Community Guidelines

1. Our Platform Promise

DownShift is India's premium automotive intelligence platform. To protect every driver, buyer, seller, and garage owner on our platform, we enforce strict community standards. These guidelines apply to all content published on DownShift — including vehicle listings, profile descriptions, reviews, uploaded images, and support messages.

2. Prohibited Content Categories

The following content is strictly prohibited on DownShift. Violations result in immediate content removal, account suspension, and reporting to relevant Indian authorities where required by law:

2.1 Illegal Vehicles & Parts

• Listing stolen, illegally imported, or non-roadworthy vehicles.
• Selling counterfeit, tampered, or cloned spare parts.
• Listing vehicles with forged RC, insurance, or PUC documents.
• Modified vehicles that violate the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

2.2 Fraudulent & Deceptive Conduct

• Providing inaccurate odometer readings, service history, or vehicle condition descriptions.
• Using misleading photos (stock photos instead of actual vehicle).
• Price manipulation, fake urgency, or bait-and-switch tactics.
• Creating multiple accounts to circumvent bans or boost listing visibility.

2.3 Harmful & Abusive Content

• Harassing, threatening, or abusing other DownShift users or support staff.
• Publishing content that is defamatory, sexually explicit, or obscene under the IT Act, 2000.
• Hate speech based on religion, caste, gender, ethnicity, or language under IPC provisions.
• Spreading misinformation that endangers public safety.

2.4 Intellectual Property Violations

• Using official OEM brand logos, trademarks, or copyrighted content without authorization.
• Misrepresenting dealership status or official brand affiliations.
• Copying or plagiarizing other users' listing content or photos.

2.5 Off-Platform & Spam Activity

• Sharing personal contact details to redirect buyers off-platform to avoid DownShift's safety systems.
• Sending unsolicited bulk messages or promotional spam to other users.
• Automated bot activity, scraping, or unauthorized API access.

3. Content Moderation Process

DownShift employs a combination of AI-assisted automated screening and human review for all listings and user-generated content:

• Automated Screening: All listings are scanned for prohibited keywords, image anomalies, and fraudulent patterns before publication.
• User Reports: Any user can flag a listing or profile. Reported content is reviewed within 24 hours.
• Admin Review: Our Trust & Safety team conducts manual audits on flagged accounts and high-risk listings.
• Legal Takedowns: We comply with valid court orders, government takedown notices, and law enforcement requests as mandated by IT Rules 2021.

4. Enforcement & Appeals

Violations of these guidelines may result in:

• Content removal without prior notice.
• Temporary account suspension (7–30 days).
• Permanent account termination and data erasure.
• Reporting to cybercrime authorities under applicable Indian law.

If you believe content was removed in error, you may appeal by writing to safety@downshift.in with your account email, listing ID, and reason for appeal. Appeals are reviewed within 7 business days.

5. Reporting Violations

To report a listing, user, or content that violates these guidelines, use the in-app Report button on any listing or profile card, or write directly to:

6. Monthly Compliance Report

In accordance with Rule 4(1)(d) of the IT (Intermediary Guidelines) Rules 2021, DownShift publishes a monthly transparency report disclosing the number of complaints received, content removed, and actions taken. Reports are available upon request at grievance@downshift.in.

7. Updates to These Guidelines

DownShift reserves the right to update these Community Guidelines at any time. Continued use of the platform constitutes acceptance of the updated guidelines. Users will be notified of material changes via in-app notification.