Child Safety Standards

1. Purpose and Scope of these Standards

TheraTalk provides an emotional support and listening platform connecting individuals with supportive providers ("Buddies" or "Counselors") through 1-on-1 text chat, audio calls, and video sessions.

We are strictly committed to the safety, dignity, and protection of children and minors. These Child Safety Standards establish our zero-tolerance policy against Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (CSAE) and Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).

These standards apply to:

• All users and clients of the TheraTalk mobile application (com.theratalk.app);
• All counselors and emotional support providers on the TheraTalk Buddy mobile application (com.theratalk.buddy);
• All communications, sessions, profile content, ratings, session notes, and support inquiries across the platform.

2. Standards at a Glance

• Zero Tolerance: We strictly prohibit any form of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (CSAE) and Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).
• Mutual Protection: These standards bind both clients using TheraTalk and providers using TheraTalk Buddy.
• In-App Reporting: Users can report Buddies, and Buddies can report users directly inside both mobile apps at any time.
• Immediate Removal: Any detected or reported CSAM or exploitative material is immediately removed from access and securely quarantined.
• Legal Compliance: We comply with mandatory reporting obligations under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 and the Information Technology Rules, 2021, and actively cooperate with law enforcement authorities.
• Dedicated Point of Contact: We provide a designated Child Safety Point of Contact reachable at support@theratalk.in.

3. Explicit Zero-Tolerance Policy Against CSAE & CSAM

TheraTalk maintains an absolute, uncompromising ZERO-TOLERANCE policy toward Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (CSAE) and Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).

We expressly prohibit:

• Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM): Creating, producing, possessing, uploading, transmitting, distributing, displaying, soliciting, or facilitating access to any visual, audio, or textual depiction of a child or minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct (real, simulated, digital, or AI-generated).
• Child Sexual Abuse & Exploitation (CSAE): Any act, communication, or behavior that sexually abuses, exploits, harms, or endangers a minor.
• Child Grooming: Communicating, interacting, or building an emotional relationship with a minor (or someone believed to be a minor) with the intent or purpose of sexual abuse, exploitation, illicit physical contact, or sexual solicitation, whether on or off the platform.
• Sexual Solicitation of Minors: Asking, enticing, coercing, or encouraging a minor to engage in sexual acts, to share explicit imagery or messages, or to participate in sexually suggestive conversations.
• Sexualization of Minors: Directing sexually suggestive, explicit, or inappropriate comments, questions, or discussions toward or regarding any minor.
• Sextortion: Threatening, blackmailing, or coercing a minor using real or fabricated intimate media or communications to demand sexual content, money, or compliance.
• Trafficking & Commercial Sexual Exploitation: Advertising, soliciting, arranging, or facilitating the commercial sexual exploitation or trafficking of minors.
• Platform Circumvention & Unmonitored Off-Platform Contact: Attempting to bypass platform controls, billing systems, or monitoring to arrange private, unmonitored off-platform meetings or communications with a minor for inappropriate or exploitative purposes.
• Encouraging or Facilitating CSAE: Sharing external links, instructions, or encouragement for accessing CSAM or child exploitation content elsewhere.

4. User Eligibility and Age Restrictions

• TheraTalk is intended for individuals aged 18 and older.
• Where an account is found to belong to an unsupervised minor or where false age information was supplied, we reserve the right to restrict or terminate the account in accordance with applicable child data protection standards.
• In all circumstances, any interaction involving a minor is strictly subject to the zero-tolerance child protection rules set out in this policy.

5. How to Report Child Safety Concerns

We encourage and require immediate reporting of any suspected child exploitation, sexual abuse, CSAM, grooming, or child safety concern.

A. In-App Reporting in TheraTalk (User App — com.theratalk.app):

• During a Session: Tap the menu button on any live chat or video screen and select "Report Buddy".
• From Profile or Session Recap: Open the Buddy's profile or review the session summary screen and tap "Report this Buddy".
• Reporting Options: Select the appropriate reason (or select "Other" and specify "Child Safety") and submit your report. Submitting a report automatically blocks the Buddy from your account.

B. In-App Reporting in TheraTalk Buddy (Provider App — com.theratalk.buddy):

• From Session Details: Tap "Report this client" on the session screen, choose the reporting reason, add descriptive details, and submit.
• Emergency SOS Alert: If a Buddy forms a professional judgment that a minor is facing imminent danger, abuse, or serious harm during a live session, the Buddy can trigger the in-app "Raise SOS Alert" dialog, which immediately alerts our emergency administrative response team.

C. In-App Help & Support Ticketing (Both Apps):

Users and Buddies can submit a confidential support ticket with screenshot attachments at any time via "Help & Support" -> "Create a ticket" in their profile settings.

D. Direct Email Reporting:

Anyone—including parents, guardians, educators, researchers, and non-users—can submit an urgent, confidential report directly to our Child Safety team:

• Child Safety Email: support@theratalk.in

All reports involving child protection or CSAE are treated with top priority and immediate escalation.

6. Investigation, CSAM Response and Content Removal

When a child safety concern or potential CSAM is reported or identified:

• Immediate Access Disabling: Any reported or detected exploitative material is immediately removed from view across all applications and quarantined.
• Account Suspension: The reported account is placed under immediate administrative suspension pending thorough investigation.
• Human Review & Verification: Our designated trust and safety team conducts an expedited manual review of the reported interaction, account details, and session records.
• Secure Evidence Preservation: In strict compliance with statutory investigative requirements, digital evidence—including account identifiers, timestamps, session logs, and message records—is securely preserved in an encrypted administrative archive for handover to competent law enforcement agencies.
• Non-Retaliation: We strictly protect any individual who submits a safety report in good faith against retaliation, harassment, or adverse account actions.

7. Account Enforcement and Disciplinary Actions

Any confirmed violation of these Child Safety Standards will result in decisive enforcement:

• Immediate, permanent termination of account access across all TheraTalk apps and services;
• Permanent blacklisting of associated telephone numbers, device IDs, and payment methods;
• For Counselors/Buddies: Immediate expulsion from the provider panel, forfeiture of provider standing, and referral to professional licensing councils (such as the Rehabilitation Council of India, where applicable);
• Formal filing of criminal complaints with police and cybercrime authorities.

8. Compliance with Child Protection Laws and Law Enforcement

SoulSync Ventures Private Limited operates in strict accordance with applicable child protection laws, including:

• The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 (India), adhering to mandatory reporting duties under Section 19 and Section 21;
• The Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021;
• The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (and Indian Penal Code, 1860);
• Applicable international child protection standards and global platform safety guidelines.

We maintain a policy of complete and unreserved cooperation with law enforcement agencies, cybercrime units, and child welfare committees. Relevant subscriber details, session logs, and quarantined evidence will be disclosed upon lawful request or where required by statutory mandatory reporting laws.

9. Reporting to Statutory Authorities

Where required by applicable law:

• National Reporting (India): Confirmed incidents involving child sexual abuse, exploitation, or CSAM will be formally submitted to the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in), the local Special Juvenile Police Unit (SJPU), and Child Welfare Committees (CWCs).
• International Reporting: Where applicable, we coordinate with relevant international child protection clearinghouses, including the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) CyberTipline.

10. Designated Child Safety Point of Contact

TheraTalk has designated an official Child Safety Point of Contact responsible for child safety oversight, urgent escalations, law enforcement liaison, and responding directly to Google Play inquiries regarding CSAE-related matters:

Role / Designation

Grievance & Child Safety Officer

Organization

SoulSync Ventures Private Limited

Email

support@theratalk.in

Postal Address

Poonam Estate Cluster-III, A/603, Srishti Complex, Thane, Maharashtra - 401107, India.

Public Web URL

https://www.theratalk.in/child-safety-standards

Our Child Safety Point of Contact actively monitors communications sent to support@theratalk.in and responds promptly to inquiries from users, regulatory authorities, and Google Play.

11. Policy Updates and Regular Review

These Child Safety Standards are reviewed periodically (at least annually) to ensure alignment with statutory amendments, evolving platform features, and safety best practices. Any material updates will be posted at https://www.theratalk.in/child-safety-standards and notified through our mobile applications.

12. Contact Us

For inquiries, safety reports, or questions regarding these standards:

• Child Safety & Support: support@theratalk.in
• Privacy Team: privacy@theratalk.in