Content Complaints and Removal Policy

01

Purpose and scope

This policy covers reports about a published Perspective, artwork, image, Contribution, attribution, link or other BIG material. It applies to copyright and other intellectual property, privacy and confidentiality, attribution, reputation, harmful digital communications, misleading content, security and other lawful concerns.

02

Who can report

Anyone may raise a concern, including a person affected by content, a rights holder, a contributor, an authorised representative or a person acting in the public interest. You do not need to be a BIG user.

03

What to include

• Your name and a safe way to contact you, unless you need to report anonymously.
• The exact URL or artwork/perspective name and the specific words, image or attribution at issue.
• The basis of the concern, such as privacy, copyright, confidentiality, harassment or harmful digital communication.
• Evidence of ownership, authority, identity, consent, harm or the requested correction where relevant.
• The outcome you seek: removal, correction, anonymisation, attribution change, access restriction or another remedy.

04

Urgent safety concerns

If content suggests an immediate risk of serious harm, contact emergency services or the relevant authorities first. Tell BIG if there is an urgent safety issue; we may restrict content while making appropriate enquiries.

05

Initial assessment

We will acknowledge a report where we have a usable contact method, check whether it is sufficiently specific, and assess the relevant content, permissions, context, evidence and legal or safety issues. We may ask for more information. A report does not automatically result in removal.

06

Possible outcomes

• Leave the content live where the concern is not substantiated or the material is lawful and appropriate in context.
• Correct, clarify, annotate, anonymise, unpublish, restrict or remove the material.
• Pause publication while more information is obtained.
• Contact a contributor or rights holder for consent, context or a response.
• Preserve records or refer a matter to a provider, regulator, law-enforcement agency or court where necessary or permitted.

07

Contributor notification

Where reasonably practicable, we may tell the relevant contributor about a report and invite a response. We will not disclose a reporter’s personal information unless necessary, lawful or required. We may withhold details where disclosure would create risk, undermine an investigation or breach a legal obligation.

08

Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015

We will consider reports that may engage section 24 of the Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015, including serious emotional distress, intent, communication and available evidence. This internal process does not replace the remedies or jurisdiction available under New Zealand law.

09

Copyright and intellectual property

Copyright owners may identify the work, explain their rights, provide contact details and request removal or another remedy. We may seek evidence or permission and may consider the Copyright Act 1994, including section 92C where relevant. False or bad-faith rights claims may be rejected.

10

Privacy and confidentiality

We will consider whether the content contains personal, sensitive or confidential information, whether publication was authorised, and whether the material can be corrected, anonymised or removed. For more detail about report information, see the Report Form Privacy Notice.

11

Corrections and context

If information is materially inaccurate or lacks important context, we may correct the text, add context, change attribution or remove the material. BIG is a curated gallery rather than a forum for rebuttal, so we do not guarantee a reply thread or public debate.

12

Contributor removal requests

A contributor may request removal by emailing curator@havelant.co.nz. We aim to remove accepted material from the live site within 10 working days. Backups, cached copies, moderation records and records needed for legal, safety or accountability purposes may remain for longer.

13

Repeated or abusive complaints

We may limit communications that are threatening, harassing, discriminatory, fraudulent, knowingly false or unreasonably repetitive. This does not prevent a genuine rights, privacy or safety concern from being raised through an appropriate channel.

14

Records and confidentiality

We keep report details only as reasonably necessary to assess and respond, protect people and the service, establish or defend rights, and comply with law. We may share information with service providers or authorities only where necessary and lawful. See the Privacy Statement for the wider information-handling approach.

15

No guaranteed outcome

We aim to act carefully and consistently, but we cannot guarantee a particular result or timeframe for every complaint. We may explain the outcome to the extent we can without disclosing protected information or compromising safety or legal obligations.

Report Form Privacy Notice

Information in a report is used to assess the concern, contact the reporter, communicate with an affected contributor where appropriate, keep an accountability record and meet legal or safety obligations. Report details are not published.

We may share report information only when necessary and permitted, including with service providers, rights holders, affected contributors, advisers, regulators, law-enforcement agencies or courts. A statutory or legal process may require further disclosure.

Please avoid including sensitive information that is not necessary. We retain report information only for as long as reasonably necessary to resolve the matter, protect people and the service, establish or defend rights, or comply with law. You may request access to or correction of your report information by emailing curator@havelant.co.nz.