Policies Public-facing policies
Abandoned Pin Policy
Defines when a Pin is considered inactive and what Map.ca does before archiving, hiding, transferring, or flagging it.
- Version
- 0.1.0
- Effective
- May 20, 2026
- Last reviewed
- May 20, 2026
- Review cycle
- every 12 months
- Master Policy Index entry
- §4 #16
Policy text
A Pin that has not been updated, signed into, or responded to in a documented time period is considered abandoned. The Abandoned Pin Policy defines the inactivity thresholds, the notice sequence, and the possible outcomes — archive, hide, transfer to a verified successor, or flag for community attention.
It applies to Map.ca lifecycle automation, to the moderation team that handles abandoned-Pin appeals, and to anyone claiming a Pin that has been marked abandoned. URL permanence still applies under the Data Retention and Deletion Policy.
Principles this policy enforces
- People own their presence
- Public data and personal data are not the same thing
- Community benefit must survive scale
What it requires
- Send notice before marking a Pin abandoned.
- Document the inactivity threshold publicly.
- Preserve URL permanence under the Data Retention and Deletion Policy.
What it forbids
- Do not silently delete an abandoned Pin without notice.
- Do not transfer an abandoned Pin to a new claimant without verification.
How it applies
- Pin owners
- Map.ca lifecycle automation
- Moderation staff handling abandoned-Pin appeals
References
- Map.ca Policy Constitution §2 principle 1 — People own their presence
Related policies
Pin Owner Agreement
The rights and responsibilities of Pin owners — who can create a Pin, what they control, what must stay accurate.
Data Retention and Deletion Policy
How long Map.ca keeps data, what happens on deletion, and how URL permanence interacts with content deletion.
Duplicate Pin Policy
Prevents clutter, fraud, and SEO pollution from duplicate Pins for the same business or place.