Community Guidelines

1.1 PesaBass is a global platform that serves diverse communities across Africa and beyond. Every user has the right to feel welcome, safe, and respected.

1.2 No Harassment or Bullying: Do not target another user with repeated abuse, threats, intimidation, doxxing (exposing private information), or behaviour designed to humiliate or silence them. Cyber-harassment is an offence under the Kenya Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, 2018, Section 27.

1.3 No Hate Speech or Discrimination: Content that attacks, demeans, or incites violence against individuals or groups based on race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, health status, or any other protected characteristic is strictly prohibited. Kenya's National Cohesion and Integration Act, 2008 (Section 13) and the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 (Article 27) enshrine non-discrimination.

1.4 No Threats: Credible threats of physical violence, sexual assault, or any real-world harm will result in immediate action, including referral to law enforcement.

1.5 Constructive Criticism: You may disagree with others — debate ideas, not people. Personal insults, name-calling, and character attacks are never acceptable.

2.1 Only Upload What You Own: Whether it's a track, beat, video, image, or social post, you must own the rights or have written permission from the rights holder. The Kenya Copyright Act, 2001 and the Berne Convention protect original creative works internationally.

2.2 Copyright Infringement: Uploading, streaming, or distributing copyrighted content without authorization is a violation. PesaBass will remove infringing content pursuant to our DMCA Policy and may terminate repeat infringers.

2.3 Sampling & Covers: If your music includes samples, interpolations, or covers, ensure you have the necessary mechanical and synchronization licences. Unlicensed sampling violates both copyright law and our Terms.

2.4 Attribution: When sharing or reposting another creator's work (where permitted), always give proper credit. PesaBass's share/repost feature automatically attributes the original creator.

2.5 Trademark: Do not use the PesaBass name, logo, or branding in a way that implies official endorsement or partnership without written authorization.

The following content is never allowed on PesaBass, regardless of context. Posting it may result in immediate permanent ban and referral to authorities:

3.1 Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM): Any content depicting or promoting the sexual exploitation or abuse of minors. We report all instances to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), Kenya's Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), and relevant authorities under the Children Act, 2022 and the Sexual Offences Act, 2006.

3.2 Terrorism & Violent Extremism: Content that promotes, supports, glorifies, or recruits for terrorist organizations or violent extremist causes. Reportable under the Kenya Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2012.

3.3 Non-Consensual Intimate Images: Sharing intimate, sexual, or nude images/videos of any person without their explicit consent ("revenge porn"). This is an offence under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, 2018, Section 26.

3.4 Graphic Violence & Gore: Excessively graphic depictions of violence, mutilation, torture, or death. Artistic depictions in music videos may be permitted with an age-gate and content warning at PesaBass's discretion.

3.5 Self-Harm & Suicide: Content that promotes, glorifies, or provides instructions for self-harm or suicide. If you or someone you know is in crisis, please contact the Kenya Red Cross (1199) or the Befrienders helpline (+254 722 178 177).

3.6 Dangerous Misinformation: False information that poses a serious risk to public health or safety, including medical misinformation, election disinformation, or conspiracy theories promoting real-world harm. Section 22 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, 2018 addresses false publications.

3.7 Animal Cruelty: Content depicting the torture, abuse, or killing of animals for entertainment purposes.

The following content types are restricted and may require age-gating, content warnings, or limited distribution:

4.1 Mature/Explicit Music: Tracks, videos, or Vibes with explicit language, sexual themes, or drug references must be tagged as "Explicit" during upload. PesaBass may restrict explicit content from appearing in discovery feeds for users under 18.

4.2 Alcohol & Tobacco: Content promoting alcohol or tobacco brands must comply with the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act, 2010, the Tobacco Control Act, 2007, and must not target minors.

4.3 Gambling: Promotion of gambling or betting services requires appropriate regulatory approval under the Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act (Cap 131).

4.4 Political Content: Political advertising must be disclosed. PesaBass is not a political platform and reserves the right to limit the visibility of political content in music discovery feeds.

4.5 Graphic Artistic Content: Music videos or visual art with artistic depictions of violence, sexuality, or other mature themes may be permitted with content warnings. PesaBass moderators make the final determination.

5.1 No Impersonation: Do not pretend to be another artist, public figure, brand, or any other person or entity. Parody and fan accounts must be clearly labelled in the account name or bio.

5.2 No Spam: Repetitive, unsolicited, or automated content (posts, comments, DMs) is prohibited. This includes mass follow/unfollow tactics, bot-driven engagement, and comment spam.

5.3 No Manipulation: Do not artificially inflate streams, likes, followers, or any engagement metric through bots, click farms, coordinated inauthentic behavior, or paid-for fake engagement. Such manipulation violates our Terms of Service and may result in earnings forfeiture.

5.4 No Phishing or Scams: Do not post or send phishing links, fake login pages, advance-fee scams, or any content designed to defraud other users. Computer fraud is an offence under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, 2018, Section 16.

5.5 Accurate Information: Artist profiles, event listings, merchandise descriptions, and all public-facing information must be truthful and accurate.

6.1 All community guidelines apply equally to Vibes (short-form video), live streams, and Stories.

6.2 Live Streaming: Live streams are moderated in real time. Going live to broadcast prohibited content will result in immediate stream termination and account action. Do not broadcast content that would be prohibited under the Kenya Information and Communication Act, 1998 (as amended) or the Films and Stage Plays Act (Cap 222).

6.3 Challenges & Trends: Do not create or participate in challenges that encourage dangerous, illegal, or harmful activities. PesaBass may remove trending hashtags or challenges that pose safety risks.

6.4 Music Usage: When using music in Vibes or Stories, use tracks from the PesaBass licensed catalog, your own original music, or music you have explicit permission to use. Full details in our Social Feed Policy.

7.1 Event listings must be accurate — correct date, time, venue, and pricing. Organizers who consistently post misleading event information risk account suspension.

7.2 Ticket scalping (reselling tickets above face value through the platform) is prohibited.

7.3 Fake event listings designed to collect payments fraudulently are a criminal offence (obtaining by false pretences under the Penal Code, Cap 63, Section 313) and will be reported to law enforcement.

7.4 Live events promoted on PesaBass must comply with all applicable local licensing, safety, and public event regulations.

8.1 PesaBass is committed to the safety of young users. Users under 18 may use PesaBass with parental or guardian consent.

8.2 Adults must not contact minors for any sexual, exploitative, or predatory purpose. Grooming behaviour will result in immediate permanent ban and referral to law enforcement.

8.3 Content targeting minors must be age-appropriate. Explicit content must never be directed at or designed to be consumed by users under 18.

8.4 In compliance with the Kenya Children Act, 2022, PesaBass implements additional safeguards for users identified as under 18, including restricted DMs, limited visibility of explicit content, and enhanced reporting protections.

8.5 All users are encouraged to report any content or behavior that endangers a minor. PesaBass will prioritize such reports for immediate review.

9.1 How to Report: Use the "Report" button (three-dot menu) on any post, comment, Vibe, story, DM, profile, or event listing. Select the appropriate violation category.

9.2 What Happens Next: Reports are reviewed by our Trust & Safety team, usually within 48 hours. You'll receive a notification when a decision is made on your report.

9.3 Confidentiality: Your identity as a reporter is never shared with the person you reported.

9.4 Emergency Situations: If you believe someone is in immediate physical danger, contact local emergency services first (Kenya: 999 or 112), then report on PesaBass.

9.5 False Reporting: Repeatedly filing false reports to harass another user is itself a violation and may result in sanctions against the reporting user.

PesaBass uses a combination of automated (AI) and human moderation to enforce these guidelines. When a violation is confirmed, we take action proportionate to the severity:

10.1 Immediate Escalation: For the most severe violations (CSAM, terrorism, credible death threats, non-consensual intimate images), PesaBass bypasses the strike system and applies an immediate permanent ban with law enforcement referral.

10.2 Strikes Expiry: Strikes expire after 12 months of good standing. This does not apply to permanent bans.

10.3 Monetization Impact: Users with active strikes may be temporarily or permanently excluded from monetization features (streaming revenue, live gifts, merchandise sales).

11.1 If you believe your content was removed or your account was actioned in error, you have the right to appeal within 30 days.

11.2 Submit your appeal through the Support Center. Include your username, the content in question, and a brief explanation of why you believe the decision was incorrect.

11.3 Appeals are reviewed by a different team member than the one who made the original moderation decision. You will receive a response within 5 business days.

11.4 The appeal decision is final. PesaBass reserves the right to uphold, modify, or reverse the original enforcement action.

These Community Guidelines are enforced in conjunction with the following legal frameworks:

• Constitution of Kenya, 2010 — Article 27 (equality), Article 33 (freedom of expression with limitations), Article 53 (children's rights)
• Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, 2018 — Cyberstalking (s.27), false publications (s.22), child exploitation (s.24)
• National Cohesion and Integration Act, 2008 — Ethnic and racial hate speech (s.13)
• Kenya Copyright Act, 2001 — Copyright protection and infringement
• Data Protection Act, 2019 — Personal data processing and privacy
• Children Act, 2022 — Protection of minors online
• Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2012 — Terrorist content
• Sexual Offences Act, 2006 — Sexual exploitation and abuse
• Penal Code (Cap 63) — Incitement to violence (s.96), obtaining by false pretences (s.313)
• GDPR (EU) — For users in the European Economic Area
• DMCA (U.S.) — Copyright takedown and safe harbour

Where local laws of a user's jurisdiction provide stronger protections, those protections apply.