BSides Las Vegas Code of Conduct

BSides Las Vegas, Inc. (“BSLV”) strives to create an environment that supports the free and open exchange of ideas. We welcome creativity, spirited discussion, and a little good-natured mischief. We also expect every participant to respect our physical and virtual spaces and the people who use them.

This Code of Conduct applies to all participants in BSLV activities and spaces, including the conference venue, conference-related social events, and online platforms such as social media, YouTube, and the BSidesLV.org website. BSLV reserves the right to update these policies and procedures at any time. The most current version will always be available for you on our website.

Harassment

BSLV has zero tolerance for harassment, whether physical, verbal, sexual, or otherwise. Harassment includes unwanted, threatening, intimidating, discriminatory, or offensive communication or behavior, whether in person or online, including on conference-related social media.

Unauthorized Interference

Accessing, changing, hacking, disrupting, or otherwise interfering with any venue, SkyTalks, or BSLV information system, asset, equipment, network, or infrastructure without the express permission of authorized conference staff is a violation of this Code of Conduct.

Such conduct may result in immediate removal from the current event, exclusion from future BSLV events, and referral to the appropriate authorities.

Reporting a Concern

If someone’s conduct makes you feel unsafe, threatened, or seriously uncomfortable during an in-person event, notify:

• A member of Safety Operations, identifiable by a blue BSides Las Vegas shirt; or
• A BSLV staff member, identifiable by a purple BSides Las Vegas shirt.

Safety Operations personnel are trained to follow an established escalation process, help determine appropriate next steps, and promptly address reported concerns.

Enforcement

BSLV determines in its sole discretion whether conduct violates this Code of Conduct.

Conduct that may result in enforcement includes harassment, threatening behavior, heckling or haranguing speakers, unauthorized interference with systems or infrastructure, and violations of the Photo, Video, and Recording Policy.

Depending on the nature and severity of the conduct, BSLV may:

• Issue a warning;
• Require the participant to stop the conduct;
• Remove the participant from an activity or online forum;
• Eject the participant from the conference without a refund;
• Ban the participant from future BSLV events or online spaces; or
• Notify venue security or appropriate authorities.

BSLV may remove a participant immediately when conduct is sufficiently serious. A warning is not required before removal.

Online Violations

For online violations, BSLV may ordinarily issue one warning. A second violation may result in a temporary ban from BSLV’s online platforms.

Reinstatement may be conditioned on taking a requested corrective action, such as deleting, editing, or obscuring prohibited media. Refusing to take the requested action may result in a permanent ban from BSLV online platforms, future in-person events, or both.

Applicability

This Code of Conduct applies equally to staff, sponsors, sponsor representatives, speakers, volunteers, attendees, members of the media, and all other participants.

A sponsor’s failure to comply may result in removal of the sponsor or its representatives from the conference and denial of future sponsorship opportunities.

TL;DR

Do not be an ass. If you are, we may kick you out—in person or online. BSLV makes the final determination regarding what conduct violates this Code of Conduct.

BSides Las Vegas Photo/Video/Recording Policy

BSLV supports the exchange of ideas while protecting the privacy and personal security of conference participants. This policy applies to all photography, video recording, audio recording, livestreaming, screen recording, and other capture of images, voices, presentations, or activities at BSLV.

This policy applies throughout the conference venue, at official BSLV events, and on BSLV-operated online platforms.

General Rule: Obtain Consent Before Recording

You must obtain affirmative permission before photographing or recording any identifiable person.

Silence, lack of objection, attendance at the conference, or presence in a public conference area does not constitute consent to recording.

Permission to take a photograph or recording does not include permission to publish, post, livestream, distribute, or otherwise share it. You must obtain separate permission before sharing identifiable images, video, or audio.

Consent from one person does not authorize the photography or recording of anyone else who appears or can be heard in the recording.

Crowd Photography

Attendee-facing crowd photographs and recordings are prohibited unless specifically authorized by BSLV.

Incidental background appearances must be avoided whenever reasonably possible. If an identifiable person appears in the background without permission, the image or recording must not be published unless that person is removed, blurred, muted, or otherwise rendered unidentifiable.

Presentations and Conference Activities

Photography or recording of a presentation is permitted only when:

1. BSLV has designated the presentation as recordable; or
2. The presenter has expressly authorized photography or recording.

Presenter permission applies only to the presentation and the presenter. It does not authorize recording audience members, questions from attendees, private conversations, restricted material, or other conference participants.

A presenter or BSLV may withdraw permission at any time. Recording must stop immediately when permission is withdrawn.

Official BSLV Photographers

Official BSLV photographers are identifiable by professional camera equipment and BSLV staff credentials.

Official photographers may record activities only when assigned to do so for BSLV. They remain subject to this policy and must comply with requests from participants who do not wish to be individually photographed or recorded, unless the recording is necessary to document a safety, security, or legal incident.

Participants attending an underground track (e.g.,SkyTalks) acknowledge and agree to the BSLV terms and policies subject to applicable law.

Photography, video recording, audio recording, livestreaming, screen recording, and all other forms of recording are prohibited.

Wearable cameras, smart glasses, concealed cameras, covert recording devices, and any device configured to record without an obvious indication are prohibited in any underground track space.

Members of the press are not permitted in any underground tracks’ space.

Media and Press

Members of the media must comply with this policy. A press credential does not authorize photography, recording, publication, or entry into restricted areas.

Media representatives must obtain affirmative permission before recording or interviewing an identifiable participant.

Unauthorized Media

If you photograph or record someone without permission, you must immediately stop and delete the image or recording.

If a participant asks you to delete, remove, blur, mute, obscure, or stop distributing media in which they are identifiable, you must promptly comply.

This requirement applies regardless of:

• When the media was created;
• Whether the media was created on or off conference property;
• Whether the media has already been posted or distributed; or
• Whether the request is made during or after the conference.

BSLV may require you to demonstrate that the media has been deleted, removed, or appropriately obscured.

Reporting Violations

Report suspected violations to BSLV Safety Operations or another BSLV staff member.

Safety Operations members are identifiable by blue BSLV shirts. Other BSLV staff members are identifiable by purple BSLV shirts.

Enforcement

BSLV may take any action it determines appropriate based on the seriousness, intent, and impact of a violation.

Possible actions include:

• Directing the person to stop photographing or recording;
• Requiring immediate deletion or removal of unauthorized media;
• Requiring the device to be placed in secure storage;
• Removing the person from a presentation, track, or conference area;
• Revoking press or conference credentials;
• Ejecting the person from the event without a refund;
• Banning the person from future BSLV events or online platforms; or
• Referring the matter to venue security or appropriate authorities.

A warning is not required before enforcement action.

Covert recording, refusing to stop recording, refusing to delete unauthorized media, or repeatedly violating this policy may result in immediate removal from the conference.

A participant who is required to place a device in secure storage may instead leave the event with the device. The participant may return only after placing the device outside the event and receiving approval from BSLV Safety Operations.

For online violations, BSLV may require the immediate deletion, editing, blurring, muting, or removal of unauthorized media. Failure to comply may result in suspension or permanent exclusion from BSLV online platforms and future in-person events.

While we make our best efforts to protect participants’ identity security and personal safety, BLSV cannot ultimately be responsible for participants’ identity security or personal safety. By participating in the conference, participants agree they are liable for their own identity security and personal safety, subject to applicable law.