Acceptable Use Policy
Last Updated: 15 October 2026
1. Purpose
This Acceptable Use Policy ("AUP") defines what is and is not permitted on the Madeinafrica.io Platform. Violations may result in content removal, account suspension, or permanent ban.
2. Prohibited Products
The following products and services may NOT be listed on the Platform:
2.1 Illegal Goods:
- Narcotics, controlled substances, and illegal drugs
- Counterfeit currency or financial instruments
- Stolen goods or goods of questionable origin
- Illegal wildlife products (ivory, rhino horn, pangolin scales, etc.)
- Unlicensed firearms, ammunition, and explosives
2.2 Counterfeit and Pirated Goods:
- Fake branded products (clothing, electronics, cosmetics, etc.)
- Pirated software, media, or publications
- Unauthorised replicas of patented products
2.3 Hazardous and Restricted Goods:
- Radioactive materials
- Hazardous chemicals without proper licensing
- Asbestos and asbestos-containing products
- Ozone-depleting substances
- Products that violate CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species)
2.4 Offensive and Harmful Content:
- Products promoting hate, discrimination, or violence
- Pornographic or sexually explicit materials
- Products that exploit children or vulnerable persons
2.5 Sanctioned Goods:
- Products originating from or destined for countries or entities subject to UN, AU, SADC, or other applicable sanctions
- Goods that violate export control regulations (e.g., dual-use military/civilian goods without proper licensing)
2.6 Deceptive Products:
- Products with falsified certifications or test results
- Products that misrepresent their origin (e.g., claiming "Made in South Africa" when manufactured elsewhere)
- "Miracle cure" health products without scientific backing
3. Prohibited Conduct
3.1 Fraud and Deception:
- Creating fake accounts or impersonating another business
- Submitting fraudulent Verification documents
- Misrepresenting product quality, specifications, or origin
- Bait-and-switch pricing
- Fake reviews or ratings
3.2 Spam and Abuse:
- Sending unsolicited bulk messages to Users
- Posting irrelevant or repetitive content
- Harassing, threatening, or abusing other Users
- Discriminatory language based on race, gender, nationality, religion, or ethnicity
3.3 Platform Manipulation:
- Click fraud or impression manipulation on advertisements
- Artificially inflating search rankings
- Scraping the Platform for commercial purposes without authorisation (note: authorised AI/MCP access per our robots.txt is permitted)
- Circumventing payment or Escrow systems
- Creating multiple accounts to manipulate reviews or rankings
3.4 Off-Platform Circumvention:
- Using the Platform to identify Suppliers or Buyers and then conducting transactions entirely outside the Platform to avoid fees or Escrow
- Sharing personal contact details in public listings or reviews to encourage off-platform transactions
4. Enforcement
4.1 The Platform uses automated systems and manual review to detect AUP violations.
4.2 Consequences for violations:
- First offence: Warning and content removal
- Second offence: 7-day account suspension
- Third offence: Permanent account ban and forfeiture of Credits
- Severe violations (fraud, illegal goods): Immediate permanent ban and referral to law enforcement
4.3 Users may report AUP violations by clicking the "Report" button on any listing, profile, or message, or by emailing abuse@madeinafrica.io.