Verification

Verification helps Media.com establish who is behind a profile or organization and strengthens accountability across the network.

Depending on the features you use, Media.com may require you to verify your identity, your organization, or your authority to act on behalf of an organization.

Verification confirms specified information about a person or organization. It does not mean that Media.com endorses the verified user, guarantees their conduct or verifies the accuracy of everything they publish.

A verified Media.com profile means that Media.com, or a verification provider acting on our behalf, has completed the applicable verification checks for that profile.

Depending on the type of profile, those checks may relate to:

• the identity of an individual;
• the existence of an organization;
• the identity of a representative;
• the representative's authority or relationship with an organization; or
• other information required as part of Media.com's verification process.

Verification requirements may differ between individuals and organizations and may change as Media.com's verification systems develop.

To obtain and maintain a Verified Personal Profile, you must:

• satisfy Media.com's applicable age and eligibility requirements;
• provide truthful and accurate information;
• provide valid identification or other information requested as part of the verification process;
• successfully complete any identity, likeness or liveness checks required by Media.com; and
• cooperate with reasonable requests for additional information where necessary to complete or maintain verification.

The information supplied for verification must relate to you.

You must not attempt to verify an account using another person's identity.

To obtain and maintain a Verified Organization Profile:

• the organization must provide the information reasonably required to establish its identity or existence;
• an authorised representative may be required to hold a verified individual profile;
• Media.com may require evidence of the representative's relationship with or authority to act for the organization; and
• additional documents or information may be required depending on the organization type or jurisdiction.

Verification of an organization does not necessarily mean that every employee, officer or representative of that organization has been individually verified.

Do not provide false, misleading, altered, stolen or fraudulent information or documentation during verification.

Do not:

• impersonate another person;
• falsely claim to represent an organization;
• alter documents for the purpose of misleading Media.com's verification process;
• use another person's identity documents without authority;
• attempt to bypass or manipulate verification controls; or
• assist another person in fraudulently obtaining verified status.

Certain verified information may be displayed publicly on your Media.com profile.

The information displayed will depend on the type of profile and the Media.com product experience.

Media.com may distinguish between:

• information used privately to conduct verification; and
• information displayed publicly as part of a verified profile.

Verification does not mean that all information provided privately for verification will be made public.

Some information associated with verification may be restricted from immediate or unrestricted alteration after verification.

If important identity or organization information changes, Media.com may require additional checks before updating the verified information displayed on the profile.

Do not attempt to transfer a verified identity or organization status to another person or entity.

Media.com may require you to complete verification again where reasonably necessary.

This may occur, for example, where:

• information associated with a verified profile materially changes;
• an identity document expires;
• an organization's authorised representative changes;
• Media.com identifies a security or authenticity concern; or
• additional verification is reasonably required to protect the integrity of the network.

Failure to complete required re-verification may result in verified status or access to verification-dependent features being temporarily restricted.

An unsuccessful verification attempt does not necessarily mean you have violated Media.com's Rules.

Where Media.com cannot verify the information provided, we may:

• request additional information;
• ask you to attempt verification again;
• deny or withhold verified status; or
• restrict access to features that require verification.

Different action may be taken where Media.com reasonably believes the verification attempt involved deliberate deception, impersonation, fraudulent documentation or another serious violation.

Where Media.com determines that a person has deliberately attempted to obtain verified status using false, stolen, altered or fraudulent information, we may take enforcement action.

Depending on the severity and circumstances, this may include:

• refusing verification;
• removing verified status;
• restricting platform features;
• temporarily suspending the account; or
• permanently removing the account.

Serious suspected unlawful conduct may also be handled in accordance with applicable law and Media.com's legal and safety procedures.

A verified badge confirms that specified verification checks relating to the profile have been completed.

It does not mean that:

• Media.com endorses the person or organization;
• Media.com guarantees that the profile will always comply with our Rules;
• Media.com approves the views expressed by the profile; or
• Media.com has verified the accuracy of every statement or publication made by the profile.

Publishers remain responsible for what they publish.

Users may appeal eligible verification decisions where they believe Media.com made an error.

For more information, see Appealing a Media.com Decision.

Verification may require Media.com or its verification providers to process identity and other personal information.

For information about how this data is handled, see Media.com's Privacy Policy and relevant Privacy & Data Protection information in the Trust Center.

This topic should be read together with:

• Age Requirements and Youth Safety;
• Impersonation and Identity Abuse;
• Account Integrity;
• Content Integrity & Fact-Checking;
• Privacy & Data Protection; and
• other applicable Media.com Rules and Policies.