Code of Conduct

The IFF is committed to providing an inclusive, safe, and collaborative environment for all participants, regardless of their gender, gender expression, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, sexual characteristics, physical appearance, disability, or age. We encourage every participant to be themselves, and must respect the rights of others. The code of conduct is a set of guidelines that establishes shared values and ensures that behaviors that may harm participants are avoided.

The values of the IFF community are focused on developing both our individual and collective potential, supporting and empowering the most marginalized, mutual respect, and an anti-violence approach that favors support and collaboration among participants and the resolution of conflicts. A code of conduct helps us co-exist in a more positive way, and provides individuals who are victims of negative behaviors with confidence that they will be supported by the organization and the IFF community, who respects and stands behind the code of conduct.

The Internet Freedom Festival works towards providing a welcoming environment where participants are treated with dignity and respect and are free to be themselves. We encourage all participants to approach the event with an open and positive attitude, engaging constructively with others at all times.

Code of Conduct

• View COC en Spanish

By attending the IFF, we all agree to the following code of conduct

Respect for Diversity & Inclusion:

We avoid comments, actions or propaganda that encourages discrimination related to gender, gender expression, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, sexual characteristics, physical appearance, disability, or age.

Respect Freedom of Expression:

We support an individual's freedom of expression, and will not make fun of accents or make unsolicited grammatical corrections. We will strive to better understand each other by not assuming experiences or beliefs, clarifying meanings, and making an effort to speak clearly, avoiding jargon and acronyms.

Commitment to Non-Violence:

We will not engage in any type of violence or aggression, including verbal threats or complaints, intimidation, stalking or harassment, whether physically or psychologically.

Rejection of Sexual Harassment:

We understand sexual harassment as unwanted physical contact or insinuation of a sexual nature, as well as displaying images, drawings or visual representations of any kind that objectify members of any gender or reinforce oppression. The only exception is if this is part of session, workshop and/or educational experience where showing these images is educational in nature.

Respect for Privacy:

We safeguard the privacy of the participants, and agree to follow IFF's Security & Privacy Policy. This includes refraining from tweeting, posting, or publishing information about attendees (including names and affiliation) unless given clear permission, and avoid any type of unauthorized video, audio recording, or photography.

Facilitate Participation & Collaboration:

We work to create an environment that facilitates participation for all participants, and that session presenters are given respect. We will not engage in sustained disruption of sessions or events, interrupt conversations in a way that negatively impacts collaboration, or engage in toxic behaviors to attract negative attention to an attendee.

We Care about the Integrity and Health of the Community:

We value the health of the community and will not engage in behavior that can negatively impact it. This includes contaminating food or drink with drugs, or inciting or insisting on the consumption of alcohol, psychoactive substances, etc.

Support Positive Interactions Among Participants

We are committed to engaging constructively with others at all times. We will not tolerate bullying, including requesting or mobilizing others, either in person or online, to bully others.

Wellness Team

Overseeing the COC

For in-person events, the IFF Wellness Team will oversee the Code of Conduct, including addressing all incident reports. The IFF Wellness Team will be lead by two mental health care professionals with assistance from Trinh Nguyen, the IFF's Head of Safety & Technology.

For virtual events, the Head of Safety & Technology serves as the primary point of contact of the Code of Conduct.

Report a violation

Reports can be made confidentially by doing one of the following:

• For in-person events, locate a member of the IFF staff on-site. IFF staff can be identified by conference logo shirts, and will be at the information desk by the front entrance throughout the conference.

• Email: codeofconduct@internetfreedomfestival.org | GPG Public Key: 4EB6 6CD8 B9F6 E6FE 90A9 1746 B7FC 780B 01E4 9BFD

• Wire @Internetff

All reports are confidential. You will not be asked to take actions that make you feel unsafe. Breaking the code of conduct may result in immediate expulsion from the event.