--- title: Protecting Against Impersonation and Unauthorized Use description: Learn how to protect against impersonation and unauthorized use on ActBlue. --- [Skip to content](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/articles/35061953853719-protecting-against-impersonation-and-unauthorized-use#main-content) English - United States Show submenu for translations ![ActBlue](https://help.actblue.com/hubfs/1-B-AB-HorizontalLockupLogo-FullColor-RGB.svg) Open main navigation Close main navigation - English - United States Show submenu for translations - [Contact us](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/requests/new) [Contact us](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/requests/new) How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [ActBlue Support Documentation](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us) 2. [Other FAQs](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/other-faqs) 3. [ActBlue FAQs](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/other-faqs#actblue-faqs) # Protecting Against Impersonation and Unauthorized Use At ActBlue, we're committed to maintaining donor trust and ensuring that contributions reach their intended recipients. Our impersonation policy protects donors from confusion while giving entities clear guidelines for their fundraising communications. When donors see a candidate's name or organization's logo, they should feel confident about where their donation is going. #### **Our Impersonation & Unauthorized Use Policy Guidelines** Unless an entity shows a pattern of violations, we enforce our impersonation and unauthorized use rules reactively. We generally only take action when authorized representatives of candidates or organizations contact us, or if we receive donor complaints about confusion - this balanced approach protects all parties. Under our Account Use Policy, Section 7, entities using ActBlue forms or solicitations that link to ActBlue: **1. Cannot feature Democratic candidates, potential candidates, or elected officials without permission** - ActBlue will enforce requests from candidates, potential candidates, or elected officials to stop unauthorized use of their names - Congressional committees and caucuses are presumed to have permission to reference their members unless we are notified otherwise - **Exceptions:** Tandem forms (unless a candidate requests removal) and general surveys or polls using neutral language mentioning multiple candidates in a primary **2. Cannot use logos, intellectual property, or branding of private organizations or companies** - ActBlue will enforce requests from private organizations to stop unauthorized use of their names **3. Can reference prominent public figures who are not current or likely candidates** - Quotes or photos of non-political public figures are generally acceptable - However, they must not create a false impression of endorsement or affiliation - If we receive multiple reports that a specific style of solicitation is creating donor confusion, we will take appropriate action \*\*Please note that ActBlue reserves the right to require advance written permission for any references.\*\* #### **How to Report a Violation** **Reports of impersonation violations are handled based on the type of violation:** - **For outright deception or impersonation** (where an entity pretends to be another candidate or organization): We will act on donor complaints when there is clear evidence of deceptive practices - **For unauthorized use of name and likeness** (where an entity references or features a candidate without permission but isn't pretending to be them): We require complaints from the candidate, organization, or their authorized representatives We cannot act on third-party reports about unauthorized use unless they represent the affected party. However, if you're a donor who believes you've been deceived by an entity impersonating a candidate or organization, we encourage you to report it. If you would like to report a possible violation of the Account Use Policy, please visit [this page](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/articles/16870069234839-actblue-account-use-policy) to learn more. #### **Getting Help** If you're a campaign or organization unsure whether your planned solicitation meets our guidelines, please contact your ActBlue representative or reach out to us [here](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/requests/new) for review before launching your campaign. 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