Introduction

Scenic is a platform built on community-contributed content, scenic routes, photos, videos, and experiences. To ensure everyone’s safety, privacy, and enjoyment, this policy explains the risks associated with user-generated routes and media and outlines the rules we follow to minimise misuse and protect users.

This policy is part of Scenic’s broader commitment to user rights, public safety, content authenticity, and legal compliance.

Why This Policy Matters

Routes and media on Scenic are mostly created by users. This means that the content displayed on the Scenic platform is subject to the following limitations:
- Some content may be incomplete, inaccurate, or out of date.
- Others may try to share misleading or harmful information.
- Scenic cannot manually verify every single post in real-time.

Due to these limitations, we rely on a combination of technology, human moderation, and your feedback to keep our platform safe, beautiful, and trustworthy.

Scenic is more than a tool for real-world exploration; it is also a blend of community, storytelling, and immersive navigation.

The integrity of route-related visuals is critical to helping users plan safe, enjoyable, and reliable journeys. AI-generated or misleading media, when misused, erodes this trust and can lead to confusion, disappointment, or even danger.

By clearly separating creative freedom in Echos from factual accuracy in route contributions, we aim to support both expression and reliability.

Route Risks We Actively Mitigate

We assess every user-submitted route using a combination of AI, reverse geocoding, and community signals. Here's how we handle risk:

‍Private or Restricted Locations
- Routes that begin, end, or pass through residential areas, private roads, military zones, or sensitive government locations are automatically flagged.
- These routes may be:
-- Blocked from public visibility
-- Rejected and returned to the user with revision notes
-- Marked as “Private Use Only”

‍Unsafe or Inaccessible Paths
- AI models analyse terrain and path metadata to detect:
-- Steep drops or water crossings with no bridge
-- Missing roads or terrain inconsistencies
-- Dangerous or impassable areas (e.g., due to landslides, construction, floods)
- Routes involving the above conditions will be flagged as unsafe, and we handle them in one or more of the following ways:
-- Are clearly marked in-app
-- May be temporarily disabled pending review
-- May trigger a user safety warning at launch

‍Misleading or Fraudulent Submissions
‍- Routes with clearly manipulated GPS data or deceptive naming (e.g., calling a random street a “Great Wall secret path”) may be:
-- Removed immediately
-- Tracked back to the account/device for further review
-- Considered for moderation action (including warnings or bans)

Media Risks We Monitor For

Photos and videos make Scenic beautiful, but they also carry risks. Here’s how we handle them:

‍Offensive or Inappropriate Media
- All media uploaded to Scenic is scanned using automated moderation tools to detect:
-- Nudity or sexual content
-- Violence or graphic injury
-- Hate symbols or illegal activities

Flagged media will be blocked, blurred, or deleted before becoming public.

‍Sensitive or Dangerous Location Tags
- We protect privacy and safety by:
-- Stripping EXIF geotags unless you choose to share location
-- Blocking uploads from sensitive or illegal coordinates
-- Hiding location tags on content near private homes or restricted areas

AI-Generated or Manipulated Media
At Scenic, we are committed to building a trustworthy, visually authentic platform that empowers users to explore scenic routes based on real, user-contributed experiences. As AI-generated media becomes increasingly accessible and realistic, we recognise its creative potential, but also its capacity to mislead.

To maintain the integrity of our platform and protect user confidence in route-related decisions, the following policy outlines the acceptable use of AI-generated and enhanced media on Scenic:

1. Where AI-Generated Media Is Allowed
‍AI-generated or AI-enhanced media (e.g., synthetic landscapes, stylised edits, generative art) is permitted only in non-navigational, creative contexts, such as:
- User posts and Echos
- Profile imagesTeam chat content (if relevant)
- Comment threads or shared inspiration boards

In these contexts, users are free to express themselves creatively using AI tools, provided the content is clearly labelled and does not contain deceptive or harmful alterations.

2. Where AI-Generated Media Is Strictly Prohibited
‍AI-generated, AI-altered, or otherwise inauthentic media is strictly prohibited in all contexts that directly influence navigation or decision-making, including:
- Route submissions and saved routes
- Media galleries attached to routes
- Cover photos or thumbnails for routes
- Location-anchored “check-in” uploads
These areas are reserved for authentic, real-world representations of locations and conditions. Uploading AI-generated content in these contexts is considered a violation of trust and will result in content removal, and may lead to account review or suspension.

3. Labelling Requirements for AI Content
‍If you choose to upload AI-generated or significantly AI-enhanced media in allowed contexts (e.g., Echos or posts), you are required to:
- Clearly disclose the nature of the content by selecting the “AI-generated” label during upload (or through any other platform-specified method).
- Avoid any attempt to mislead users by blending AI-generated content into real-world travel imagery without disclosure.
- Ensure AI-generated imagery does not mimic real locations in ways that could confuse or mislead users into believing the content reflects an actual place.
Scenic reserves the right to add visible “AI-generated” tags to uploaded content at its discretion, based on internal moderation or automated detection systems.

4. Misleading or Deceptive Enhancements
‍Scenic defines “deceptive enhancements” as any visual manipulation that could materially affect another user’s travel expectations, safety, or route planning decisions. Regardless of whether the media is AI-generated or not, users must not:
- Upload heavily edited images that alter essential geographic, scenic, or environmental features.
- Use generative tools to erase, fabricate, or beautify real-world conditions in a way that misrepresents what other users would encounter.
- Submit composite images that falsely suggest a certain season, time of day, weather condition, or level of accessibility.

Enforcement and Moderation

- Please not that content that violates this policy will be removed without notice.
- Repeat offences or severe violations may result in temporary or permanent account suspension.
- Users may report misleading media via in-app tools; verified reports will be prioritised for moderation.
- Scenic employs a combination of automated detection, community flagging, and human review to identify violations of this policy.
- Appeals may be submitted for moderation decisions through our standard content dispute process.

What We Expect From You

To help us keep Scenic safe and meaningful, please:
- Share only routes and media that are truthful, accurate, and respectful
- Avoid submitting paths that cross into private, dangerous, or off-limits places
- Respect the privacy of others: no photos of strangers or homes without consent
- Use your best judgment when uploading media. Beauty doesn’t need to violate rules
- Use the “Report” button on any content you believe is inaccurate, harmful, or offensive

Report and Resolution

You can report content directly in the app or by emailing:
‍trust@scenicnav.com

‍Additionally, if you have any questions about this policy or would like to verify if a piece of content is permitted, you can contact our Content Integrity team.
We will:
- Review reports within 24–72 hours
- Notify the reporter (when appropriate) of the action taken
- Provide an appeal mechanism if your content is flagged in error

How We Improve Over Time

Scenic is constantly learning from user feedback and improving our tools to:
- Detect dangerous content more accurately
- Respond faster to flagged media
- Educate our community on safe sharing

We update our moderation models and policy standards regularly, and any major changes will be reflected in the “Last Updated’ date at the top of the new Route and Media Risk Policy.

Disclaimer

While Scenic strives to maintain a safe environment when using the platform, we are not liable for:
- Personal injury or damages resulting from reliance on user-generated routes
- Offensive or harmful content that evades detection
- Unauthorised reuse or exposure of location-tagged content
- Other circumstances beyond Scenic’s control or reasonable foresight

Users are responsible for navigating safely and abiding by local laws while using Scenic.