channel, Kakao will apply more stringent operation principles to Regular Chats, Group Chats, and Secret Chats to prevent anyone from distributing illegal information and protect its users. However, even if the service areas are open to any KakaoTalk users, Kakao will judge whether a message or post violates the operation policy only when reported pursuant to the top principle of protecting user privacy.

Third, usage restrictions are applied in phases to the minimum range of service.Kakao has made it a rule to apply usage restrictions step-by-step depending on the reasons and number of violations, only for the service area where the violation occurred. However, Kakao can permanently ban the entire KakaoTalk service for clearly illegal acts such as child/juvenile/adult sex crimes, online financial frauds, and illicit distributions of lewd/gambling information, as well as malicious usage threatening stability and reliability of the KakaoTalk service.

Fourth, operation policy mirrors the voice of users.KakaoTalk continues to hear your voice and strives to improve its operation policy so that user safety measures and user rights do not conflict. KakaoTalk is always listening to your voice to protect its users and ensure their privacy and freedom of expression whenever it is necessary to improve its policies. Any modification hereof shall be notified no less than seven (7) days before its existence.

Kakao is an information communication service provider under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, and operates services which are guided by the Terms of Services, Operation Policies, and detailed operational guidelines, which were all established based on the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, the Youth Protection Act, the Korea Communications Commission’s provisions concerning deliberation on broadcasting and its Internet Content Grade Service(www.safenet.ne.kropen a new window), and other related laws and regulations.

Kakao is always open to users’ opinions and reports, which is used to continuously review and improve our Operation Policies and detailed guidelines. We advocate for free communication between users and strive to maintain a balance in digital safety by analyzing contents of reports and complaints submitted by users to add new policies and guidelines, and by studying users’ appeals to eliminate contents that can impede on users’ freedom of speech. We also collaborate closely with external experts to review our policies and quickly respond to rapidly changing social issues.

User-submitted reports and complaints

Kakao strives to prevent harm that can be inflicted on users by analyzing user reports and complaints to detect patterns and by adding preventive measures to possible harm done to other users to the Operation Policy and detailed guidelines.

Appeals

If a user submits an appeal to reassess a service restriction, the restricted action is reviewed to confirm whether it impedes users' freedom of expression, and a decision is made on whether to maintain or eliminate the policy.

Collaboration with external expert agencies

Kakao collaborates with external expert agencies to review our policies, which helps us create policies and services users can trust even more

Operating standards set out the details of activities and information you should be aware of when using the service and tell you what restrictions may apply if you do any things.

We recommend you read operating standards carefully before using the service so that every KakaoTalk user can enjoy a safe and pleasant service. Also, please report any breach of our policy or information or damage caused by other users to the Kakao team promptly via the Report function.

For detailed criteria, please refer to each item page. Kakao may take countermeasures if any act, even though not listed as sub-heading and content thereafter in the operational standards, is judged to threaten user safety and violate terms of service and operation policy while being perceived as offensive or sensitive content.

User safety

KakaoTalk is committed to creating environments where people can safely use the service and exerts every effort to protect children and adolescents from harmful Internet conditions. "User Safety" explains what acts and information is not acceptable since they may threaten the safety of KakaoTalk users.

• Sex Offenses against Children and Juveniles
• Sex Offenses against Adults
• Cyberbullying, including ostracism and harassment
• Criminal Acts and conspiracy
• Suicide and Self-Injury
• Violation of of privacy protection

Objectionable or sensitive information

KakaoTalk is committed to protecting the fre#heading=h.1rvwp1qedom of expression of its users for a more flexible and versatile connection. KakaoTalk is a service where people with different perspectives and of all ages, including children and teenagers, can freely engage in, and, therefore, it takes active efforts from every user to ensure respect and care for each other and protect children and juveniles. "Objectionable or Sensitive Information" explains what content is harmful to children and adolescents or not acceptable because it may cause sexual shame, discomfort, or disgust to others.

• Information on excessive body exposure and sexual activity
• Violent or disgusting information
• Profanity, abusive language and hate speech

Content related illegal or restricted products and services

It is not permitted to consult, promote, advertise, or trade via KakaoTalk any product and service violating relevant laws and regulations, infringing the rights of others, prohibited from selling online, or not available for sale to adolescents. Please read carefully about the "Content related illegal or restricted products and services" to ensure that you have no disadvantages while using KakaoTalk.

• Illegal and restricted products and services, etc.
• Products and services harmful to juveniles
• Quasi-investment advising, etc.

Ensure stability and reliability

KakaoTalk is committed to providing stable and reliable service to its users. Therefore, any acts that may compromise the reliability of the KakaoTalk service or affect its stable operation, such as transmitting illegal advertising information (Spam) via KakaoTalk or using the service in a manner not allowed by KakaoTalk without the explicit prior consent of the relevant user. Please read carefully about the prohibited acts stipulated in "Securing Stability and Reliability" since you may be restricted from using the entire KakaoTalk service for any act of harming the stability and reliability of KakaoTalk.

• Transmit advertising information for commercial purposes
• Service usage in a way not permitted by KakaoTalk
• Steal, trade, transfer, exchange accounts, etc.
• A large number of reports accumulated

Protect user rights

Kakao Talk is committed to preventing users from distributing information that infringes on the rights of others, such as invasion of privacy or defamation. Users shall do no deed or post no information that may infringe other users’ rights in the public areas, such as invasion of privacy, defamation, or infringement of copyright, etc. Any information reported pursuant to the procedures for Rights Infringement Noticeopen a new window may be restricted from appearing.

• Infringement of rights such as invasion of privacy, defamation, infringement of copyright, etc.

Service Restrictions by reporting

You can report a message and/or content judged to be a violation according to KakaoTalk Operation Policy via the Report function within the KakaoTalk services.

You can report any content available to anyone other than yourself, including messages from other people who are not your friends in a regular chatroom, messages from participants in an open chat room, user profiles, and posts.

Experienced operators will review and determine whether a message or content reported violates KakaoTalk Operation Policy, and Service Restrictions will be applied thereby. The service may also be subject to restrictions, with many report cases filed by multiple users.

However, even those who reported the damage can check only their messages and contents filed via the Report function for processing of the reported case, and KakaoTalk exerts every effort to minimize privacy infringement while dealing with the reported case.

Users can file an appeal against Service Restrictions via Kakao Customer Serviceopen a new window at any time, and operators will review the case and decide whether to lift the Service Restrictions.

KakaoTalk exerts its utmost efforts to take fair and prompt measures on the reported case.

Service Restrictions

If your activity violates Kakao Operation Policy; if the number of reports is cumulative within the Service; and/or if Kakao determines that you take advantage of the Service in a way interfering with regular service operation or causing damage to others, the KakaoTalk service may be temporarily or permanently restricted as follows.

Restriction of Search/ImpressionYou may be excluded from the list of Recommended Friends, or chatrooms and the KakaoTalk ID you created may not be exposed in the search results. Also, your KakaoTalk profile picture may be displayed differently from what you set, such as the default image, and the cover page of Boards and Open Chat may be restricted.

Restricted Messaging/PostingSending messages or posting/commenting may be restricted in regular or particular chatrooms.

Restriction of Chatroom UseAll or part of chatroom functions may be restricted, such as Create Chatroom, Invite, Join Chatroom. Also, if the owner or any participant of a chatroom violates KakaoTalk Operation Policy, he/she may be prohibited from joining the chatroom, and sending/receiving messages, and uploading a new post/comment in the chatroom.

Restriction of KakaoTalk Service UseYou may be restricted from using all or part of the KakaoTalk service, including its execution. In this case, you may be prohibited from using other services associated with KakaoTalk.

Such restrictions shall be temporary or permanent depending on how cumulative or intensive the relevant violation is. Also, if the provision of a healthy service environment is adversely affected, Kakao may restrict service usage in ways not explicitly listed in the above items under Terms of Serviceopen a new window, Kakao Operation Policyopen a new window, and KakaoTalk Operation Policy. In particular, for an open chat room, please be aware that Kakao may place restrictions on the open chat room when judging that there is a series of events subject to regulation, such as individual breaches by a participant.

Besides, Kakao may take measures to protect its users, such as preventing or restricting specific usage environments/patterns where a user may log in abnormally or violate terms and conditions so that users can enjoy a safe KakaoTalk experience.