Last updated: 9 September 2026

These Community Guidelines set out the standards of behaviour and content we expect from everyone who uses Internet Ready News — whether you are commenting on an article, submitting a news story, or interacting with other readers. By using the Service, you agree to follow these guidelines.

1. Our principles

We want Internet Ready News to be a welcoming, respectful, and informative space for everyone. We encourage robust debate and diverse viewpoints, but we will not tolerate behaviour that harms individuals or undermines the integrity of the platform.

2. Acceptable behaviour

  • Be respectful of other readers, even when you disagree.
  • Debate ideas, not people — challenge the argument, not the person making it.
  • Keep comments relevant to the article or topic under discussion.
  • Share accurate information and be open to correction.
  • Report content that violates these guidelines rather than responding in kind.

3. Prohibited content and behaviour

You must not post or submit any of the following:

  • Hate speech: Content that promotes violence, incites hatred, or discriminates against people based on race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, or any other protected characteristic.
  • Harassment and abuse: Personal attacks, threats, intimidation, sustained bullying, or targeted harassment of any individual or group.
  • Offensive or explicit material: Pornography, graphic violence, or content that is excessively disturbing or inappropriate for a general news audience.
  • Illegal content: Anything that breaches UK or international law, including but not limited to content that promotes terrorism, sexual exploitation of children, or illegal drugs.
  • Misinformation and disinformation: Knowingly false, misleading, or fabricated content presented as fact, including manipulated media designed to deceive.
  • Spam and self-promotion: Repeated posting of the same message, unsolicited advertising, promotional links, or irrelevant content intended to disrupt discussion.
  • Copyright infringement: Posting content (text, images, video, or audio) that you do not own or do not have permission to use.
  • Privacy violations: Sharing another person's private information (such as home address, phone number, or financial details) without their consent.
  • Impersonation: Pretending to be another person, organisation, or Internet Ready News staff member.

4. Accuracy expectations for story submissions

If you submit a news story through our "Submit a Story" feature, you must:

  • Provide accurate, truthful information to the best of your knowledge.
  • Confirm that you have verified the accuracy of your submission before sending it.
  • Include a source link where possible so our editorial team can verify the story.
  • Disclose if any part of your submission is opinion, speculation, or unverified.
  • Not submit fabricated, staged, or manipulated content as real news.

5. Moderation

Our editorial and moderation team reviews comments and submissions. We reserve the right to:

  • Remove or hide comments that violate these guidelines.
  • Decline, edit, or remove submitted stories at our discretion.
  • Suspend or revoke commenting privileges for repeat offenders.
  • Suspend or terminate accounts for serious or repeated violations.
  • Report illegal content to the relevant authorities where required.

Moderation decisions are made at our discretion and are final. We aim to act on reported content promptly, but we cannot review every comment in real time.

6. How to report content

If you see a comment or submitted story that you believe violates these guidelines, please report it:

  • Use the Contact Us form in the Help & Support section and select "Report content" as the category.
  • Include the article title, the content you are reporting, and why you believe it violates these guidelines.
  • Do not engage with the content or retaliate — let our moderation team handle it.

7. Consequences of violations

  • First minor violation: The content is removed and the user receives a warning.
  • Repeated or serious violations: Commenting privileges are suspended, and the account may be restricted.
  • Severe violations (hate speech, threats, illegal content, or child safety): The account is terminated immediately and, where required, reported to authorities.

8. Changes to these guidelines

We may update these Community Guidelines from time to time. Continued use of the Service after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated guidelines.

9. Contact

If you have questions about these Community Guidelines, please contact us at info@internetreadynews.com.