Evidence Guidelines

Last Updated: 29 August 2025

1. Evidence Philosophy

GmodProtect’s integrity relies entirely on the quality of evidence we verify. Our goal is not to punish, but to accurately document severe violations to protect communities. Evidence must be clear, unambiguous, and presented with full context. It should prove beyond reasonable doubt that the accused committed the violation.

2. General Requirements

  • Unaltered Media: All screenshots and videos must be original and unaltered. Cropping is allowed only if it does not remove essential context. Do not draw, blur (except to protect unrelated third parties), or otherwise edit media.
  • Full Context: A single out-of-context screenshot is rarely sufficient. Evidence should include surrounding chat logs, timestamps, and server information to present the full picture.
  • Clear Identification: Evidence must clearly and unambiguously identify the offender’s SteamID or in-game identity. For screenshots, this usually means including the `status` console output.

3. Evidence by Violation Type

Cheating / Exploiting:

  • Required: High-quality video evidence is almost always mandatory.
  • The footage must clearly show the username and the malicious activity (e.g., aimbot, speedhack, prop abuse).
  • Spectator or third-person views are strongly preferred.
  • Include the `status` console output at the time of the offense to link in-game name to SteamID.

Severe Harassment (Doxxing, Threats):

  • Required: Uncropped screenshots of the full chat log.
  • Screenshots must clearly show the username and the offending messages.
  • Multiple screenshots may be necessary to show the entire conversation and context. Do not submit a single offending line in isolation.

Pedophilia / CSAM / Minor Endangerment:

  • Required: Uncropped, unaltered screenshots or video of the incident.
  • CRITICAL: This is the most serious category. Evidence must be absolutely unambiguous.
  • Due to sensitivity, our team will treat these cases with the highest priority and confidentiality. We have a legal duty to report CSAM to appropriate authorities.

4. Unacceptable Evidence

Submissions will be immediately rejected if they include:

  • Hearsay or “word against word” without direct evidence.
  • Screenshots or videos that are heavily compressed, blurred, or otherwise unreadable.
  • Evidence from private Steam chats (we only act on violations that occurred on a GMod server).
  • Logs or screenshots that are clearly edited or falsified.

By submitting a report, you confirm that, to the best of your knowledge, the evidence you provide is accurate and true.