User-Generated Content & Comment Moderation Policy

This policy explains how Defender Media handles user-generated content, eyewitness material, reader comments and other content submitted by people outside our editorial team.

1. Scope

This policy applies to content submitted by people who are not Defender Media staff or regular editorial contributors, including reader comments, eyewitness material, photographs, videos and other user-generated content (UGC).

2. Verification and labelling of UGC

User-generated content, including photos, videos, eyewitness accounts and other material submitted by users or obtained from social media, is subject to verification before publication.

Depending on the circumstances, the verification process may include:

• confirming the identity and reliability of the source;
• verifying the time and location of the reported event;
• checking the authenticity and original source of photos and videos;
• cross-checking information against other reliable sources and available open-source information;
• assessing content for potential manipulation or misleading context; and
• considering relevant legal, ethical and safety implications before publication.

Where the verification process cannot establish the accuracy or authenticity of UGC to a reasonable degree, the content will not be presented as verified fact. Where appropriate, we clearly indicate uncertainty or the unverified nature of the content to our audience.

UGC is clearly labelled to distinguish it from original Defender Media reporting. Where appropriate and safe to do so, we identify the source of the material. Labels may include, for example, “Eyewitness photo” or “Provided by reader”.

3. Comment Standards

Defender Media welcomes constructive discussion and comments that contribute to informed debate.

Comments must comply with applicable laws and these Editorial Guidelines. We do not permit comments that contain:

• defamatory or knowingly false allegations;
• hate speech or content targeting individuals or groups with abuse or discrimination;
• threats or harassment;
• invasions of privacy or disclosure of personal information without consent;
• content that violates the legal rights of others;
• spam, advertising or repeated promotional content;
• obscene or excessively abusive content; or
• content that is clearly unrelated to the discussion or intended to disrupt it.

4. Comment Moderation

Defender Media uses post-publication moderation of comments, where comment functionality is available.

We may remove comments that violate this policy. In exceptional circumstances, comments may be removed before publication where there is a clear legal, safety or other serious concern.

Moderation decisions may take into account the context, severity and potential impact of the content. We do not remove comments simply because they express criticism of Defender Media, our journalists or the subjects we cover.

5. Reporting and Appeals

Readers can report comments that they believe violate these rules or contact Defender Media with concerns about a moderation decision.

We review such requests and may remove, retain or restore content depending on the circumstances. Where a moderation decision was made in error, we may restore the affected content.

6. Editorial Responsibility

User-generated content and comments do not necessarily reflect the views of Defender Media.

Defender Media retains editorial responsibility for content that it publishes and may moderate, edit, label or remove externally submitted content where appropriate.

This policy forms part of Defender Media’s Editorial Guidelines and applies alongside our other editorial policies and standards.