Code of Conduct

All attendees, speakers, sponsors and volunteers at our conference are required to agree with the following code of conduct. Organisers will enforce this code throughout the event. We expect cooperation from all participants to help ensure a safe environment for everybody.

The Quick Version
Our conference is dedicated to providing a harassment-free conference experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion (or lack thereof), or technology choices. We do not tolerate harassment of conference participants in any form. Sexual language and imagery is not appropriate for any conference venue, including talks, workshops, parties, Twitter and other online media. Conference participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the conference without a refund at the discretion of the conference organizers.

The Less Quick Version
Harassment includes offensive verbal comments related to gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion, technology choices, sexual images in public spaces, deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention.

Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately.

Sponsors are also subject to the anti-harassment policy. In particular, sponsors should not use sexualised images, activities, or other material. Booth staff (including volunteers) should not use sexualised clothing/uniforms/costumes, or otherwise create a sexualised environment.

If a participant engages in harassing behavior, the conference organisers may take any action they deem appropriate, including warning the offender or expulsion from the conference with no refund.

If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of conference staff immediately. Conference staff can be identified as they’ll be wearing branded clothing and/or badges.

Conference staff will be happy to help participants contact hotel/venue security or local law enforcement, provide escorts, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment to feel safe for the duration of the conference. We value your attendance.

We expect participants to follow these rules at conference and workshop venues and conference-related social events.

BSides Ottawa Photo/Video/Recording Policy

BSides Ottawa is a collaborative and open environment where participants are encouraged to share their ideas, stories, and passions. Portions of the conference may be shared online through various platforms such as Twitter, YouTube, or the official BSides Ottawa website. However, privacy is a critical concern within both the hacker community and the general public, so we must clearly outline boundaries to balance privacy with capturing memories.

Official BSides Ottawa photographers, identifiable by their professional cameras and staff badges, are aware of and must follow this policy. They are only exempt when specifically tasked with documenting official conference events, parties, or presentations for BSides Ottawa.

Please use your best judgment to obtain consent from anyone you wish to photograph or record, including individuals in the background of your shot. Additionally, ensure you have their permission before posting any images or recordings online, whether on social media or personal websites. For this reason, “crowd shots” taken from the front (facing the audience) are strongly discouraged.

If you capture a photo without permission, delete it. If a participant asks you to delete or blur a photo taken without their consent—whether on BSides Ottawa property or online, before, during, or after the event—you must comply.

This policy also applies to press photographers. Possessing a press badge does not grant permission to disregard these rules.

If you witness anyone violating these guidelines, please report it to BSides Ottawa Safety Operations or any staff member.

Escalation for violations of the Photo/Video/Recording Policy is as follows:

• For a first offense, BSides Ottawa staff will issue a warning.

• A second offense will result in you being asked to surrender your device to BSides Ottawa Safety Operations for secure storage for the remainder of your visit, or you will be required to leave the event with your device. You may return after you have secured the device elsewhere.

For online infractions:

• The first violation will result in a warning from BSides Ottawa staff.

• A second violation will lead to a temporary ban from BSides Ottawa’s online platforms. Reinstatement will occur once you have taken the requested action regarding the media in question.

• Refusal to edit or remove the content as requested may result in a permanent ban from BSides Ottawa’s online presence and future in-person events.

Considerations for Social Media

We ask all participants to share social media content responsibly, including

• Giving proper credit to the original creator when sharing their content, i.e. not passing off other people’s content as your own

• Avoiding the use of offensive or inappropriate language or imagery

• Ensuring posts do not disclose sensitive or personal information about other attendees without consent

• Respecting any requests from participants to remove or modify shared content involving them

• Using posts and hashtags to help foster community engagement and visibility

• Avoiding the dissemination of unverified or misleading information related to the conference

• Refraining from sharing any restricted conference content

• Following platform-specific guidelines and terms of service when posting content online

Thank you for respecting our policy and helping maintain a safe, respectful environment for all participants!

Updated November 29, 2024