Online Abuse Policy

As an online bookstore with millions of books from around the world, there is always the likelihood to display and sell content, from an ever-changing landscape of publishers and authors, that can insult or offend someone or some groups - even the most seemingly-benign content. On our websites, we take the approach of selling entertainment and knowledge and enabling free speech and freedom of opinions and expression through books, but not at the expense of, or in specific danger to, our democratic and societal protections, rights and freedoms - particularly those of safety, security and religious, political or civil association. Google is famous for having a mantra of "Don't Be Evil" and we agree with that sentiment when it comes to books (unless you are Stephen King in which case context definitely counts, but that's the point!).

Booksdeli itself has policies to address racism, bullying and hate within our company and we extend that for our websites, within the relevant Laws and what would be judged in an expected, reasonable manner. We do our best to swiftly assess and respond to reports of prohibited or illegal content on our website that falls foul of these Laws and principles, just as we so choose not to remove content that does not, according to our judgment and within the Law.

What is Prohibited or Illegal content?

The Office of the eSafety Commissioner of the Australian Government describes the following types of content that may be Prohibited or Illegal:

• footage of real or simulated violence, criminal activity or accidents from video clips, games or films
• sexually explicit content
• images of child sexual abuse
• content that advocates the doing of a terrorist act
• content instructing or promoting crime or violence.

 

We expand this list to also include racism, bullying and harassment specifically and intently directed at people as well as other types of content. We have content and categories where lines definitely are drawn at different places within this list - including zero tolerance in many - in considered, educational or non-harming contexts and that we believe is a reasonable and acceptable way to behave in our society.

What we are saying is that we do not automatically take content down just because you don't like or agree with it, but we do take content down that is reasonably or obviously harmful.

Good examples of content we do allow are books about topics that are widely accepted as educational resources, yet can be potentially offensive; for example most medical, religious and historical books would fit into this category (obviously not an exhaustive list) and there will always be a person or persons who demand that we take that content down, yet we do not. Examples of books we have taken down are bomb-making or other terrorism-related instruction manuals and explicitly-overt sexual, homophobic, bigoted or racist content specifically directed at a person, group or groups of people for the intent to cause harm. Intent and context of the book is important. Even so, we believe we can safely fulfil the wider reading needs in our society within the Law, yet without being necessarily or automatically held hostage to causes or people who would demand us to act in a way that would enforce their own views onto us and our readers. At the end of the day we take a non-radical, lawful and reasonable approach to what we sell and display on our websites and we do not tolerate Cyber Abuse.

What is Cyber Abuse?

The Office of the eSafety Commissioner of the Australian Government defines Cyber abuse as online behaviour which is reasonably likely to have a seriously threatening, intimidating, harassing or humiliating effect on a person. It is behaviour that threatens to hurt a person socially, psychologically or even physically. As above, we have a very low tolerance for this type of content and we welcome you to report it to us.

Have something on our website to report?

Please send an email to support@booksdeli.com We will consider your view and if we deem it appropriate to act, then we will do so.