Guide
Safeguarding guidance
Platform-wide standards for community owners, moderators, and spotters: conduct, privacy, content, and reporting.
Last updated: 11 July 2026
Overview
SpotterAtlas is a map-based platform where members photograph and catalogue real-world locations. Safeguarding means keeping members, especially children and vulnerable people, safe from harm, harassment, and privacy breaches.
Every community owner and moderator shares responsibility for applying this guidance alongside their community-specific rules and the terms of use.
Conduct and respect
- Treat all members with respect. Harassment, hate speech, threats, and bullying are not tolerated.
- Do not encourage trespass, vandalism, or unsafe behaviour when visiting locations.
- Spotters must follow local laws when visiting and photographing locations.
- Use in-app reporting or contact community moderators when you see concerning behaviour.
Privacy and personal data
- Do not share private home addresses, personal contact details, or sensitive data without consent.
- Pin public items accurately, but avoid exposing locations that could put individuals at risk.
- Children must not be identifiable in photos without parental consent.
- Respect requests to remove or obscure identifying details where appropriate.
Content standards
- Pin items as accurately as possible with clear, appropriate photos.
- Mark duplicates rather than creating new entries.
- Do not submit false, misleading, or spam locations.
- Do not upload sexual, violent, or illegal content.
- Report illegal content via in-app tools or the contact page with subject "Illegal content report".
For community owners and moderators
- Review new submissions promptly, especially where photos may include people or private property.
- Set clear community rules that complement this guidance.
- Remove or restrict content that breaches safeguarding standards.
- Add a trusted co-moderator if your community grows beyond what you can review alone.
- Platform review may apply before a new community is published.
Reporting concerns
Use the report button on items, discussions, or profiles where available. Community moderators handle most issues locally.
For platform-level safeguarding concerns, illegal content, or urgent safety issues, contact us via the contact page. See also our terms of use for moderation and enforcement.