Moderation & Review Policy

1. Purpose

THE CAREER ASSEMBLY is a platform designed to provide transparent, experience-based insights into interactions with executive search firms. This Moderation & Review Policy governs all user-generated content on the platform. It ensures that reviews and feedback:

• Are based on real, personal experiences with executive search firms
• Remain respectful, factual, and professional
• Do not identify or target specific individuals
• Comply with applicable laws in the European Union and the United States
• Contribute constructively to industry transparency

2. Platform Role & Intermediary Status

THE CAREER ASSEMBLY operates as a neutral intermediary platform for user-generated content. Important clarifications:

• The platform does not author, endorse, or verify the accuracy of user-submitted reviews
• Published reviews reflect the personal opinions and experiences of individual users
• The platform does not guarantee the completeness, correctness, or reliability of any review
• The platform exercises editorial discretion solely for the purpose of enforcing this policy

This intermediary role is consistent with the principles of Section 230 of the U.S. Communications Decency Act and applicable EU regulations on intermediary liability (Digital Services Act).

3. Content Truth & User Responsibility

Every user who submits a review assumes full legal responsibility for the content of their submission. All reviews must meet the following requirements:

• Based exclusively on real, first-hand personal experience with the executive search firm
• Focused on the firm's processes, communication, and professional conduct — not on specific individuals
• Factually accurate to the best of the user's knowledge at the time of writing
• Free from speculation, assumptions, or hearsay
• Not based on second-hand accounts or information provided by third parties
• Truthful and not misleading in any material respect
• Written in a respectful and professional tone
• Must not name, describe, or otherwise identify individual employees or consultants

Anonymity on the platform does not remove legal accountability. Users may be held responsible for defamatory, false, or harmful content under applicable law.

4. Content Guidelines

To maintain quality, fairness, and legal compliance, the following content guidelines apply:

5. Anonymous but Accountable

THE CAREER ASSEMBLY publishes all reviews anonymously to protect user identity and encourage honest feedback. However, accountability is maintained through the following mechanisms:

• Each review is internally linked to a verified user account
• User identity is never disclosed publicly but is available for internal moderation purposes
• Anonymity does not exempt users from legal responsibility for their content
• In cases of legal proceedings, user data may be disclosed as required by applicable law
• Repeated policy violations may result in account suspension regardless of anonymity

6. Prohibited Content

The following categories of content are strictly prohibited and will result in removal and potential account action:

7. Review Moderation Process

THE CAREER ASSEMBLY applies a multi-layered moderation process combining automated and manual review:

• Automated screening for policy violations, personal identification, spam, and anomalies upon submission
• Automatic detection and blocking of personal names, email addresses, and other identifiable information
• Manual review by the moderation team for flagged or borderline content
• Ongoing monitoring of published content for emerging issues

The moderation team may review content before or after publication, request clarification or additional context from the reviewer, edit content to remove personal data or policy-violating elements, or remove content entirely.

8. Dispute Handling Process

THE CAREER ASSEMBLY provides a structured internal dispute process for users, headhunters, and firms who believe published content violates this policy. The dispute resolution process follows these steps:

THE CAREER ASSEMBLY retains final decision authority on all content disputes. Decisions are made based on this policy and applicable law. The platform is not obligated to disclose internal moderation reasoning beyond the applicable policy section.

9. Verification & Proof Handling

In certain cases, the moderation team may request additional confirmation that a professional interaction occurred. This may include:

• Confirmation of contact with a headhunter or firm
• Contextual details of the interaction (e.g., timeframe, role discussed)
• Redacted documentation supporting the claimed experience

10. Reporting & Flagging

Users and companies can report reviews they believe violate this policy. Reported content will be:

• Reviewed by the moderation team within a reasonable timeframe
• Assessed for compliance with this policy and applicable law
• Subject to the dispute handling process outlined in Section 8
• Handled confidentially — reporter identity is not disclosed to the review author

11. Enforcement Actions

The platform reserves the right to take the following actions in response to policy violations:

• Remove or edit reviews that violate this policy
• Temporarily restrict content pending investigation
• Issue warnings to user accounts
• Restrict specific account privileges
• Suspend or permanently terminate user accounts

Enforcement actions are proportionate to the severity and frequency of the violation.

12. Behavioral Signals & Integrity Monitoring

THE CAREER ASSEMBLY uses behavioral signals as part of its platform integrity measures. These signals are:

• Used exclusively for fraud detection and platform integrity purposes
• Processed under the legal basis of legitimate interest (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR)
• Not used for automated decision-making with legal or similarly significant effects on users (Art. 22 GDPR)
• Part of the internal Review Trust Score, which is never publicly displayed

For more details on data processing, see our Privacy Policy.

13. Balance of Interests

In all moderation decisions, the platform aims to balance:

• Freedom of expression and the right to share genuine experiences
• Protection of individuals and companies from unfair or harmful content
• Platform integrity and the trust of the user community
• Legal compliance across applicable jurisdictions

14. No Guarantee of Publication

Submission of a review does not guarantee publication. The platform reserves the right to decline publication of any content that does not meet the standards set out in this policy, without obligation to provide specific reasons.

15. Disclaimer of Liability for User Content

THE CAREER ASSEMBLY does not assume liability for the content of user-submitted reviews. All reviews represent the personal opinions and experiences of individual users. The platform:

• Does not verify the factual accuracy of individual reviews
• Does not endorse any statements made in reviews
• Is not responsible for any damages resulting from reliance on review content
• Acts in good faith to remove content that is reported as violating this policy

16. Updates to Policy

We may update this policy at any time to reflect changes in legal requirements, platform operations, or industry best practices. Continued use of the platform after updates constitutes acceptance of the revised policy. Material changes will be communicated through the platform.

17. Contact

For questions regarding content moderation or to report a policy violation: moderation@thecareerassembly.com

18. Related Policies

This policy should be read in conjunction with our other legal documents:

• Privacy Policy – how we collect, use, and protect your data
• Terms of Service – governing your use of the platform

19. Effective Date

This Moderation & Review Policy is effective as of April 8, 2026. Last updated: April 12, 2026