Black in AI Forum — Community Guidelines

Last updated: October 2026

Who We Are

The Black in AI Forum (https://blackinai.joleh.com) is operated by Black in AI, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. If you have questions about this policy or your information, contact us at membership@blackinai.org.

Information We Collect

We collect information you provide when you register for the Black in AI Forum, as well as certain information generated through your use of the forum, including when you read, post, reply to, or otherwise interact with content.

When you register, we collect information such as your name and email address. We may verify your email address by sending you a unique verification link. When you use that link, we confirm that you have access to the email address provided.

If you choose to complete your member profile, we also collect the information you voluntarily provide, which may include your affiliation, role, career stage, location, and other profile information.

We may also automatically collect certain technical information when you access or use the forum, including your IP address and server log information. This information may be associated with activities such as account registration, posting, and other interactions with the forum.

How We Use Your Information

We may use the information we collect to:

• Personalize your experience. We may use your information to provide a more relevant and useful forum experience.
• Improve the forum. We may use information about how members use the forum, along with feedback you provide, to improve its features, content, and overall experience.
• Provide member support. We may use your information to respond to questions, support requests, and other inquiries.
• Communicate with you. We may use your email address to send account-related communications, forum notifications you have requested or enabled, responses to inquiries, and other information related to your use of the forum.

• Keep you informed. We may send you updates about Black in AI programs, events, opportunities, or other community information, consistent with your communication preferences.

‍

How We Protect Your Information

We take reasonable measures to protect your personal information, including using encrypted (HTTPS) connections, limiting access to authorized personnel, and requiring two-factor authentication for administrators.

‍

Where Your Data is Stored

Forum data is hosted in the United States using Amazon Web Services (AWS) infrastructure. Because Black in AI is a global community, your information may be stored or processed in a country other than the one in which you live.

‍

How Long We Retain Information

We limit how long we retain certain technical information:

• Server logs containing IP addresses are retained for no more than 90 days.
• IP addresses associated with registered users and their posts are retained for no more than five years.

‍

How We Use Cookies

We use cookies and similar technologies to support the operation of the Black in AI Forum and improve your experience. Cookies are small pieces of information stored by your browser that can help the forum recognize your device, maintain your session, and remember certain preferences.

We may use cookies to:

• Keep you signed in and support essential forum functionality.
• Remember your preferences and settings between visits.
• Understand how the forum is used so we can evaluate and improve the member experience.

Some cookies may be necessary for the forum to function properly, while others may support functionality or help us understand how members interact with the forum.

You may be able to manage or limit certain cookies through your browser settings or the privacy controls made available through the forum. Disabling certain cookies may affect some forum features or functionality.

Third-party services.  We may use service providers to support the operation, security, or improvement of the forum. Where these services use cookies or similar technologies, information may be collected and processed in accordance with our agreements with those providers and their applicable privacy practices.

‍

How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information.

We may share personal information in limited circumstances, including:

• With service providers. We may share information with third-party service providers that help us operate, maintain, secure, or support the forum. These providers may access personal information only as necessary to provide services on our behalf and consistent with applicable agreements and requirements.
• When required by law. We may disclose information when required to comply with applicable laws, regulations, legal processes, or lawful government requests.
• To protect our community and organization. We may disclose information when reasonably necessary to enforce our policies, protect the rights, safety, or security of Black in AI, our members, or others, or investigate misuse of the forum.

‍

Links to Third-Party Websites

The forum may contain links to websites, resources, products, or services operated by third parties. When you follow a link to a third-party website or service, its own terms, privacy policies, and practices apply.

Black in AI does not control third-party websites or their privacy practices. We encourage you to review the applicable privacy policies and terms before providing personal information to a third-party site or service.

If you encounter a third-party link in the forum that appears inappropriate, misleading, unsafe, or inconsistent with our community guidelines, please flag it or contact us.

‍

Your Choices & Privacy Rights

Depending on where you live and applicable law, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information, including the right to access, correct, obtain a copy of, or request deletion of your information.

To make a privacy-related request, contact us at inquiry@blackinai.org. We will respond to requests in accordance with applicable law and may need to verify your identity before completing a request.

‍

Minimum age

You must be 18 years of age or older to register for or participate in the Black in AI Forum. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under the age of 18.

‍

Scope of This Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy applies to personal information collected through the Black in AI Forum. It does not apply to information Black in AI may collect through other websites, programs, events, services, or offline interactions, which may be subject to separate privacy practices or policies.

Your Acknowledgment

By using the Black in AI Forum, you acknowledge that you have read this Privacy Policy and understand how we collect, use, and protect personal information as described here.

‍

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page, along with the date of the most recent revision.

Portions of this Privacy Policy were adapted from the Discourse Privacy Policy template and are used under the CC BY-SA license.

‍

Last updated: October 2026

A Respectful Space for the Black in AI Community

Welcome to the Black in AI Forum, the members-only online home of the Black in AI community. Here, AI professionals, researchers, and students come together to exchange ideas, share opportunities, ask questions, and support one another.

These guidelines set the expectations we all share to keep the community welcoming, respectful, useful, and safe. Treat this forum with the same respect you would any shared community space. Use it to exchange skills, knowledge, and interests through respectful and thoughtful conversation. Use these guidelines to inform your judgment and help maintain a welcoming environment for respectful, thoughtful discussion. 

Improve the Discussion

Help us make this a great place for discussion by always working to improve the discussion in some way, however small. If you are not sure your post adds to the conversation, think over what you want to say and try again later.

The topics discussed here matter to us, and we want you to act as if they matter to you, too. Be respectful of the topics and the people discussing them, even if you disagree with some of what is being said.

One way to improve the discussion is by discovering ones that are already happening. Spend time browsing the topics here before replying or starting your own, and you’ll have a better chance of meeting others who share your interests.

‍

Engage Thoughtfully When You Disagree

Different perspectives make our community stronger. Disagreement is welcome, but it should remain respectful and constructive. Focus your response on the ideas being discussed rather than the person sharing them.

Avoid:

• Name-calling or personal attacks
• Ad hominem arguments
• Focusing on tone instead of the substance of someone's contribution
• Dismissing or contradicting a viewpoint without explanation

Instead, share your reasoning, ask thoughtful questions, and offer constructive counterarguments. You do not have to agree, but you should engage respectfully and in good faith. 

‍

Your Participation Shapes the Community

Every contribution helps shape the culture of this forum. Engage in ways that make our community more thoughtful, welcoming, and valuable to others. Participate in discussions where you can contribute meaningfully, and use your judgment about when and how to engage.

Use forum tools such as likes, bookmarks, replies, edits, and flags thoughtfully. These tools help members highlight valuable contributions, support meaningful conversations, and help maintain the quality of our shared space.

Together, we can leave our community stronger than we found it. 

‍

If You See a Problem, Flag It

Everyone plays a role in keeping this forum welcoming, respectful, and constructive. Moderators help maintain the community, but members can help by bringing potential concerns to their attention.

If you encounter content or behavior that may violate these guidelines, use the flagging tools rather than escalating the situation through a public response. Flagging allows moderators to review the concern and determine whether action is appropriate.

Use flags thoughtfully and in good faith. Disagreement alone is not a reason to flag a post. Flag content or behavior that you genuinely believe conflicts with these community guidelines.

Moderators may review, edit, restrict, or remove content, and may suspend or remove accounts when necessary to uphold these guidelines and protect the community. Because posts are not reviewed before publication, members are responsible for the content they contribute.

‍

Always Be Civil

Treat every member of this community with respect. Our forum should be a space where people can participate, learn, exchange ideas, and disagree without harassment, hostility, or demeaning behavior.

• Be respectful. Do not post content that is abusive, threatening, harassing, or hateful.
• Be inclusive. Do not demean, discriminate against, or target people based on race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, career stage, or other aspects of their identity or background.
• Keep content appropriate. Do not post obscene, sexually explicit, or otherwise inappropriate content.
• Respect others' privacy and identity. Do not impersonate others, share someone's private or personal information without permission, or engage in targeted harassment.
• Respect the forum. Do not post spam, intentionally disrupt conversations, or use the forum in ways that undermine the community.

Use good judgment. Not every situation will fit neatly into a specific category. When in doubt, consider whether your contribution reflects the respect and professionalism you would expect from others in this community.

Respect the trust of this members-only space. Treat what members share here with care. Do not repost, distribute, or share another member's contributions outside the forum without their permission. Keep your language, links, images, and other contributions appropriate for a professional community.

‍

Keep Conversations Organized

Help keep the forum easy to navigate and useful for everyone by posting thoughtfully and keeping discussions focused.

• Choose the right category when starting a new topic.
• Avoid duplicate posts or posting the same content across multiple discussions.
• Make replies meaningful. If you simply want to show support or agreement, use the Like button rather than posting “+1” or “Agreed.”
• Keep discussions on topic. If your contribution introduces a substantially different subject, start a new topic or use the forum's linked-topic feature where appropriate.
• Let your profile identify you. There is no need to add a signature to your posts.

Taking a few moments to organize your contributions helps others find relevant information, follow conversations, and participate more easily.

‍

Respect Intellectual Property

Share content responsibly and respect the intellectual property and creative work of others. Only post or share content that you created, have permission to use, or are otherwise authorized to share. When referencing someone else’s work, provide appropriate attribution when applicable.

Do not use the forum to share or facilitate access to content in ways that violate intellectual property rights or applicable laws.

‍

Powered by You

This forum is a shared community space, and every member has a role in making it valuable. We welcome your ideas, questions, and feedback on how we can continue to improve the forum together.

For questions or suggestions, start a discussion in the Site Feedback category. For urgent or sensitive matters that are better handled privately, contact inquiry@blackinai.org.

‍

Terms of Service

Our Terms of Service outline the rights and responsibilities that apply when using the forum, including provisions related to content, privacy, appropriate use, and applicable laws.

By using the Black in AI Forum, you agree to follow these Terms of Service, along with the community guidelines outlined here. We encourage all members to review them so you understand the expectations and protections that apply to your participation.

‍_{Related policies: Privacy Policy | Terms of Service}