🏢 HoopFrog is a brand of HoopFrog Inc. — Federal Corporation No. 1467452-9, Alberta, Canada.

HoopFrog Inc. · Last updated: July 23, 2026

Child Safety Policy

Version 4.4 | Effective Date: June 26, 2026

The safety and protection of children is a non-negotiable priority and deep moral responsibility at HoopFrog® Inc. This policy outlines our commitment, our systems, and our procedures designed to restrict access by minors and for responding to any situation involving child safety. This document is maintained by HoopFrog Inc. and applies to all users, employees, contractors, and partners associated with the HoopFrog platform. HoopFrog® is a brand of HoopFrog® Inc.

Our Commitment

HoopFrog is a strictly adults-only platform. Our Service is designed exclusively for individuals who are 18 years of age or older. We do not knowingly collect, solicit, or process personal information from anyone under the age of 18. We do not knowingly permit minors to create accounts, access the platform, or interact with any features of the Service, and we act promptly to remove any we identify.

We are committed to working proactively with law enforcement, child protection organizations, and industry partners to prevent the exploitation of minors online. We apply a zero-tolerance enforcement posture toward any form of child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSAE), including child sexual abuse material (CSAM), and any conduct that exploits, endangers, or harms minors. Violations of this policy lead to prompt action, including account suspension, content removal, and law enforcement involvement where required or appropriate.

Prohibited Content and Activities

The following content and activities are strictly prohibited on HoopFrog and will result in prompt enforcement action:

  • Sexual Content Involving Minors: Any explicit or implicit depiction, discussion, or material involving minors is strictly prohibited, including images, videos, generated or AI-created imagery, or any form of communication.
  • Exploitation, Abuse, or Trafficking: Any attempt to exploit, abuse, or traffic minors, including grooming or coercive behaviour, is prohibited and will be reported to authorities where required by law.
  • Solicitation or Grooming: Any attempt to solicit minors, engage in inappropriate communication with minors, or use the platform to contact or reach minors on any other service is a direct violation of our policy.
  • False Age Representation: Misrepresentation of age, including adults posing as minors or minors posing as adults, is not permitted and will result in account termination.
  • Other Harmful Conduct: Any other content or conduct that we reasonably deem harmful, exploitative, or unlawful in relation to minors, whether or not specifically listed above.

Age Verification: Multi-Layered Protection

We employ multiple layers of age verification to prevent minors from accessing the platform:

  • Date of Birth Confirmation: Every user must provide their date of birth during registration. Our system automatically calculates the user's age and blocks registration where the date of birth provided indicates under 18.
  • Third-Party Age Checks: HoopFrog partners with a third-party age and identity verification provider to conduct independent age checks where required by law. Depending on the verification method, this may include document verification, database checks, or other industry-standard approaches.
  • Ongoing Monitoring: Our automated message scanning (described under Prevention Measures below) watches conversations for underage indicators. Suspected underage accounts are flagged for review by our safety team.
  • Dashboard Access Gate: Where an age check is required for an account, the user is prevented from accessing core platform features until it is complete.

Prevention Measures

Beyond age verification, we employ a comprehensive set of tools and processes to protect children:

  • Known-Content Matching: Profile and gallery photos uploaded to HoopFrog are checked before they are published against databases of known child sexual abuse material using Microsoft PhotoDNA and Project Arachnid Shield (Canadian Centre for Child Protection). Only a non-reversible digital fingerprint (hash) of the image is compared against these databases; we do not transmit the image itself for this matching step. Confirmed matches trigger immediate quarantine and account restriction pending human verification and reporting, removal of the content from public view, and a logged incident record; if a scan cannot be completed, the content is held for review rather than published.
  • New-Content Review: Automated moderation (including AWS Rekognition) screens new images and videos for sexual, exploitative, violent, and other harmful content. The most severe material is blocked automatically, and other flagged items are held for human moderator review.
  • Photos in Private Messages: As a current platform setting, the in-chat photo feature is disabled, so photos cannot be sent in private messages on HoopFrog. This removes a common channel for abuse and the sharing of harmful imagery.
  • Automated Message Scanning: Our automated message scanning system monitors conversations for underage indicators (including age disclosures, school references, and parental secrecy language) and for patterns associated with grooming behaviour, exploitation, and other predatory conduct.
  • Human Moderation: Our safety team reviews flagged content and reports, and takes appropriate action.
  • Profile Verification: Sign-up requires every user to provide a date of birth (18+) and confirm a valid email address. Additional age and identity verification applies where the law requires it.
  • Selfie Photo-Match Verification: Users may complete a live selfie verification to boost profile trust and help confirm their identity matches their profile photos.

What Happens If a Minor Is Found on the Platform

If we determine, or have reasonable grounds to believe, that a user is under the age of 18, we take the following actions promptly:

  • Account Termination: The account is suspended and then permanently terminated. The user is blocked from creating new accounts.
  • Content Preservation: When we confirm serious illegal content, such as a CSAM match, we place a preservation hold on the associated account; our team can also place a hold in response to a law-enforcement request. A hold suspends routine deletion of that account's content and communications, restricting access and preserving them solely to enable lawful reporting to, and investigation by, the RCMP National Child Exploitation Crime Centre (NCECC) and police. Where we notify police of an offence under the mandatory-reporting Act, we preserve the relevant data for 21 days after the notification and destroy it afterward unless a court orders otherwise (per section 4 of the Act). We do not review such material beyond what is necessary to report it, and we do not retain it except as, and for as long as, required by law.
  • Authority Notification: When our safety team confirms or reasonably suspects CSAM, we are legally required to report it to Canada's designated authority, the RCMP's National Child Exploitation Crime Centre (NCECC), and we are establishing that reporting channel. NCMEC reporting is not currently enabled; if U.S. reporting obligations later apply (including 18 U.S.C. §2258A), we will enable the required reporting.
  • Contact Notification: Where appropriate and legally permitted, we may notify the minor's parent or guardian.
  • Data Handling: Personal data of confirmed minors is handled in accordance with PIPEDA, the Alberta Personal Information Protection Act, and other applicable Canadian law. Data not required to be preserved for legal purposes is securely deleted.

Reporting Underage Users or CSAM

Every HoopFrog user has a role to play in keeping our platform safe. If you believe or suspect that a user is under 18 years of age, or if you encounter any content that may constitute CSAM, please report it promptly:

  • In-App: Use the Report button on the user's profile or within a conversation. Select "Underage User" or "Inappropriate Content" as the reason.
  • Email: Contact our safety team directly at safety@hoopfrog.com.
  • Cybertip.ca: In Canada, report directly to Canada's national tipline at cybertip.ca.
  • NCMEC CyberTipline (U.S.): Where U.S. channels apply, you may also report at missingkids.org/gethelpnow/cybertipline.

We treat these reports as our highest priority and aim to review them promptly. You may report anonymously.

Parental Resources

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has created an account on HoopFrog:

  • Contact us promptly at safety@hoopfrog.com. Provide your child's username or email address, and we will take swift action to terminate the account.
  • We will terminate the account and delete associated personal information, except information we are required to preserve by law.
  • Resources like the Canadian Centre for Child Protection offer excellent educational materials for families.

No parent will ever be penalized or judged for reaching out to us about their child's safety.

Cooperation with Law Enforcement

HoopFrog Inc. cooperates fully with law enforcement agencies investigating the safety and welfare of children:

  • RCMP and Canadian Police: We respond to lawful requests from the RCMP and municipal/provincial police services.
  • RCMP National Child Exploitation Crime Centre (NCECC): As a Canadian internet service provider, HoopFrog is legally required under the Mandatory Reporting Act to report child sexual abuse material to Canada's designated authority, the RCMP's National Child Exploitation Crime Centre (NCECC), and we are establishing our reporting channel with them.
  • International Law Enforcement: We cooperate through appropriate legal channels, including MLATs.
  • NCMEC CyberTipline (U.S.): NCMEC reporting is not currently enabled; if U.S. reporting obligations later apply (including 18 U.S.C. §2258A), we will enable the required reporting to the NCMEC CyberTipline.
  • Emergency Disclosure: In cases involving imminent threat to a child, we may proactively disclose information to law enforcement as permitted under PIPEDA Section 7(3)(d.1).

CSAM Policy: Zero Tolerance

HoopFrog applies a zero-tolerance enforcement posture for child sexual abuse material (CSAM):

  • Detection: Profile and gallery photos are checked before publication against databases of known CSAM using two independent hash-matching layers , Microsoft PhotoDNA and Project Arachnid Shield (a program of the Canadian Centre for Child Protection). Only a non-reversible hash of the image is compared; we do not transmit the image itself for this matching step. If a check cannot be completed, the content is held for human review rather than published (fail-closed).
  • Automatic Action: Confirmed matches trigger immediate quarantine and account restriction pending human verification and reporting. The incident is then queued for review by a responsible member of our safety team.
  • Human Review and Reporting: A responsible member of our safety team reviews each flagged incident. When CSAM is confirmed or reasonably suspected, we are legally required to report it to Canada's designated authority, the RCMP's National Child Exploitation Crime Centre (NCECC), and we are establishing that reporting channel. NCMEC reporting is not currently enabled; if U.S. reporting obligations later apply (including 18 U.S.C. §2258A), we will enable the required reporting to the NCMEC CyberTipline.
  • Mandatory Reporting (Canada): As a Canadian internet service provider, HoopFrog is legally required to report child sexual abuse material to Canada's designated authority, the RCMP's National Child Exploitation Crime Centre (NCECC), under Canada's An Act respecting the mandatory reporting of Internet child sexual abuse and exploitation material by persons who provide an Internet service (S.C. 2011, c. 4), and we are establishing our reporting channel with the NCECC. Where we have reasonable grounds to believe that our service has been or is being used to commit a child pornography offence, we also notify a police service or other agency designated under the Act. Child sexual abuse material is a criminal offence under section 163.1 of the Criminal Code of Canada.
  • Preserve and Transmit, Not Retain: On a confirmed or reasonably suspected match, the content is quarantined, access-restricted, and preserved solely to enable reporting to the RCMP National Child Exploitation Crime Centre (NCECC) once that channel is operational, and to support any resulting police investigation. Where we notify police of an offence under the Act, we preserve the relevant computer data for 21 days after the day on which the notification is made, and we destroy that data after the preservation period unless a court orders otherwise (per section 4 of the Act). We do not review such material beyond what is necessary to report it, and we do not retain it except as, and for as long as, required by Canadian law.
  • Permanent Ban: Users found to have uploaded, shared, or solicited CSAM are permanently banned, subject only to correction of clear error or as required by law.
  • Law Enforcement Referral: Where CSAM is identified, the incident is escalated for reporting to the RCMP National Child Exploitation Crime Centre (NCECC) once that channel is operational, and may support any resulting criminal investigation.

Education and Training

Protecting children is a responsibility that extends to every member of our team:

  • User Education: We provide in-app and on-site safety guidance to help users recognise and report grooming, sextortion, and other predatory behaviour, including links to our Dating Safely guide.
  • Personnel with access to user data or content moderation are responsible for following our child-safety, CSAM-identification, and reporting procedures, and we are developing a formal training program.
  • Our moderation processes include escalation protocols for handling reports involving potential minors, including referral to law enforcement where appropriate.
  • We review and update this policy and our safeguards as the platform, applicable law, and safety tooling evolve.
  • We work with the Canadian Centre for Child Protection through Project Arachnid, and we intend to engage further with industry and child-safety organizations as we grow.

App Store Compliance

HoopFrog is currently offered as a direct download while we are in pre-launch, and is built to meet the child safety requirements of the mobile app stores ahead of any future listing:

  • Adults-only rating: HoopFrog is an adults-only application and is not part of any family or child-directed programme. We do not target children, and our age-gating and verification systems are designed to keep minors off the platform.
  • Apple App Store Review Guidelines (Safety — User-Generated Content and the Kids Category): HoopFrog applies age assurance measures at registration and does not permit users under 18. We implement safeguards required for apps involving user-generated content, including in-app reporting and content moderation.
  • In-App Reporting: Users can report inappropriate content or suspected underage users directly through the app, in compliance with both Google and Apple requirements.
  • Content Moderation: User-generated content is subject to automated moderation, with flagged content reviewed by our team, including automated content scanning and message pattern analysis.

Legal Compliance and Collaboration

HoopFrog Inc. accesses Shield by Project Arachnid (https://projectarachnid.ca), a program of the Canadian Centre for Child Protection Inc., to facilitate the detection and removal of child sexual abuse material and harmful-abusive material of children and survivors of child sexual abuse on its services.

HoopFrog Inc. also uses Microsoft PhotoDNA for the detection of known child sexual abuse material. HoopFrog is a Canadian company launching in Canada, and is designed to comply with the Canadian laws that govern our Service, including:

  • Criminal Code of Canada, section 163.1 (offences relating to child pornography), and the federal An Act respecting the mandatory reporting of Internet child sexual abuse and exploitation material by persons who provide an Internet service (S.C. 2011, c. 4), under which HoopFrog is legally required to report child sexual abuse material to the designated authorities, including notifying police where we have reasonable grounds to believe an offence has been committed using our service.
  • Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), Canada
  • Alberta Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA), Alberta, Canada
  • UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which we apply as a guiding principle

As we expand into other markets, we intend to align with the applicable local laws of those markets, which may include the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), the PROTECT Act, and the REPORT Act (United States); the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the EU Digital Services Act (DSA) (European Union); the UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018, and the Online Safety Act 2023 (United Kingdom); and the Ley General de los Derechos de Niñas, Niños y Adolescentes and the Ley Federal de Protección de Datos Personales (LFPDPPP) (Mexico).

User Responsibility

By using HoopFrog, all users agree to comply with this Child Safety Policy, our Terms of Use, and all applicable laws regarding the protection of minors. Users who become aware of any content or behaviour that violates this policy have a responsibility to report it promptly.

Contact Us

If you have any concerns related to child safety on HoopFrog, please reach out promptly:

  • Safety Team: safety@hoopfrog.com (a priority response)
  • Legal Department: legal@hoopfrog.com
  • Mailing Address: HoopFrog Inc., 3-11 Bellerose Drive, Suite 312, St. Albert, AB T8N 5C9, Canada

External Resources

This policy is reviewed regularly and updated as needed. See also our Privacy Policy and Dating Safely guidelines.