SIQA Anti-Manipulation & Fraud Policy

Purpose

This policy operates alongside SIQA’s Terms of Service and Chart Eligibility Guidelines.

The SIQA is committed to maintaining fair, credible, and transparent chart rankings that reflect authentic audience engagement with AI music. This Anti-Manipulation & Fraud Policy exists to prevent artificial inflation of chart performance, fraudulent reporting, and abusive practices that undermine the integrity of SIQA's AI Music Charts.

By establishing clear standards for acceptable behavior, SIQA seeks to protect the interests of creators who build genuine audiences and ensure that chart positions accurately represent cultural impact and listener preference.

Prohibited Activities

The following activities are strictly prohibited and may result in enforcement action:

  • Artificial streaming or engagement – Use of bots, click farms, streaming farms, or automated scripts to inflate play counts, views, or other consumption metrics
  • Social media manipulation – Purchasing fake followers, likes, shares, comments, or using engagement pods to artificially boost social signals
  • Misrepresentation of attribution or permissions – Falsely claiming authorship, misrepresenting creative contribution, or submitting tracks in violation of applicable platform policies or usage restrictions
  • Coordinated abuse – Organizing inauthentic campaigns to manipulate chart performance through mass artificial activity
  • Platform gaming – Attempting to exploit loopholes in streaming platforms, social networks, or SIQA systems to generate fraudulent performance signals
  • Metadata fraud – Providing false or misleading information about track details, release dates, or platform identifiers
  • Repeat streaming schemes – Using techniques designed to artificially loop or replay content in ways that do not reflect genuine listener behavior

This list is not exhaustive. SIQA reserves the right to identify and address additional forms of manipulation as they emerge.

Detection & Review

SIQA evaluates aggregated performance signals holistically using a combination of automated analysis and human review. Our detection systems monitor for patterns consistent with artificial manipulation, including statistical anomalies, suspicious traffic sources, and coordinated inauthentic behavior.

No single metric determines chart placement. SIQA considers multiple categories of engagement signals and applies proprietary weighting and validation processes designed to prioritize authentic audience activity.

When potential violations are identified, SIQA's review team conducts a manual assessment of the evidence before taking enforcement action. This process is designed to distinguish between organic growth patterns and artificial manipulation.

Enforcement Actions

Depending on the nature and severity of a violation, SIQA may take one or more of the following actions:

  • Chart disqualification – Removal of a track from current chart rankings
  • Historical removal – Retroactive removal from past chart positions
  • Future exclusion – Temporary or permanent ineligibility for chart consideration
  • Editorial feature revocation – Removal from curated playlists, spotlight features, or promotional opportunities
  • Public notation – In cases of egregious or repeated violations, SIQA may publicly document enforcement actions in a factual and non-defamatory manner

SIQA retains full editorial discretion in determining appropriate enforcement responses. Enforcement decisions are based on the available evidence and the broader context of each case.

Enforcement actions are not intended to be punitive, but rather to preserve the integrity of the charts and maintain fairness for all participants.

Appeals & Clarifications

Creators who believe an enforcement action was taken in error may request a review by contacting SIQA's chart integrity team. Requests should include relevant context, supporting documentation, and a clear explanation of why the action may have been incorrect.

SIQA will conduct a secondary review of appealed cases, but submission of an appeal does not guarantee reversal of an enforcement action. Final decisions rest with SIQA's editorial and integrity teams.

All appeal communications will be handled confidentially. Response times may vary depending on case complexity.

Ongoing Updates

This policy may evolve as AI music technology, platform ecosystems, and manipulation tactics change over time. SIQA will update this document periodically to reflect new challenges and industry developments.

Continued participation in SIQA's charts constitutes acceptance of policy updates. Material changes will be communicated through public documentation, and the effective date will be updated accordingly.

Creators are encouraged to review this policy regularly to ensure compliance with current standards.

SIQA Commitment

This policy exists to protect fair recognition and authentic cultural impact within the AI music ecosystem. SIQA's goal is not to discourage experimentation, limit creative expression, or create barriers for independent artists.

Rather, we aim to ensure that chart success reflects genuine audience connection and that creators who invest in building real communities are not disadvantaged by those who pursue artificial shortcuts.

SIQA is committed to transparency, fairness, and continuous improvement of our methodology. We welcome feedback from the creator community and will continue to refine our approach as the AI music landscape evolves.

For questions about this policy or to report suspected violations, please contact SIQA's chart integrity team.