GitHub Bullying and Harassment

We do not tolerate harassment, bullying, or abuse of any kind, whether directly or by encouraging others to take part in the prohibited conduct. This includes:

Targeted personal attacks

Piling on to or orchestrating disruptive activity in a way that amounts to abuse

Following another user around the platform in a manner that causes intimidation

Making sexual advances or comments directed at another individual

Disingenuously participating in conversation in a way that instigates conflict or undermines sincere discussion

Creating alternative accounts specifically to evade moderation action taken by GitHub staff or users

Please note, not all unwelcome conduct is necessarily considered harassment. For example, disagreeing with another user or downvoting their comments may not rise to the level of harassment on our platform. In addition, sharing criticism of public figures or projects, or topics of public interest, does not necessarily fall under this policy. However, we encourage you to be mindful in how you engage with other users and the platform, as this activity may still violate our restriction on disrupting the experience of other users.

GitHub Disrupting the Experience of Other Users

Being part of a community includes recognizing how your behavior affects others and engaging in meaningful and productive interactions with people and the platform they rely on.

We do not allow behavior that significantly or continually disrupts the experience of other users. This includes:

Posting off-topic comments

Opening empty or meaningless issues or pull requests

Starring and/or following accounts or repositories in large volume in a short period of time

Creating nonsensical or irrelevant code reviews

Engaging with platform features in a way that causes excessive notifications for other users

Using any other platform feature in a way that creates disruption

While we encourage maintainers to moderate their own projects on an individual basis, GitHub staff may take further restrictive action against accounts that are engaging in these types of behaviors.

Please note that the above conduct may also violate other restrictions in our Acceptable Use Policies. For example, depending on the nature and severity of the activity, it may rise to the level of bullying and harassment.

GitHub Doxxing and Invasion of Privacy

Don't post other people's personal information. This includes:

Personal, private email addresses

Phone numbers

Physical addresses or other private location information

Bank account information or credit card numbers

Social Security/National Identity numbers

Passwords

Voter information

Medical information and personal biometric data

Other private information that may pose a safety or security risk

We may consider other information, such as photos or videos that were taken or distributed without the subject's consent, to be an invasion of privacy, especially when such material presents a safety risk to the subject, such as in the case of intimidation or harassment.

GitHub will take context into account as well as whether the reported content is publicly available elsewhere. Please note, however, that while sharing publicly available content may not be a violation of this policy, if the information is shared with the intent to harass or incite other abusive behavior, it may violate our prohibition against bullying and harassment.

For more information, or to learn how to report a violation, see our Private Information Removal Policy and our instructions for Reporting Abuse.

GitHub Hate Speech and Discrimination

GitHub does not tolerate speech that attacks or promotes hate toward an individual or group of people on the basis of who they are, including age, body size, ability, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, level of experience, nationality, personal appearance, race, religion, sexual identity, or sexual orientation. This includes:

Mocking, attacking, or excluding a person or group based on their beliefs or the characteristics listed above

Displaying clear affiliation or identification with known terrorist or violent extremist organizations

Supporting or promoting hate groups or hate-based conspiracy theories

Sharing symbols or images synonymous with hate

Using harmful stereotypes, slurs, or dehumanizing speech

Attacking an individual based on their perceived gender

Dog whistling; or using coded or suggestive language and/or symbols to promote abuse or hate

While GitHub takes all instances of abuse and harassment on the platform seriously, we are especially committed to fighting hate-based abuse where it disproportionately affects communities that have historically been targeted by such abuse. We aim to make GitHub a place where all individuals feel welcome and safe.

GitHub Impersonation

You may not misrepresent your identity or your association with another person or organization. This includes doing any of the following in a way that misleads or deceives others:

Copying another user's avatar or other personal profile information

Posting content under another user's email address

Using a deceptively similar username, organization name, or other namespace

Accessing an account or organization with another user's token or credentials

Otherwise posing as another individual or organization

Impersonation is a form of harassment and violation of this policy may lead to loss of access to your account.

Please note, having a username similar to another is not necessarily impersonation. GitHub will take context into account. For example, as in cases involving claims of misinformation or disinformation, we generally allow parody and satire that is in line with our Acceptable Use Polices.

GitHub Misinformation and Disinformation

You may not post content that presents a distorted view of reality, whether it is inaccurate or false (misinformation) or is intentionally deceptive (disinformation), where such content is likely to result in harm to the public or to interfere with fair and equal opportunities for all to take part in a free and open society. This may include:

Inaccurate or scientifically unsupported medical claims that endanger public health or safety

Manipulated media, whether audio or visual, likely to mislead or deceive in a way that may harm the public interest

False or misleading content likely to interfere with an individual's ability to participate in civic activities

Unsubstantiated claims that could promote hate or targeted harassment of specific groups of people

We encourage active participation in the expression of ideas, perspectives, and experiences and may not be in a position to dispute personal accounts or observations. We generally allow parody and satire that is in line with our Acceptable Use Polices, and we consider context to be important in how information is received and understood. When reviewing content under this policy, GitHub will consider the impact of various factors that may help to orient the viewer, such as whether the content has been provided with clear disclaimers, citations to credible sources, or includes other details that clarify the accuracy of the information being shared.

Synthetic & Manipulated Media Tools

GitHub does not allow any projects that are designed for, encourage, promote, support, or suggest in any way the use of synthetic or manipulated media for the creation of non-consensual intimate imagery or any content that would constitute misinformation or disinformation under this policy.

GitHub Sexually Obscene Content

We do not tolerate content associated with sexual exploitation or abuse of another individual, including where minors are concerned. We do not allow sexually themed or suggestive content that serves little or no purpose other than to solicit an erotic or shocking response, particularly where that content is amplified by its placement in profiles or other social contexts. This includes:

Pornographic content

Non-consensual intimate imagery

Graphic depictions of sexual acts including photographs, video, animation, drawings, computer-generated images, or text-based content

We recognize that not all nudity or content related to sexuality is obscene. We may allow visual and/or textual depictions in artistic, educational, historical or journalistic contexts, or as it relates to victim advocacy. In some cases a disclaimer can help communicate the context of the project. However, please understand that we may choose to limit the content by giving users the option to opt in before viewing.

GitHub Threats of Violence and Gratuitously Violent Content

You may not use GitHub to organize, promote, encourage, threaten, or incite acts of violence. You may not post content that depicts or glorifies violence or physical harm against human beings or animals. This includes:

Threatening another individual or group with abuse, harm, sexual violence, or death

Posting text, imagery, or audio content glorifying or containing a graphic depiction of violence toward oneself, another individual, group, or animal

Encouraging another individual to engage in self harm

We do not allow violent content to be posted indiscriminately or in a way that is difficult for other users to avoid, such as a profile avatar or an issue comment. However, we understand there may be legitimate reasons to post violent content, such as for educational or documentary purposes, creative works, or depictions of historical events. In those cases, a clear warning or disclaimer can help users make an educated decision as to whether or not they want to engage with such content. Still, GitHub may decide to limit the visibility of such content to those who choose to opt in.