Acceptable Use & Prohibited Content Policy

This Acceptable Use & Prohibited Content Policy (the "AUP") sets out what may and may not be promoted, monetized, or done on the TrafficSigma advertising network. It forms part of the Advertising Agreement, the Publisher Terms, and the Terms of Service. It applies to campaigns, creatives, landing pages, offers, tracking, and traffic sources.

The AUP is a minimum standard, not a legal clearance. Compliance with the AUP does not mean an offer is lawful in a given geography, and approval by our moderation team is never an endorsement or legal advice. You remain solely responsible for the lawfulness of what you run, everywhere you run it.

1. Three tiers: permitted, restricted, prohibited

• Permitted - allowed subject to the general rules in this AUP and to moderation.
• Restricted - allowed only with the required licence, GEO limitations, age gating, and disclosures, and only after review. We may require documentary evidence before or during delivery.
• Prohibited - never allowed, in any geography, in any format. Attempting to run prohibited content is a material breach.

2. Restricted verticals

The following verticals are business-critical to our network and are permitted only under strict conditions. For each, you must hold every licence, permit, or authorisation required in each targeted geography, must exclude geographies where the offer is unlawful, and must carry the disclosures, risk warnings, and age gates that local rules require.

Gambling, betting, and iGaming

• Only with a valid licence for each targeted geography, or via an operator that holds one and permits affiliate promotion.
• Strict age gating (18+ or 21+ as the geography requires) and responsible-gambling messaging and links where mandated.
• No targeting of minors, no creatives designed to appeal to minors, and no targeting of self-excluded users where such lists apply.
• No guaranteed-win, risk-free, or "sure bet" claims, and no implication that gambling is a solution to financial difficulty.
• Bonus and wagering terms must be accurate and accessible from the creative or landing page.

Finance, forex, CFDs, and crypto

• Only where the promoter or the advertised firm holds the required financial-promotion authorisation for the targeted geography.
• Mandatory risk warnings must be present and legible; leverage, spreads, and fees must not be misrepresented.
• No guaranteed returns, no "get rich quick" framing, no fabricated trading results or account screenshots, and no fake celebrity or media endorsements.
• No unregistered securities offerings, no Ponzi, pyramid, HYIP, or matrix schemes, and no promotion of crypto products in geographies where they are banned or where a licence you do not hold is required.

Nutra, health, and supplements

• No claims to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease unless lawfully substantiated and approved.
• No before/after imagery implying unrealistic outcomes; no fabricated doctor or clinical endorsements.
• No prescription-only medicines, controlled substances, or unapproved therapies.

Dating and adult-adjacent

• Mainstream dating only unless the format and inventory are explicitly approved for adult content.
• No sexually explicit creatives on non-adult inventory; strict 18+ gating where permitted.
• No content that simulates a personal message from a real individual who has not consented.

Sweepstakes, prize draws, and lead generation

• Sponsor identity, entry requirements, odds, and full terms must be disclosed and reachable.
• No fake winner notifications, spinning wheels implying a guaranteed prize, or countdowns that reset.
• Subscription, trial-to-paid, and carrier-billing terms must be disclosed before the user commits.

3. Prohibited content

The following are prohibited on the network without exception:

• Child sexual abuse material (CSAM) or any content that sexualizes minors. Such content is reported to the competent authorities.
• Illegal goods and services: narcotics, unlicensed pharmaceuticals, weapons and explosives, forged documents, stolen data or credentials, hacking or account-takeover services.
• Malware and abusive code: viruses, trojans, spyware, stalkerware, ransomware, cryptominers, browser hijackers, forced installs, or software bundling deceptive payloads.
• Deceptive technical behaviour: cloaking, forced redirects, auto-downloads, fake system or virus warnings, fake browser and OS dialogs, fake "your device is infected" interstitials, tech-support scams, and fake update prompts.
• Impersonation and IP infringement: counterfeit goods, unlicensed brand or trademark use, unauthorized use of celebrity likeness, pirated media or software, and fake news formats presented as genuine editorial or as a real news outlet.
• Financial crime: money-laundering services, money-mule recruitment, carding, fraudulent chargeback services, and shell-company or sanctions-evasion services.
• Hate, violence, and exploitation: content promoting hatred or discrimination against protected groups, terrorism or violent extremism, human trafficking, or the exploitation of vulnerable people.
• Sensitive-attribute targeting: creatives or targeting that reveal or infer health conditions, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, political opinions, or trade-union membership.
• Self-harm and disordered-eating promotion, and content that exploits crises, disasters, or tragedies for commercial gain.

4. Creative standards

• Creatives must accurately represent the offer and the destination page - no bait-and-switch.
• No fake close buttons, fake cursors, fake play buttons, or elements designed to be clicked accidentally.
• No imitation of system notifications, messaging apps, or a publisher’s own interface, except where a format legitimately uses that surface and is clearly identifiable as advertising.
• No flashing or strobing effects that could trigger photosensitive reactions.
• Landing pages must be functional, load in a reasonable time, be free of malware, and expose working contact and refund or cancellation information where products are sold.
• Where the law requires an "advertisement", "sponsored", or equivalent label, it must be present and legible.

5. Traffic and technical conduct

• No artificially generated impressions or clicks, bot traffic, incentivized clicks, or traffic-quality manipulation.
• No circumvention of moderation, targeting, capping, billing, or measurement systems.
• No injecting, replacing, or intercepting ads on inventory you do not own or control.
• No collection of end-user personal data beyond what the applicable notices and consents cover.

6. Moderation and enforcement

Campaigns, creatives, landing pages, and traffic sources are reviewed before launch and monitored during delivery, including by automated scanning and manual review. Depending on severity and history, we may:

• Request changes or additional documentation, such as a licence or authorisation.
• Reject or pause a campaign, creative, or placement.
• Restrict targeting, formats, or spend limits.
• Suspend or permanently terminate the account.
• Withhold payouts or reverse revenue attributable to violating activity, as permitted by the applicable agreement.
• Report the matter to law enforcement or a regulator where we are required or reasonably believe we should.

For fraudulent traffic specifically, enforcement follows our Anti-Fraud Policy.

7. Appeals

If you believe a moderation decision was made in error, contact [email protected] with your account ID, the campaign or placement concerned, and any supporting evidence, including licences. We will review the decision and respond. Reasoned appeal outcomes are provided where required by applicable law, including where platform-transparency rules apply.

8. Reporting a violation

To report an advertisement, landing page, or publisher placement that you believe breaches this AUP or the law, email [email protected] with the creative or URL, the geography, and the date and time observed. We investigate reports and act on them promptly.

9. Changes to this Policy

Advertising regulation changes frequently, and we may update this AUP accordingly. Material changes are reflected in the "Last updated" date above and, where appropriate, notified through the platform or by email.