Code of Conduct

This Code of Conduct ("Code") establishes the standards TopHawks expects of every individual who participates in our platform, events, online spaces, and business relationships. It applies to all members, registered users, partners, contractors, vendors, sponsors, volunteers, and employees — without exception.

Our goal is simple: to build and sustain an environment where people of all backgrounds can engage, collaborate, and grow — with dignity and without fear. This Code exists not merely as a legal formality, but as an expression of who we are as a community.

Every expectation in this document flows from six foundational values. They are not aspirational posters on a wall — they are active commitments each participant makes when joining TopHawks.

All participants in the TopHawks community are expected to uphold the following behaviours at all times:

The following behaviours are explicitly prohibited and will trigger enforcement action. This list is illustrative, not exhaustive.

• Harassment & intimidation — including offensive comments related to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion, or socioeconomic status.
• Discrimination — excluding or disadvantaging individuals or groups based on protected characteristics.
• Sexual misconduct — unwelcome sexual attention, advances, inappropriate physical contact, or sharing of explicit material.
• Threats and violence — threatening, intimidating, or inciting harm against any person or group, online or offline.
• Fraud and misrepresentation — providing false information, impersonating another person, or manipulating data or outcomes.
• Intellectual property violations — plagiarising, unauthorised reproduction, or misappropriating proprietary content.
• Spam and unsolicited promotion — mass-marketing, pyramid schemes, or repeated off-topic solicitations.
• Doxing — publishing or threatening to publish private or personal information without consent.
• Platform abuse — technical exploitation, scraping, automated account creation, or any action that degrades platform performance.
• Retaliation — penalising or harming anyone for reporting a concern or participating in an investigation.

TopHawks maintains a dedicated Trust & Safety team ("Enforcement Team") responsible for receiving, investigating, and resolving reports. Our process is designed to be fair, impartial, and time-bound.

Consequences are applied in proportion to the nature and severity of the violation, prior conduct history, and impact on the community. The Enforcement Team exercises discretion; the table below represents typical responses, not rigid minimums or maximums.

If you witness or experience behaviour that violates this Code, we strongly encourage you to report it. You will not face retaliation for making a good-faith report. We accept reports through the following channels:

When reporting, please include: (1) a clear description of the incident, (2) date, time, and location (URL or venue), (3) names or handles of those involved, and (4) any supporting evidence (screenshots, links, witness names). The more detail you provide, the faster we can act.

Any individual subject to an enforcement decision has the right to appeal, except in cases of Level 4 zero-tolerance violations (see Section 6).

• Appeals must be submitted within 14 calendar days of receiving the enforcement decision.
• Appeals are reviewed by a senior panel independent of the original Enforcement Team.
• New evidence may be submitted alongside the appeal.
• A decision on appeal will be delivered within 21 business days.
• Appeal decisions are final and binding.

To submit an appeal, email appeals@tophawks.com with your case reference number and grounds for appeal.

TopHawks handles all reports and investigations with strict confidentiality. The identity of reporters will not be disclosed without their explicit consent, except where disclosure is required by law or is necessary to ensure the safety of others.

All data collected during an investigation is processed in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable data protection legislation, including India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and the GDPR where applicable to EU participants.

TopHawks reserves the right to revise this Code at any time. Material changes will be communicated to all active community members via email and an in-platform notification at least 14 days before taking effect, except where immediate changes are required for safety or legal compliance.

By continuing to participate in the TopHawks community after a revision takes effect, you accept the updated Code. Previous versions are archived and available upon request.

Questions or suggestions regarding this Code may be directed to policy@tophawks.com.