Code of Conduct for Petitioners
Guidelines for creating and managing petitions on Voact
Last Updated: November 2025
Preamble
As a petitioner, you bear a special responsibility. Your petition can initiate social debates, influence political decisions and touch the lives of many people. This code of conduct is intended to help you design your petition responsibly, truthfully and effectively.
1. Sense of Responsibility
(1) As a petitioner, you are solely responsible for the content, statements and objectives of your petition.
(2) You undertake to create your petition in accordance with applicable laws and these rules of conduct.
(3) Your petition must not contain any content that violates German or European law.
(4) You are personally liable for all damages resulting from false, misleading or illegal content.
2. Content Requirements
Your petition must meet the following criteria:
Clear Objective
The demand or objective must be clearly formulated.
Comprehensible Justification
Explain why your demand is important and who it benefits.
Clear Addressee
Name specifically who can decide on your demand (e.g. Bundestag, state government, company).
Respectful Language
Use objective, respectful and constructive language.
3. Prohibited Content
Petitions with the following content are prohibited:
- ✗Incitement, racism, discrimination
- ✗Insults, slander, defamation
- ✗Calls for violence or approval of crimes
- ✗Conspiracy theories without factual basis
- ✗Violations of personal rights (e.g. naming without consent)
- ✗Commercial advertising or spam
- ✗Copyright violations
- ✗Violations of the Basic Law or international human rights
Petitions that violate these rules will be removed without notice.
4. Truth and Facts
(1) All factual statements in your petition must be true and verifiable.
(2) Use reliable sources (e.g. scientific studies, official statistics, media reports).
(3) Clearly identify opinions, assumptions or interpretations as such.
Best Practice: Link used sources directly in your petition to create transparency.
5. Source References and Transparency
(1) Provide comprehensible references for your information sources.
(2) Avoid vague formulations like "people say", "many say" or "it is reported".
(3) Update your petition when relevant facts change.
6. Language Requirements
(1) Use objective, understandable and respectful language.
(2) Avoid overly emotional, sensational or polarizing language.
(3) Write in German or English (depending on target audience).
(4) Insults, profanity and derogatory language are prohibited.
7. Data Protection and Personal Reference
(1) Do not publish personal data of third parties without their consent.
This includes in particular:
- Full names of private individuals
- Addresses, phone numbers, email addresses
- Photos or videos of people
- Health data, political views, religious beliefs
(2) Exception: For public figures (politicians, celebrities) you may name them if necessary for factual representation.
8. Prohibition of Manipulation
The following actions are strictly prohibited:
- Automated or purchased signatures
- Multiple signatures by the same person
- Use of fake accounts or bot networks
- Manipulation of statistics or signature numbers
- Deception about the identity of the petitioner
Manipulations lead to immediate deletion of the petition and blocking of the account.
9. Transparency and Disclosure
(1) Disclose if you are acting on behalf of an organization, association or company.
(2) Indicate if you have a financial or personal interest in the outcome of the petition.
(3) Transparency creates trust and increases the credibility of your petition.
10. Updates and Communication
(1) Regularly inform supporters about the progress of your petition.
(2) Use the update function to report on new developments, successes or setbacks.
(3) Treat comments and criticism respectfully – even if you disagree.
11. Cooperation with the Operator
(1) Cooperate with the operator if there are questions or notices about your petition.
(2) Respond to requests from the operator within 7 days.
(3) In case of serious violations, the operator may remove the petition without consultation.
12. Sanctions for Violations
In case of violations of this code of conduct, the operator may:
- Temporarily deactivate the petition
- Permanently delete the petition
- Block the user account
- File criminal charges for criminally relevant content
The decision on sanctions is made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the severity of the violation.
13. Changes to this Code
This code of conduct may be adjusted as necessary. Significant changes will be communicated to users via email.
Questions about the Code of Conduct?
If you have any questions about this code of conduct or uncertainties regarding your petition, you can contact us at any time:
✊ Together for Change
By following this code of conduct, you help ensure that Voact remains a trustworthy, democratic and effective platform.
Thank you for your commitment!