Code ofConduct

These Guidelines apply to all spaces, platforms, activities, and engagements managed or facilitated by DPO Club, including but not limited to:

• Online community platforms, discussion forums, and member groups
• Email communications and messaging channels
• Webinars, masterclasses, virtual meetings, and online learning sessions
• Conferences, workshops, roundtables, networking events, and meet-ups
• Social media communities and other community engagement platforms
• Any other programmes, events, initiatives, or communication channels organised, hosted, or administered by DPO Club

These Guidelines are applicable to all individuals participating in DPO Club activities, including members, speakers, volunteers, organisers, moderators, partners, sponsors, exhibitors, guests, service providers, and any other participants.

Members and participants are expected to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and respect. This includes:

• Treating all individuals with courtesy, empathy, respect, and professionalism.
• Respecting diverse perspectives, backgrounds, experiences, and levels of expertise, and engaging with an open mind.
• Communicating in an inclusive, respectful, and professional manner.
• Participating honestly, ethically, and in good faith.
• Providing and receiving feedback constructively and respectfully.
• Contributing meaningfully while allowing others an equal opportunity to participate.
• Disclosing relevant professional, organisational, financial, or commercial interests where appropriate.
• Respecting the privacy, confidentiality, and security of personal, confidential, and sensitive information.
• Refraining from false, misleading, defamatory, malicious, or unsubstantiated statements about individuals, organisations, or the DPO Club community.
• Complying with reasonable directions issued by DPO Club administrators, moderators, organisers, speakers, and authorised representatives.
• Acting in a manner that supports the interests, wellbeing, and reputation of the wider DPO Club community.

Professional disagreement, critical thinking, and respectful debate are encouraged. Personal attacks, intimidation, harassment, hostility, abusive behaviour, or conduct that undermines a respectful and collaborative environment will not be tolerated.

Prohibited conduct includes, but is not limited to:

• Discrimination, hate speech, abusive behaviour, threats, or offensive conduct directed at any individual or group.
• Remarks or actions that are sexist, racist, caste-based, homophobic, transphobic, ableist, or otherwise discriminatory or exclusionary.
• Any form of harassment, bullying, intimidation, coercion, stalking, or threatening behaviour, whether occurring in person, online, publicly, or through private communications.
• Unwelcome sexual advances, sexually explicit or suggestive comments, inappropriate physical contact, or any other conduct of a sexual nature that creates an uncomfortable or hostile environment.
• The use or display of violent, graphic, or disturbing language, images, or other content that is inappropriate for a professional community.
• Trolling, deliberate disruption, inflammatory behaviour, insults, personal attacks, or actions intended to provoke, embarrass, or demean others.
• Repeatedly interrupting, obstructing, or otherwise interfering with discussions, presentations, meetings, events, or community activities.
• Knowingly publishing, sharing, or promoting false, misleading, defamatory, or malicious information about any individual, organisation, or the DPO Club community.
• Disclosing, recording, sharing, or distributing another person's personal information, communications, photographs, audio, video, or other content without their knowledge, consent, or appropriate authorisation.
• Recording, livestreaming, photographing, or redistributing DPO Club sessions or community discussions where such activity has not been expressly authorised.
• Any form of retaliation against an individual who reports a concern, raises a complaint, provides information during an inquiry, or otherwise supports the enforcement of these Guidelines.
• Assisting, encouraging, or facilitating behaviour that violates these Guidelines.

To foster trust within the community, members are expected to handle information shared through DPO Club platforms.

Without prior authorisation, members must not disclose, distribute, or publish:

• Screenshots of community discussions.
• Member directories, contact information, or participant lists.
• Private conversations or direct messages between members.
• Internal presentations, documents, research, or other community resources.
• Comments, opinions, or statements that can reasonably be attributed to an identifiable individual.
• Photographs, audio recordings, video recordings, or livestreams of DPO Club activities where permission has not been obtained.
• Confidential, proprietary, privileged, or sensitive information relating to any individual, organisation, client, employee, investigation, complaint, security incident, regulatory proceeding, or legal matter.

When sharing information within the community, members are expected to:

• Disclose only the information necessary to facilitate the discussion.
• Remove or anonymise personal data, confidential information, and any details that could reasonably identify individuals, organisations, clients, or other affected parties.
• Obtain appropriate consent or authorisation before sharing information that relates to another individual or organisation.
• Exercise particular care when discussing ongoing incidents, investigations, regulatory matters, or legal proceedings to avoid identifying those involved.
• Comply with all applicable privacy, data protection, confidentiality, contractual, regulatory, and professional obligations.

Views expressed by members are their own unless they are expressly authorised to speak on behalf of their organisation.

DPO Club may remove content that appears to expose personal data, confidential information, privileged material, or legally protected content.

DPO Club is a professional learning and networking community and must not be used for unsolicited sales, marketing, recruitment, or lead generation.

Members must not:

• Share promotional or commercial content outside authorised channels or without prior approval.
• Send unsolicited sales, recruitment, or marketing communications to other members.
• Use member information for commercial, marketing, recruitment, or lead-generation purposes.
• Add members to mailing lists, messaging groups, or promotional campaigns without their explicit consent.
• Present promotional content as independent advice or a neutral community recommendation.
• Use community interactions primarily for business solicitation or lead generation.

Job opportunities, events, research, partnerships, and similar promotional content may only be shared through authorised channels or with prior approval from DPO Club.

Recommendations may be shared only when requested and must include disclosure of any relevant commercial or professional relationship.

Private outreach is permitted only with the recipient's consent, invitation, or for a legitimate non-commercial community purpose. Access to a member's contact details does not constitute consent to contact them.

DPO Club reserves the right to warn, restrict, suspend, or remove members who misuse the community for unsolicited promotion or commercial activities.

Participants must comply with policies and the reasonable directions of DPO Club organisers and event staff. Participants must not:

• Disrupt speakers, sessions, organisers, or other attendees.
• Record, photograph, livestream, or share event content where not authorised.
• Use attendee information for unsolicited commercial or promotional outreach.
• Display or distribute promotional materials without prior approval.
• Engage in conduct that creates an unsafe, intimidating, or disruptive environment.

Members must not use the DPO Club name, logo, event content, member information, or community affiliation in a manner that implies endorsement, sponsorship, partnership, or authorisation without prior written approval.

Event recordings, presentations, photographs, and other materials may be subject to separate intellectual property, recording, and usage terms communicated for the relevant event or programme.

Information, views, resources, templates, and experiences shared within DPO Club are provided for general discussion and knowledge sharing and should not be considered legal, regulatory, cybersecurity, financial, or other professional advice.

Members are responsible for evaluating any information shared and obtaining independent professional advice where appropriate.

The views expressed by members, speakers, partners, or participants are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of DPO Club or their respective organisations.

Members who experience or witness a potential violation of these Guidelines are encouraged to report it to:

Where possible, reports should include a brief description of the incident, the date, time, location or platform, individuals involved, and any relevant supporting information.

All reports will be handled as confidentially as reasonably practicable and shared only with those responsible for reviewing and resolving the matter.

Retaliation against any individual who reports a concern, participates in an investigation, or supports a complaint is strictly prohibited.

Complaints may be reviewed by DPO Club administrators or a Community Conduct Committee.

Those responsible for reviewing complaints will:

• Act fairly, impartially, and maintain confidentiality where reasonably possible.
• Avoid actual or potential conflicts of interest.
• Provide affected individuals a reasonable opportunity to respond.
• Consider the context, seriousness, frequency, intent, and impact of the conduct.
• Recommend proportionate and consistent action.

Any reviewer with a conflict of interest must not participate in the review or decision-making process.

Where a violation is established, DPO Club may take one or more of the following actions:

• Issue an informal reminder or formal warning.
• Remove or restrict content.
• Restrict participation in discussions, events, or programmes.
• Suspend or revoke access to community spaces or membership.
• Restrict participation by representatives of an organisation where misconduct is repeated or coordinated.
• Notify a venue, platform provider, employer, professional body, regulator, law enforcement agency, or other appropriate authority where necessary or legally required.

Serious violations may result in immediate suspension or removal without prior warning where necessary to protect the safety, privacy, confidentiality, or integrity of the community.

DPO Club also reserves the right to remove any content that violates these Guidelines.

A member subject to a temporary suspension or permanent removal may submit one written request for reconsideration to info@dpoclub.in within 48 hours of receiving notice of the decision.

A request for reconsideration should explain the basis for the request and include any relevant new information. Where reasonably practicable, the request will be reviewed by a person not involved in the original decision.

Reconsideration may not be available where immediate or final action was necessary to address safety, confidentiality, legal, regulatory, or serious misconduct concerns.

These Guidelines may be updated from time to time to reflect the evolving needs of the DPO Club community. Material updates may be communicated through the DPO Club website, email, or other official community channels. Continued participation in DPO Club activities constitutes acceptance of the revised Guidelines.

Feedback or questions may be submitted to info@dpoclub.in.

By joining or participating in any DPO Club community, event, programme, or activity, members acknowledge that they have read, understood, and agree to comply with these Community Guidelines and Code of Conduct.