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DESIHELP DIRECTORY SERVICE - TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Last Updated: February 18, 2026 Effective Date: February 18, 2026 Version: 1.2

IMPORTANT LEGAL NOTICE

These DesiHelp Directory Service Terms ("Directory Terms") are Additional Terms that supplement and form part of the DesiWay Master Terms and Conditions. By using the DesiHelp Directory Service, you agree to both the Master Terms and these Directory Terms.

DesiHelp is a business directory listing service for discovering desi local businesses around your area. We do NOT verify business information, endorse listed businesses, or guarantee the accuracy, quality, or legitimacy of directory listings. Users interact with listed businesses at their own risk.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. Directory Service Overview
  2. Types of Directory Listings
  3. Adding and Managing Listings
  4. Reviews and Ratings System
  5. Voting System (User-Submitted Listings Only)
  6. Review Content Policy
  7. Review Removal Policy
  8. Listing Ownership and Rights
  9. Business Owner Responsibilities
  10. User Responsibilities
  11. Prohibited Listings and Content
  12. Liability and Disclaimers
  13. Dispute Resolution
  14. Enforcement

1. DIRECTORY SERVICE OVERVIEW

1.1. Service Description

The Directory Service allows users to:

  • Browse business listings: Search and filter businesses by type, location, hours, etc.
  • View business details: Contact information, hours, location, photos, descriptions
  • Read reviews and ratings: See community feedback on listed businesses (user-submitted listings only)
  • Vote on listings: Upvote/downvote user-submitted business listings
  • Request listing additions: Contact DesiWay to add or update listings

1.2. Platform Role

DesiWay provides a directory listing platform. DesiWay is NOT:

1.2.1. Business Verifier

  • We do not verify business information (address, phone, hours, etc.)
  • We do not confirm business legitimacy or registration
  • We do not inspect businesses or verify licenses

1.2.2. Service Provider

  • We do not provide the services listed in the directory
  • We are not responsible for business operations or customer service
  • We are not a party to transactions between users and businesses

1.2.3. Review Moderator (Except Illegal Content)

  • We do NOT pre-approve, edit, or moderate reviews
  • We ONLY remove reviews that are illegal, discriminatory, or violate Content Policy
  • Negative reviews about poor service, treatment, or experiences will NOT be removed

1.2.4. Guarantor or Endorser

  • We do not endorse, recommend, or guarantee listed businesses
  • We do not guarantee business quality, safety, or reliability
  • Listings do not imply DesiWay approval or certification

1.3. PLATFORM LIABILITY CLARIFICATION (DSA Article 6)

DesiWay's Role: Information society hosting service only

DesiWay operates as a hosting service under the EU Digital Services Act. We host user-generated directory listings and reviews but do not:

We Do NOT:

  • Endorse or guarantee any businesses or business listings
  • Act as business owner, operator, or service provider
  • Control or authorize user content (reviews, ratings, votes)
  • Verify business information or legitimacy
  • Pre-moderate or edit user reviews

Verification Badges:

  • Indicate only that business owner claimed/verified the listing
  • Do NOT indicate DesiWay endorsement or quality certification
  • Do NOT guarantee business legitimacy, safety, or service quality

User Responsibility: All directory listings, reviews, ratings, and business interactions are between users and business owners. DesiWay hosts information only and bears no liability for business conduct, service quality, fraud, or disputes.

2. TYPES OF DIRECTORY LISTINGS

2.1. DesiWay-Curated Listings

2.1.1. Source:

  • Added by DesiWay team from web research, public databases, business directories
  • May include information sourced from public databases, business directories, and publicly available information
  • Businesses did NOT submit these listings themselves

2.1.2. Characteristics:

  • ❌ Users CANNOT vote (upvote/downvote) on these listings
  • ❌ Users CANNOT leave reviews or ratings on these listings
  • ✅ Businesses CAN claim ownership and convert to "Business Owner-Submitted" listing
  • ✅ Anyone can request updates via [email protected]

2.1.3. Why No Voting/Reviews:

  • Business did not consent to being listed on DesiWay
  • Allowing negative reviews on non-consenting businesses creates legal liability
  • Fair treatment: businesses should opt-in before receiving public feedback

2.2. Business Owner-Submitted Listings

2.2.1. Source:

  • Business owner or authorized representative submitted/claimed the listing
  • Business owner agreed to Directory Terms and opted into review/voting system
  • May have been converted from DesiWay-curated listing after claim

2.2.2. Characteristics:

  • ✅ Users CAN vote (upvote/downvote) on these listings
  • ✅ Users CAN leave reviews and ratings on these listings
  • ✅ Business owner can manage listing information
  • ✅ Business owner can respond to reviews
  • ❌ Business owner CANNOT delete negative reviews (except in limited cases - see Section 7)

2.2.3. Accepting Reviews/Votes: By submitting or claiming a listing, business owners agree to:

  • Accept public user reviews (positive and negative)
  • Accept upvotes and downvotes from users
  • Allow reviews and votes to remain visible unless they violate policy
  • NOT request removal of negative reviews based solely on business impact

3. ADDING AND MANAGING LISTINGS

3.1. Adding New Listings

3.1.1. Users CANNOT Add Listings

Users cannot directly add new directory listings to DesiWay. This prevents spam, fake businesses, and low-quality submissions.

3.1.2. How to Request a Listing

To add a new business to the directory:

  • Email: [email protected]
  • In-App: Use "Suggest a Business" option (if available)
  • Provide: Business name, address, phone, website, type/category, brief description

3.1.3. DesiWay Review Process

  • DesiWay will review requested listings
  • We verify basic information (business exists, contact info accurate)
  • We may add listing as "DesiWay-Curated" (no voting/reviews)
  • Business owner may claim listing later to enable voting/reviews

3.2. Claiming an Existing Listing (Business Owners)

3.2.1. Who Can Claim

  • Business owner
  • Authorized representative (manager, employee with authorization)
  • Legal entity authorized to manage listing

3.2.2. Claim Process

  • Email: [email protected] with proof of ownership
  • Provide: Business registration documents, proof of authorization, owner contact info
  • Verification: DesiWay verifies ownership before granting claim
  • In-App Management: Once verified, access "My Listings" menu to edit

3.2.3. After Claiming

  • Listing converts from "DesiWay-Curated" to "Business Owner-Submitted"
  • Users can NOW vote and leave reviews
  • You can edit business information, hours, photos, description
  • You CANNOT disable voting/reviews once enabled

3.3. Editing and Updating Listings

3.3.1. DesiWay-Curated Listings

Anyone can request updates:

  • Email: [email protected] with updated information
  • DesiWay will review and update if information is accurate

3.3.2. Business Owner-Submitted Listings

Business owners can edit:

  • In-App: Use "My Listings" menu to edit directly
  • Email: [email protected] for assistance
  • Editable: Name, address, phone, website, hours, photos, description, category
  • NOT Editable: Reviews, ratings, votes (see Section 7 for removal policy)

3.4. Removing Listings

3.4.1. Business Owners Can Remove Their Listings

Business owners may remove their listing at any time:

3.4.2. Fair Treatment Policy - Review/Vote History Preserved

CRITICAL: If you remove a listing with existing reviews/votes, you CANNOT re-add it as "fresh."

  • If listing had reviews/votes, we preserve this data
  • If you re-add the listing later, previous reviews and votes will be restored
  • This prevents abuse: removing listing to erase negative feedback, then re-adding as clean slate
  • You must carefully consider accepting reviews/votes before claiming a listing

Example:

  • Business claims listing on January 1
  • Users leave 20 reviews (average 2/5 stars) by March 1
  • Business removes listing on March 2 to erase bad reviews
  • Business requests re-adding on April 1
  • ✅ DesiWay will re-add listing WITH previous 20 reviews (2/5 stars)
  • ❌ DesiWay will NOT allow fresh listing without review history

3.4.3. Why This Policy Exists

  • Prevents manipulation of review/rating system
  • Protects consumers from businesses hiding negative feedback
  • Ensures fair, transparent reputation system
  • Businesses must address poor reviews by improving service, NOT hiding feedback

4. REVIEWS AND RATINGS SYSTEM

4.1. Who Can Leave Reviews

4.1.1. Only on Business Owner-Submitted Listings

Users can ONLY leave reviews on listings where:

  • Business owner submitted or claimed the listing
  • Business owner opted into review system
  • Listing shows "Reviews Enabled" indicator

4.1.2. User Requirements

  • Must have DesiWay account
  • Must comply with Review Content Policy (Section 6)
  • Cannot leave multiple reviews on same listing (one review per user per business)

4.2. Review Components

Reviews may include:

  • Star Rating: 1-5 stars (required)
  • Written Review: Text feedback (optional but recommended)
  • Photos: Images of business, products, services (optional)
  • Date: Review date automatically recorded

4.3. Review Editing and Deletion

4.3.1. Users Can Edit/Delete Their Own Reviews

  • Edit or delete your review anytime
  • Business cannot delete your review (except in limited cases - see Section 7)

4.3.2. Business Owners CANNOT Edit/Delete Reviews

  • Business owners can respond to reviews
  • Business owners CANNOT edit or delete user reviews
  • Business owners can request removal ONLY if review violates policy (Section 7)

5. VOTING SYSTEM (USER-SUBMITTED LISTINGS ONLY)

5.1. Upvote/Downvote Functionality

5.1.1. Only on Business Owner-Submitted Listings

Users can ONLY vote on listings where:

  • Business owner submitted or claimed the listing
  • Listing shows "Voting Enabled" indicator

5.1.2. Voting Mechanics

  • Upvote: Indicates positive experience, recommendation
  • Downvote: Indicates negative experience, not recommended
  • One vote per user per listing: Cannot vote multiple times
  • Can change vote: Users can change upvote to downvote or vice versa

5.2. Vote Display

  • Total upvotes and downvotes displayed
  • Net score (upvotes - downvotes) may be shown
  • Percentage positive may be displayed

5.3. No Voting on DesiWay-Curated Listings

Why:

  • Business did not consent to public voting
  • Fair treatment: businesses should opt-in before receiving votes
  • Prevents negative impact on businesses that didn't choose to be listed

6. REVIEW CONTENT POLICY

6.1. Allowed Review Content

Reviews may include:

  • ✅ Honest opinions about service quality, products, staff behavior
  • ✅ Personal experiences (good or bad)
  • ✅ Constructive criticism or praise
  • ✅ Descriptions of interactions, treatment, outcomes
  • ✅ Comparisons to other businesses
  • ✅ Recommendations or warnings to other users

6.2. Prohibited Review Content

Reviews MUST NOT contain:

6.2.1. Illegal Content:

  • Defamation or libel (false statements presented as fact)
  • Harassment or threats
  • Hate speech or discrimination (race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, age)
  • Promotion of illegal activities

6.2.2. Personal Identifiable Information (PII):

  • First names of employees in context of service review = ALLOWED (e.g., "John the waiter was rude")
  • Full names with additional PII = PROHIBITED (e.g., "John Smith, lives at 123 Main St, phone 555-1234")
  • Home addresses of individuals (PROHIBITED)
  • Phone numbers of individuals (PROHIBITED)
  • Email addresses of individuals (PROHIBITED)
  • Social media handles of private individuals (PROHIBITED)
  • Employee job titles in context of review = ALLOWED (e.g., "the manager", "the cashier")

Why First Names Are Allowed: Reviews describing factual service experiences naturally reference staff ("John was rude", "Sarah was helpful"). This is protected consumer speech and necessary for honest reviews. However, sharing full personal details (full name + address + phone) crosses into harassment/doxing and is prohibited.

6.2.3. Spam and Manipulation:

  • Fake reviews (reviewing businesses you never visited)
  • Paid or incentivized reviews
  • Reviews posted by competitors to harm business
  • Spam, advertisements, or unrelated content

6.2.4. Inappropriate Content:

  • Sexually explicit content
  • Graphic violence or gore
  • Offensive or vulgar language (excessive profanity)

6.3. Allowed Criticism (Will NOT Be Removed)

IMPORTANT: Negative reviews about poor service are PROTECTED and will NOT be removed.

Reviews describing the following are allowed and will NOT be removed:

  • ✅ Poor customer service
  • ✅ Rude or unprofessional staff behavior
  • ✅ Bad quality products or services
  • ✅ Billing issues, overcharging, hidden fees
  • ✅ Long wait times, delays, no-shows
  • ✅ Unclean facilities or poor hygiene
  • ✅ Discrimination or mistreatment (based on factual personal experience)
  • ✅ Business practices you disagree with

Even if these reviews harm the business or reduce customers, they will remain visible unless they violate Section 6.2 (illegal, discriminatory, PII, spam).

7. REVIEW REMOVAL POLICY

7.1. When DesiWay Will Remove Reviews

7.1.1. Illegal Content (Immediate Removal)

Reviews will be removed if they contain:

  • Hate speech or discrimination (violates Irish/EU law)
  • Defamation (false statements of fact presented as truth)
  • Harassment or threats
  • Promotion of illegal activities

7.1.2. Content Policy Violations (Immediate Removal)

Reviews will be removed if they contain:

  • Personal identifiable information (PII) of individuals (except public-facing owners)
  • Spam, fake reviews, or paid reviews
  • Sexually explicit or violent content

7.2. When Business Owners Can Request Review Removal

7.2.1. Reviews About Service Quality (NO REMOVAL)

Business owners CANNOT request removal of reviews based on:

  • ❌ Negative reviews about poor service
  • ❌ Reviews describing bad experiences, rude staff, low quality
  • ❌ Business losing customers due to bad reviews
  • ❌ Reviews affecting business reputation or revenue
  • ❌ Disagreement with reviewer's opinion

These reviews are protected user speech and will remain visible.

7.2.2. Reviews Naming Staff Members (ALLOWED - Will NOT Be Removed)

Reviews that name employees in context of service experience are PROTECTED and will NOT be removed:

Example - Will NOT Be Removed (Protected Speech):

"John the waiter at [Business Name] was extremely rude. He refused to help me and ignored my questions. Terrible customer service."

Why: Naming staff in context of factual service review is protected consumer speech. Customers have right to describe who provided poor service.

Example - Also Will NOT Be Removed (Protected Speech):

"The staff at [Business Name] were extremely rude. They refused to help me and ignored my questions. Terrible customer service."

Why: General complaints about staff are also protected consumer speech.

ONLY Exception - Full PII + Harassment: If review includes full name + home address + phone number + social media = This crosses into harassment/doxing and may be removed.

Example - MAY Be Removed (Harassment/Doxing):

"John Smith (lives at 123 Main St, phone 555-1234, Instagram @johnsmith) at [Business Name] was rude..."

Why: This is doxing/harassment, not just service review.

7.2.3. False Factual Claims (Case-by-Case)

Business owner MAY request removal if review contains:

  • Objectively false statements of fact (not opinions)
  • Example: "This business is not licensed" (when they are licensed - verifiable fact)
  • Requires proof that statement is false

Opinions Cannot Be False:

  • "This business has terrible service" = opinion (protected, cannot be removed)
  • "This business is a scam" = opinion (protected, cannot be removed)
  • "I had a bad experience" = personal experience (protected, cannot be removed)

7.3. Review Removal Request Process

7.3.1. How to Request Removal

  • Email: [email protected]
  • Subject: "Review Removal Request - [Business Name]"
  • Include:
    • Listing URL or short ID
    • Review URL or ID
    • Specific violation of Content Policy (Section 6.2)
    • Explanation and evidence (if applicable)

7.3.2. DesiWay Review Process

  • DesiWay will review request within 5-7 business days
  • We will assess whether review violates Content Policy
  • We will NOT remove reviews simply because they are negative or hurt business

7.3.3. Decision

  • Approved: Review removed, user notified, user may appeal (see Section 14.4)
  • Denied: Review remains, business owner notified with explanation

8. LISTING OWNERSHIP AND RIGHTS

8.1. Listing Information Ownership

8.1.1. Business Information

  • Business owners retain ownership of business name, branding, logos
  • Business owners grant DesiWay license to display business information in directory
  • Business owners can request removal of listing at any time

8.1.2. User-Generated Content (Reviews, Votes)

  • Users retain ownership of reviews they write
  • Users grant DesiWay license to display reviews to registered members of the Platform (NOT to the general public)
  • Users can edit or delete their own reviews
  • Business owners do NOT own reviews or votes on their listing

8.1.3. DesiWay Curated Content

  • DesiWay retains ownership of curated listing data (from web research)
  • Publicly available business information (name, address, phone) is not copyrightable
  • Photos sourced from web may belong to original creator (we display with attribution)

8.2. License to Display

By submitting or claiming a listing, business owners grant DesiWay:

  • Non-exclusive license to display business information
  • Right to show listing on DesiWay platform, search results, maps
  • Right to share listing data with third-party partners (with attribution)

8.3. Fair Use of Reviews

By leaving a review, users grant DesiWay:

  • Non-exclusive license to display review to registered members of the Platform (NOT to the general public)
  • Right to moderate review content (remove if violates policy)
  • Right to show review on business listing, search results, user profiles (visible to registered members only)

9. BUSINESS OWNER RESPONSIBILITIES

9.1. Accurate Information

Business owners MUST:

  • Provide accurate, up-to-date business information
  • Update information promptly when changes occur (address, phone, hours, etc.)
  • NOT misrepresent business services, products, or qualifications

9.2. Legal Compliance

Business owners MUST:

  • Operate business in compliance with local, national, and EU laws
  • Hold necessary licenses and registrations
  • Comply with consumer protection laws
  • NOT use directory for illegal purposes

9.3. Accept Reviews and Votes

Business owners who submit or claim listings MUST:

  • Accept user reviews (positive and negative)
  • Accept user votes (upvotes and downvotes)
  • NOT request removal of negative reviews based solely on business impact
  • Respond professionally to reviews (optional)

9.4. Prohibited Conduct

Business owners MUST NOT:

  • Post fake reviews on their own listing
  • Pay or incentivize users to leave positive reviews
  • Threaten, harass, or retaliate against users who leave negative reviews
  • Create multiple listings for same business to inflate presence
  • Misuse competitor listings (false reports, fake negative reviews)

10. USER RESPONSIBILITIES

10.1. Honest Reviews

Users MUST:

  • Leave honest, truthful reviews based on genuine experiences
  • NOT post fake reviews (reviewing businesses you never visited)
  • NOT accept payment or incentives for reviews
  • NOT post reviews to harm businesses you haven't patronized

10.2. Comply with Content Policy

Users MUST:

  • Follow Review Content Policy (Section 6)
  • NOT post illegal content (defamation, hate speech, harassment)
  • NOT share personal identifiable information of individuals
  • NOT spam or manipulate review/voting system

10.3. Fair Use of Voting

Users MUST:

  • Vote honestly based on experiences or opinions
  • NOT manipulate voting system (multiple accounts, fake votes)
  • NOT vote on businesses owned by self or competitors

11. PROHIBITED LISTINGS AND CONTENT

11.1. Prohibited Businesses

The following businesses CANNOT be listed in the directory:

  • Illegal businesses: Businesses operating without required licenses or in violation of law in their jurisdiction
  • Adult services: Prostitution, escort services, sexually explicit services (prohibited in Ireland and most EU countries)
  • Illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia:
    • Ireland: Cannabis dispensaries PROHIBITED (cannabis illegal except medical prescription)
    • EU-wide: Only licensed, legal cannabis businesses may be listed (e.g., licensed German cannabis clubs, Dutch coffeeshops with local authorization)
    • Unlicensed drug sales PROHIBITED
  • Weapons dealers: Unlicensed firearm sales (Ireland Firearms Acts 1925-2009)
  • Pyramid schemes or MLMs: Multi-level marketing schemes disguised as businesses
  • Scam operations: Businesses primarily engaged in fraud or deceptive practices

11.2. Prohibited Content in Listings

Listings MUST NOT contain:

  • False or misleading information
  • Spam or unrelated content
  • Advertisements for illegal services
  • Sexually explicit content
  • Hate speech or discriminatory content

12. LIABILITY AND DISCLAIMERS

CONSUMER PROTECTION NOTICE:

Your statutory consumer rights under Irish and EU law are protected. Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits DesiWay's liability for:

  • Death or personal injury caused by DesiWay's negligence or gross negligence
  • Fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation by DesiWay
  • Any other liability that cannot be excluded or limited under Irish or EU law

However, DesiWay is NOT the business owner, service provider, or party to transactions. Listed businesses (not DesiWay) are responsible for compliance with consumer protection laws, product safety, and service quality.

12.1. DesiWay Disclaimer of Liability

DESIWAY IS NOT LIABLE FOR:

12.1.1. Business Conduct or Quality:

  • Business conduct, service quality, or customer treatment
  • Products or services provided by listed businesses
  • Business fraud, scams, or deceptive practices
  • Billing disputes, overcharging, or refund issues

12.1.2. Information Accuracy:

  • Accuracy of business information (address, phone, hours, etc.)
  • Outdated or incorrect listing information
  • User reviews or ratings (accuracy, truthfulness, fairness)
  • Votes or public opinion of businesses

12.1.3. User Experiences:

  • Negative experiences with listed businesses
  • Discrimination, mistreatment, or poor service by businesses
  • Safety issues, injuries, or damages at business locations
  • Financial loss due to transactions with listed businesses

12.1.4. Review/Vote Impact:

  • Business reputation damage from negative reviews or downvotes
  • Loss of customers or revenue due to bad reviews
  • Economic harm from accurate negative feedback

12.2. No Business Verification

12.2.1. No Verification: DesiWay does NOT:

  • Verify business legitimacy, registration, or licensing
  • Inspect business facilities or operations
  • Confirm business owner identity (beyond basic claim verification)
  • Conduct background checks on businesses

12.2.2. User Responsibility: Users are solely responsible for:

  • Verifying business legitimacy before transacting
  • Researching business reputation and reviews
  • Assessing business safety and quality
  • Protecting themselves from scams or fraud

12.3. User Assumption of Risk

By using the Directory Service, you acknowledge and agree that:

  • Use is entirely voluntary
  • You assume all risks associated with interacting with listed businesses
  • You are responsible for verifying business information
  • DesiWay is not a party to transactions and assumes no responsibility

12.4. No Warranties

DesiWay provides the Directory Service "AS IS" without warranties regarding:

  • Accuracy of business listings
  • Business legitimacy, quality, or safety
  • Reliability or truthfulness of reviews and ratings
  • Success or satisfaction with listed businesses

12.5. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY IRISH AND EU LAW, DESIWAY DISCLAIMS ALL LIABILITY FOR ANY CLAIMS, DAMAGES, LOSSES, OR EXPENSES ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO THE DIRECTORY SERVICE.

Legal Exclusions: This limitation of liability does NOT apply to and DesiWay cannot exclude liability for:

  • Death or personal injury caused by DesiWay's negligence or gross negligence
  • Fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation by DesiWay
  • Any liability that cannot be excluded or limited under Irish or EU law
  • Breach of statutory consumer rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 (Ireland) or EU Consumer Rights Directive

Scope of Disclaimer: Subject to the above legal exclusions, DesiWay is NOT liable for:

  • Business conduct, service quality, fraud, or scams
  • Inaccurate business information or outdated listings
  • User experiences, negative treatment, discrimination
  • Financial loss from transactions with listed businesses
  • Business reputation damage from reviews, ratings, or votes
  • Loss of customers or revenue due to negative feedback
  • Indirect, consequential, or special damages

13. DISPUTE RESOLUTION

13.1. Disputes With Listed Businesses

13.1.1. Direct Resolution: Users must resolve disputes directly with the business.

13.1.2. Consumer Protection Agencies: If disputes cannot be resolved, users may:

  • File complaint with Irish Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC): www.ccpc.ie
  • Contact EU Consumer Centre (if cross-border): https://ec.europa.eu/consumers/ecc/
  • Pursue legal remedies (small claims court, consumer protection laws)

13.1.3. DesiWay Not Obligated: DesiWay is NOT obligated to mediate, arbitrate, or resolve disputes between users and businesses.

13.2. Disputes About Reviews or Ratings

13.2.1. Review Removal Requests: Business owners may request review removal if review violates Content Policy (Section 7).

13.2.2. Appeal Process: If your review is removed, you may appeal using DSA complaint process (Section 14.4).

13.3. Disputes With DesiWay

For disputes with DesiWay regarding:

  • Listing removal or blocking
  • Account suspension or termination
  • Review removal decisions

See Section 14 (Enforcement) and Section 14.4 (DSA Internal Complaint-Handling System).

14. ENFORCEMENT

14.1. Violation Reporting and DSA Notice-and-Action Mechanism

EU Digital Services Act - Illegal Content Notification System

Under the EU Digital Services Act (effective February 17, 2024), DesiWay operates a formal notice-and-action mechanism for reporting illegal content and Terms violations.

How to Report Violations:

Illegal Listings or Content:

  • Use in-app "Report" button on listings or reviews (select reason: illegal content, fake business, prohibited service, hate speech, harassment, etc.)
  • Email: [email protected] (for serious legal violations)
  • Include: Listing URL or short ID, description of violation, evidence (screenshots, documents)

What Counts as "Illegal Content":

  • Illegal businesses (unlicensed, fraudulent, scam operations)
  • Hate speech or discrimination in reviews or listings
  • Defamation (false statements of fact presented as truth)
  • Harassment or threats in reviews
  • Promotion of illegal services
  • Personal identifiable information (doxing)

DesiWay's Response Obligations:

  1. Expeditious Action:

    • DesiWay will review reports and take action "without undue delay"
    • Typical response time: 24-72 hours for standard reports
    • Trusted flaggers (law enforcement, consumer protection agencies, NGOs): Priority processing

  2. Statement of Reasons:

    • If we remove a listing or review, we will provide clear explanation
    • User/business will be notified of removal reason and legal basis
    • Right to appeal (see Section 14.4)

  3. Notification (If Applicable):

    • Users affected by illegal content will be informed where appropriate
    • Business owners notified if fake/fraudulent listing removed

Trusted Flaggers:

DesiWay cooperates with trusted flaggers (Europol, national police, consumer protection agencies like CCPC, NGOs) who receive priority processing for reports of illegal content.

False Reports:

Users who repeatedly submit false or malicious reports may face account suspension. Report only genuine violations.

14.2. Enforcement Actions

Violations may result in:

  • Listing removal
  • Review/rating removal
  • Account warnings
  • Temporary suspension
  • Permanent account termination
  • Reporting to law enforcement (for illegal content or fraud)

14.3. Severe Violations

Severe violations (fraud, fake reviews, harassment, illegal content) will result in:

  • Immediate account termination
  • Listing removal
  • Reporting to law enforcement authorities
  • Cooperation with investigations

14.4. DSA Internal Complaint-Handling System (Right to Appeal)

EU Digital Services Act - Right to Appeal Platform Decisions

Under the EU Digital Services Act, users and business owners have the right to submit complaints about DesiWay's content moderation decisions, including:

  • Listing removal or blocking
  • Review removal
  • Account suspension or termination
  • Content demotion or visibility reduction

How to Submit a Complaint:

  1. Online Form: desiway.in/appeals
  2. Email: [email protected]
    • Subject: "DSA Complaint - Directory - [Your Issue]"
    • Include:
      • Your account username and email
      • Listing ID or review ID (if applicable)
      • DesiWay's decision you are challenging
      • Reason you believe the decision was incorrect
      • Evidence supporting your complaint

Processing Timeline:

  • DesiWay will acknowledge receipt within 2 business days
  • Decision on complaint within 10 business days (complex cases may take longer)
  • You will receive clear statement of reasons for our decision

If Complaint Rejected:

If your complaint is rejected and you still disagree, you may:

  1. Out-of-Court Dispute Settlement:

    • Use certified out-of-court dispute settlement body
    • List available at: desiway.in/dispute-resolution

  2. Legal Remedies:

    • File complaint with Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) (if GDPR-related): www.dataprotection.ie
    • File complaint with Coimisiún na Meán (Ireland's Digital Services Coordinator): www.cnam.ie
    • Pursue legal action in Irish courts (see Master Terms for jurisdiction)

DSA Contact Point:

For DSA-related questions or complaints:

FINAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT

BY USING THE DIRECTORY SERVICE, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT:

  1. DesiWay is a directory listing platform and not a business owner, service provider, or guarantor.
  2. DesiWay does not verify business information, legitimacy, or quality.
  3. You interact with listed businesses at your own risk.
  4. DesiWay is not liable for business conduct, service quality, fraud, or disputes.
  5. Reviews and ratings reflect user opinions and experiences, not DesiWay endorsement.
  6. Negative reviews about poor service will NOT be removed simply because they harm business reputation.
  7. Business owners who claim listings accept user reviews, ratings, and votes permanently.
  8. Removing and re-adding listings will preserve previous review/vote history (no fresh start).

If you do not agree, do not use the Directory Service.

END OF DIRECTORY TERMS