Anti-Sex-Trafficking Policy

Our absolute commitment

Why this commitment matters

Dating platforms can be exploited by traffickers as recruitment and grooming channels. We've studied how this happens on other platforms, learned from documented cases, and built Favor with these threats specifically in mind. This isn't a generic boilerplate commitment — it informs the specific design choices that make Favor harder to misuse for trafficking than typical dating apps.

What we mean by trafficking

For the purposes of this policy, sex trafficking includes any of the following activities, whether attempted, threatened, or completed:

• Recruiting, transporting, harboring, or receiving any person for the purpose of sexual exploitation.
• Inducing or coercing any person into commercial sex acts through force, fraud, threats, debt bondage, or any other form of coercion.
• Sexual exploitation of any person under the age of 18, regardless of any apparent consent — minors cannot consent to commercial sex.
• Soliciting, advertising, or arranging commercial sex acts of any kind.
• Operating as a procurer, pimp, or intermediary in commercial sexual exploitation.
• Using Favor to identify, contact, isolate, or transport potential trafficking victims.
• Sharing information that facilitates trafficking, including travel arrangements, payment methods, or victim profiles.

Related conduct also prohibited

Beyond direct trafficking, Favor prohibits a wider category of related conduct that often accompanies or enables it:

• Solicitation of commercial sex acts (escort services, paid arrangements, sugar relationships, "meet for money" arrangements).
• Sextortion — threatening to share intimate images unless someone pays, complies with demands, or provides additional content.
• Grooming behavior — building emotional dependency in a victim with intent to exploit.
• Coercive control through romantic or sexual relationships established on Favor.
• Recruitment for any purpose that involves sexual exploitation, including "modeling opportunities" or "travel work" that resolve into trafficking situations.
• Advertising sexual services, regardless of how indirectly worded.

Legal frameworks we operate under

Our anti-trafficking commitments align with and exceed the requirements of multiple legal frameworks across the jurisdictions where Favor is available.

Indian law

• The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (ITPA) — India's primary anti-trafficking statute, criminalizing trafficking for prostitution, brothel-keeping, procuring, and related offenses.
• The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 — provisions covering trafficking of persons (Section 143), exploitation of trafficked persons, and related offenses, replacing the earlier Indian Penal Code provisions.
• The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO) — comprehensive protections for any person under 18, with mandatory reporting requirements for platforms that detect related content.
• The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 — obligations for intermediaries regarding content moderation, takedown timelines, and cooperation with authorities.
• The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDP Act) — data protection obligations that we honor even when processing data related to trafficking investigations.

International frameworks

• The UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons (Palermo Protocol) — the foundational international definition of trafficking, to which India is a signatory.
• The Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA-SESTA), 2018 — US legislation establishing platform liability for knowingly facilitating sex trafficking. Applies to Favor for any access by users in the United States.
• The Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings — applies to interactions involving users in EU member states.

Our commitments exceed legal minimums

Where the law sets a floor, our practices aim higher. For example: Indian law generally requires intermediaries to act on takedown requests within 36 hours. Our internal target for trafficking-related content is 4 hours from credible report. Where legal frameworks differ across jurisdictions, we apply the strictest standard available.

How we prevent trafficking on Favor

Prevention is the most powerful intervention. We've built systems and policies that make Favor structurally hostile to trafficking compared to typical dating platforms.

Application-based admission

Favor is not open registration. Every applicant submits a multi-step application, undergoes human moderator review before joining, and is verified through selfie matching with optional ID verification. This single design choice eliminates a category of trafficking risk that exists on platforms allowing instant anonymous sign-up — and gives our moderation team the opportunity to identify suspicious applicants before they reach any member.

Three-layer verification

Every visible member has been:

• Selfie-verified — live capture confirmed to match submitted photos.
• Human-reviewed — application examined by trained moderators.
• Photo-content-screened — every uploaded photo automatically reviewed for safety.

Optional verification layers (Identity Verification through government ID, Verified Professional through LinkedIn) add further trust signals. Members who choose these layers display verification badges that other members can see.

Automated content review

Every photo shared on Favor — profile, gallery, selective, and chat — passes through automated review before reaching another member. Photos depicting nudity, sexual content, or commercial sex indicators are blocked outright. Photos containing contact information (phone numbers, social handles, external URLs) are flagged. Photos that appear to depict minors are blocked and the account is held for review.

Message scanning for trafficking signals

Our automated systems scan messages for patterns associated with trafficking and related conduct:

• Commercial sex solicitation language and known scripts.
• References to payment for sexual activity ("rates," "donations," "arrangements").
• Travel-related coercion patterns (offers of transportation in exchange for services).
• Recruitment language targeting potential victims (especially involving promises of jobs, modeling, or travel).
• References to debt, indebtedness, or coercive obligation in dating contexts.
• Indicators of coordinated activity across multiple accounts (mass-messaging patterns).

Detected patterns trigger flags for human moderator review, with high-confidence detections automatically blocking the message and escalating the account.

Gendered restrictions on financial language

Members on certain account tiers are prevented from sending messages containing personal contact information or financial language until specific trust thresholds are met. This isn't primarily an anti-trafficking measure, but it reduces the surface available for trafficking-style recruitment in early conversations.

Selective Photos require explicit consent

Favor's design requires that members explicitly request and be approved for access to private photos. This makes the platform a poor channel for the kind of unsolicited intimate-content exchange that traffickers often use to identify and groom victims.

How we detect trafficking when it occurs

Despite our preventive measures, no system catches everything. The following mechanisms exist to identify trafficking activity that may have slipped through prevention or that originated outside Favor and is being pursued through our platform.

Member reports

Our most powerful detection mechanism is members themselves. Members who recognize trafficking patterns — in profiles, in messages, in their own interactions — can report through the in-app reporting tool or by emailing support@favorconnect.com. Trafficking-related reports are reviewed within 4 hours.

Behavioral pattern detection

Beyond individual content, we monitor for behavioral patterns that suggest trafficking activity:

• Single accounts messaging large numbers of new profiles with similar content.
• Accounts created and used briefly, then abandoned (potential for victim communication).
• Login patterns suggesting one person operating multiple accounts.
• Sudden changes in profile content, photos, or messaging style suggesting account takeover.
• Cross-account messaging patterns that match known trafficking organizational structures.

External intelligence partnerships

We work with anti-trafficking organizations and threat-intelligence sharing networks where appropriate. When external sources identify accounts associated with trafficking — through victim reports, law enforcement investigations, or coordinated platform efforts — we act on credible information promptly. We do not require formal legal process to act on credible safety information.

Survivor reports

Survivors of trafficking sometimes recognize their experiences, their traffickers, or related accounts on dating platforms — sometimes years later. We accept and act on these reports regardless of how much time has passed, treating them with the seriousness they deserve. Survivors who wish to remain anonymous in their reports may do so; we do not require survivor identification.

How we respond to confirmed cases

Immediate platform action

On credible confirmation that an account is being used for trafficking, the response is automatic and immediate:

• Account is permanently terminated; the user is logged out and cannot sign in again.
• All visible content is removed from view of other members.
• Cross-account ban is applied to email, phone, payment method, and device fingerprint identifiers.
• Account data is preserved on a separate retention track for use in investigations.
• Any subscription payment is fully refunded (the platform doesn't keep money received for prohibited activity).
• Existing conversations involving the terminated account are reviewed for additional victims.

Reporting to authorities

Where appropriate, we report to relevant authorities. The standard channels are:

• Cases involving minors — reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) through their CyberTipline, and to Indian authorities under POCSO Act requirements.
• Indian cases — reported to the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in) and to the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) of the relevant state police where applicable.
• Cross-border cases — reported to authorities in all involved jurisdictions, coordinated through INTERPOL channels where useful.
• Cases involving US users — reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline and to federal authorities (FBI) where the case warrants federal interest under FOSTA-SESTA.

Cooperation with law enforcement

In response to valid legal requests from law enforcement, we provide:

• Account information, registration details, and verification documents for specific accounts named in the request.
• Message content and metadata within the scope of the request.
• Photos and content held in the account.
• Login logs, IP addresses, and device fingerprints relevant to the investigation.
• Payment information where the investigation involves financial flows.

We verify the legitimacy of all law enforcement requests before responding and follow applicable legal process. In cases of imminent harm — where waiting for formal process could allow ongoing exploitation — we make emergency disclosures to appropriate authorities.

Survivor-centered approach

If we identify someone on the platform who appears to be a trafficking victim (rather than a perpetrator), our response is fundamentally different and is shaped by survivor-centered principles:

• We do not contact the suspected victim through the account that may be controlled by their trafficker.
• Where safe to do so, we work with anti-trafficking organizations to make appropriate outreach.
• We never publicly identify suspected victims.
• We never assume a person who has been victimized is responsible for their victimization.
• We provide trafficking helpline information through any channel we can safely reach the person.

How to report suspected trafficking

Any report of suspected trafficking — no matter how uncertain you are — should reach us as quickly as possible. Reports of uncertain situations that turn out to be nothing simply result in no action being taken. Reports that turn out to be real situations can change lives.

Through the app

Use the three-dot menu on any profile, chat, or message to report. Select "Solicitation" or "Other" with a description of your concern. Trafficking-related reports are escalated automatically and reviewed within 4 hours.

By email

For situations requiring more detail, or if you've left the app, email support@favorconnect.com with whatever details you can provide:

• The first name and approximate age shown on the suspected account's profile.
• Any messages or interactions that raised your concern (screenshots if available).
• Indicators that led you to suspect trafficking (specific language, behaviors, patterns).
• Whether you've seen similar patterns from other accounts.
• Whether you believe a specific person may be a victim.
• Whether the situation appears to be ongoing or imminent.

Anonymous reports accepted

You don't need to identify yourself to report trafficking on Favor. Anonymous reports are taken just as seriously as identified ones. We cannot follow up with anonymous reporters, but the report itself is what matters most.

Reporting on behalf of someone else

If you believe someone you know is being trafficked through Favor — a friend, family member, or someone you've met on the platform — please report. You don't need their permission, and your report is confidential. Trafficking victims often cannot report on their own behalf due to coercion, fear, or restricted communications.

Resources for survivors and concerned individuals

If you or someone you know is experiencing or has experienced trafficking, please reach out. These organizations exist to help, free of charge, with confidentiality.

In India

• National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: cybercrime.gov.in
• Cyber Crime Helpline: 1930 (24×7, free).
• Ministry of Women and Child Development Helpline: 181 (24×7).
• Childline (for minors): 1098 (24×7).
• National Human Rights Commission of India: nhrc.nic.in
• Shakti Vahini (anti-trafficking NGO): shaktivahini.org
• Prajwala (trafficking survivor support): prajwalaindia.com
• Apne Aap Women Worldwide: apneaap.org

International

• National Human Trafficking Hotline (USA): 1-888-373-7888 or text "HELP" or "INFO" to 233733.
• Polaris Project: polarisproject.org
• National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC): cybertipline.org
• ECPAT International: ecpat.org
• UN Office on Drugs and Crime — Human Trafficking section: unodc.org
• Stop the Traffik: stopthetraffik.org

Survivor support and recovery

Trafficking survivors often need long-term support including psychological care, legal assistance, housing, and reintegration support. The following organizations specialize in survivor support:

• Sanjog India: sanjogindia.org (specializing in survivor support and reintegration).
• International Justice Mission (India): ijm.org (legal advocacy and survivor support).
• Free a Girl Movement: freeagirl.in

What we don't do

Some commitments are best stated as what we won't do — because the absence of these behaviors is itself a form of protection.

• We don't blame victims. We never treat a person who has been exploited as responsible for their exploitation, regardless of how they came to the situation.
• We don't publicly identify victims. Survivor identities are never disclosed in our communications, transparency reports, or public statements.
• We don't share victim information with the trafficker. When we identify a suspected victim, we never contact them through accounts controlled by their trafficker, and we never alert the suspected trafficker that we've identified them as such.
• We don't require victims to participate in investigations. Survivors who report trafficking are not required to assist law enforcement. Our action against perpetrators proceeds regardless.
• We don't charge for trafficking-related support. Any communications, account assistance, or coordination with authorities related to trafficking is provided free of charge regardless of membership tier.
• We don't tolerate retaliation against reporters. Members who report trafficking concerns receive the same protections as any reporter — anonymity from the reported member, no retaliation tolerated.
• We don't allow trafficking-related content to remain visible during investigation. When we have credible information that an account is being used for trafficking, we act first and investigate further. We don't wait for certainty before reducing harm.

Transparency and ongoing work

Trafficking is a difficult problem that evolves continuously. We commit to ongoing investment, transparency about our work, and humility about its limitations.

Continuous improvement

Our anti-trafficking systems are not static. We continuously update our detection patterns based on emerging trafficking tactics, learnings from other platforms, intelligence from anti-trafficking organizations, and law enforcement guidance. New scripts, new patterns, new circumvention attempts emerge regularly; our response evolves with them.

Industry collaboration

We participate in industry-wide efforts to combat trafficking, including information sharing about coordinated bad actors operating across platforms, contribution to anti-trafficking best practices, and engagement with civil society organizations working on these issues.

Honest limitations

We don't claim to catch every trafficking attempt. We don't claim that our prevention measures are foolproof. We don't claim that survivors who experienced trafficking through any platform — including ours — could have been protected by a different policy. What we can claim is sustained effort, structural design choices that reduce risk, and a culture that treats this issue with the seriousness it deserves.

Future transparency reports

As Favor grows, we may publish transparency reports describing the volume and nature of trafficking-related actions we've taken. These reports will be aggregated and will never identify individual cases. They serve to demonstrate accountability rather than to perform it.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time as trafficking tactics evolve, as our prevention systems improve, and as legal frameworks change. Material changes will be communicated through the app and by email to active members. The current version of this policy is always available at favorconnect.com/anti-trafficking-policy.

Contact

For all matters related to trafficking — reports, survivor support, law enforcement inquiries, journalist or research questions — please use the appropriate channel below.