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# Appeal Process |
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How to dispute moderation decisions. |
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*Makenotwork is currently a one-person operation. Appeals are reviewed directly by the founder. Independent review by a separate decision-maker is planned once the team grows.* |
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--- |
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## What Can Be Appealed |
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You can appeal: |
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- Content removal |
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- Account suspension |
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- Account termination |
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- Any other moderation action |
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--- |
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## How to Appeal |
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Every appeal reaches the same person and gets the same review. How you send it |
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depends on what you're appealing. |
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**Account suspension:** submit from your account dashboard. The form appears there |
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while the suspension is active. |
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**Content removal, account termination, and anything else:** email |
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**appeals@makenot.work**. There is no dashboard form for these yet. If your account |
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was terminated you are signed out and cannot reach the dashboard at all, so email is |
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the only route, and it works. |
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Include: |
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1. **Your username** or account email |
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2. **What action you're appealing** - What was removed or what restriction was applied |
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3. **Why you believe the decision was wrong** - Be specific |
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4. **Any relevant context** - Information we might have missed |
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Emailed appeals are not second-class. The dashboard form exists for suspensions |
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because that is where it was built first, and the rest are on the list. |
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--- |
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## What Happens Next |
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1. **Acknowledgment** - We confirm receipt (usually within 24 hours) |
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2. **Review** - Your appeal is reviewed with fresh eyes. Currently, appeals are reviewed by the founder. Once the team grows, appeals will be reviewed by someone other than the original decision-maker |
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3. **Decision** - We notify you of the outcome with explanation |
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4. **If overturned** - Content is restored or restrictions are lifted |
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5. **If upheld** - We explain why and what options remain |
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--- |
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## Timeline |
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We resolve appeals within: |
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- **Content removal:** 3-5 business days |
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- **Account suspension:** 5-10 business days |
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- **Account termination:** 10-14 business days |
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Complex cases may take longer. We'll keep you informed of delays. |
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## What We Consider |
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When reviewing appeals, we look at: |
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- **Original context** - Was important context missed? |
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- **Policy interpretation** - Was the policy applied correctly? |
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- **Consistency** - Is this consistent with how we've handled similar cases? |
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- **New information** - Did you provide information that changes the picture? |
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--- |
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## Data Access During Appeals |
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Even if your account is suspended or terminated: |
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- You can request a data export |
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- We preserve your data during the appeal window |
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--- |
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## Limits |
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Some decisions cannot be appealed: |
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- **Legal requirements** - If we're legally required to remove content or terminate an account |
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- **Imminent harm** - If we believe content poses immediate danger to someone |
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- **CSAM** - Content involving minors is not subject to appeal |
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For these cases, we'll explain why the decision is final. |
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--- |
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## If You Disagree with the Appeal Outcome |
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If your appeal is denied and you believe we made an error, you can appeal again after |
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30 days. Provide new information or arguments not considered the first time; your |
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case will be re-examined from scratch. |
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For suspensions the 30-day wait is enforced by the dashboard form, which will tell |
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you how many days remain. One appeal is open at a time; submit again once the |
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previous one has been decided. |
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The wait exists so that a second look is a genuine second look rather than the same |
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case resubmitted the same week. It is not a limit on how many times you can be heard. |
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--- |
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## See Also |
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- [Content Moderation](./moderation.md): How we make decisions |
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- [Acceptable Use Policy](./acceptable-use.md): What we enforce |
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