Safety and moderation
A chat with strangers should be fun, not stressful. Here is how Hoplo moderates conversations and what you can do yourself.
Reports
Every conversation has a Report button. Choose the reason, and a frame of the video goes to the moderators together with the report. The chat ends, and you will not be matched with that person again.
If someone is unpleasant but breaks no rules, press Block instead: you will not be matched with them again. Reports about the same user from different people add up and can lead to an automatic ban.
Automatic checks
Hoplo checks conversations automatically around the clock:
- video that may show a minor;
- an empty or frozen picture;
- links, spam and banned words in messages.
Moderators
Serious cases are sent to a moderator at once. Moderators also review reports and the decisions of the automatic checks afterwards, lift mistaken bans and answer appeals.
Bans and appeals
A ban lasts from a few minutes to permanently, depending on the violation and on earlier ones. The ban screen shows the reason and when the ban ends.
If you think a ban is a mistake, sign in with your e-mail address on that screen and send an appeal. A moderator reviews it, and you get the answer by e-mail.
Your privacy in the chat
The other person sees your video, hears your voice, reads your messages and sees the flag of your country. They do not see your gender or your account.
Video and sound go directly between the two browsers whenever possible. As in any peer-to-peer call, the other browser can learn your IP address while the connection is set up, unless all video goes through our relay. Hoplo does not record video or sound. Single frames of the video are saved only in the cases the privacy policy lists — for example, when someone reports a conversation — and messages are kept for a limited time.
Tips for chatting with strangers
- Do not share your full name, address, phone number or passwords.
- Never send money or codes to people you met in the chat.
- Remember that the other person can record their screen — think before you show something.
- If you feel uncomfortable, press Next. If someone breaks the rules, press Report.
Illegal content
To report illegal content outside a chat, or for requests from authorities, write to the address below. Describe what happened, when, and why you believe it is illegal.