COZULO Safety & Security Policy
Last Updated: [06/01/2025]
COZULO was created with one mission: to give people a safe, trustworthy platform for sharing information about personal and community safety. This Safety & Security Policy explains our commitments, the standards we expect from users, and the safeguards we apply to protect your account, your data, and the wider community.
1. Emergency Disclaimer
COZULO is a community reporting tool, not a replacement for emergency services.
If you are in danger or require urgent help, call 911 (U.S.) or your local emergency number immediately.
Information posted on COZULO is provided by users and is not always verified by COZULO. Treat reports as community awareness, not official emergency guidance.
2. Account Safety and OTP Verification
We take account security seriously. To ensure that every user is verified:
Phone Number Verification:
Each new account or sensitive login action requires a one-time passcode (OTP) delivered via SMS.
Consent:
By entering your number and tapping “Send Code,” you explicitly consent to receiving one-time SMS verification codes.
Transactional Only:
SMS messages are limited to OTP verification. COZULO does not send marketing, promotional, or affiliate texts.
STOP/HELP Compliance:
Reply STOP at any time to opt out of SMS.
Reply HELP for assistance.
Opting out may limit your ability to access features requiring OTP.
Frequency and Expiry:
You will receive one OTP message per request. Codes expire within minutes and are not reused.
No Shared Lists:
We never send messages to purchased, rented, or shared contact lists. Only first-party consent is used.
3. Data Security and Protection
We follow industry-standard practices to protect your personal data:
Encryption: All OTP messages are encrypted in transit. Sensitive account data is secured with encryption and authentication safeguards.
Access Controls: Only authorized staff can access personal data, and only when necessary.
Limited Retention: Phone numbers and verification logs are retained only for as long as needed for account security or compliance.
Secure Providers: We partner only with trusted vendors such as Twilio for SMS delivery, who meet carrier and compliance standards.
Monitoring: We actively monitor for abnormal activity (e.g., repeated failed login attempts, spamming) and may suspend accounts showing suspicious behavior.
4. Prohibited Content and Behavior
COZULO is committed to a safe, respectful community. The following categories are prohibited and will result in removal of content, suspension, or termination:
SHAFT Content
As required by U.S. carriers, no content may involve:
Sexually explicit material.
Hate speech, threats, or harassment.
Alcohol, drugs, or controlled substances.
Firearms, weapons, explosives, or promotion of violence.
Tobacco or vaping-related promotions.
Illegal or Harmful Uses
Fraud, phishing, impersonation, or scams.
Terrorism, organized crime, or violent extremism.
Content that promotes or depicts self-harm or suicide.
Use of the Service to stalk, intimidate, or harass individuals.
Platform Misuse
Spamming or unsolicited messaging.
Posting false or misleading safety reports.
Using automated tools, bots, or scrapers to access or post content.
Attempting to bypass OTP verification or security controls.
Violations may result in immediate suspension, permanent account removal, and referral to law enforcement where required.
5. Community Reporting & Moderation
To maintain trust, COZULO provides clear community moderation tools:
User Reporting: Any user can flag content they believe violates this Policy.
Review Process: Our moderation team reviews reports promptly, prioritizing threats to safety or security.
False Reporting: Submitting false or malicious reports may result in account suspension.
Transparency: We may notify users if their content has been removed or account action has been taken.
6. Responsible Messaging and Communication
To comply with Twilio, U.S. carrier rules, and global messaging standards:
No Marketing SMS: OTP codes are the only SMS messages sent by COZULO.
Brand Identification: All OTP messages begin with “COZULO:” for clarity.
STOP/HELP Enforcement: Users can always opt out of SMS or request help by replying.
No Public Shorteners: We do not use bit.ly or other public URL shorteners in SMS messages. If links are included, they will be branded (cozulo.com).
Lawful Use Only: SMS and in-app communications must comply with U.S. laws and international carrier guidelines.
7. User Responsibilities
As a COZULO user, you agree to:
Provide accurate information when registering and reporting incidents.
Keep your login credentials secure and not share OTP codes with others.
Respect the rights, safety, and dignity of others in your posts and interactions.
Use the platform for lawful and genuine purposes.
Report content that appears harmful, fraudulent, or abusive.
8. Our Safety Practices
We continuously work to keep COZULO safe by:
Monitoring for unusual activity or abuse patterns.
Enforcing bans on repeat offenders.
Cooperating with carriers and authorities when legally required.
Regularly updating policies to meet carrier and regulatory requirements.
Educating users with tips and alerts about online and offline safety.
9. Children’s Safety
COZULO is not designed for children under 13 (or under 16 in certain jurisdictions).
We do not knowingly collect information from minors.
Parents or guardians who discover unauthorized use should contact us immediately at support@cozulo.com.
10. Limitation of Liability
While COZULO works to provide a safe environment, we cannot guarantee that all reports are accurate or that harm will be prevented. Users must exercise judgment and contact emergency services when needed.
COZULO is not liable for:
User-generated content that may be false, misleading, or harmful.
Losses, damages, or harm caused by reliance on reports posted in the App.
Failures outside of our control, such as carrier outages or internet interruptions.
11. Updates to This Policy
We may revise this Safety & Security Policy as our Service evolves or regulations change. Updates will be posted at www.cozulo.com/safety with a new Effective Date. Continued use of COZULO after updates means you accept the changes.
12. Contact Us
If you have questions about safety, security, or this Policy, please contact us:
📧 support@cozulo.com