The safety, privacy, and wellbeing of teenagers using Axelo are the foundation of our platform. This Safety and Trust Policy outlines the safeguards, operational protocols, and clinical oversight that govern the design and functioning of Echo AI, as well as Axelo’s approach to data protection, user experience, and crisis management.

1. Role and Limitations of Echo AI
   Echo AI is a supportive conversational companion designed to promote emotional wellbeing among teenagers. Echo AI does not function as a mental health professional, therapist, psychologist, or medical provider. It does not diagnose mental health conditions or offer medical, clinical, or therapeutic advice. All support provided is non-clinical and informational in nature.

2. Crisis Awareness and Escalation Protocols
   Echo AI incorporates language-understanding models trained to recognize potentially concerning or crisis-related expressions.
   Although Axelo is not a crisis response service, Echo AI is designed to immediately present users with appropriate emergency options when high-risk indicators are detected, including access to recognized crisis helplines and the ability to contact a trusted adult such as a parent, guardian, or mentor.

   
   

3. Conversation Privacy and Data Retention
   Axelo does not retain full transcripts of conversations between teenagers and Echo AI.
   At the conclusion of each chat session, all messages are deleted. A limited, minimal summary is stored solely to maintain continuity and personalization in future interactions.
   Axelo safeguards all personal information as Protected Health Information (PHI) and maintains strict compliance with security and privacy requirements. No user data is sold or shared for advertising purposes.

4. Clinical Oversight and Responsible AI Training

   All training data and behavioral guidelines for Echo AI are reviewed and evaluated by licensed clinical psychologists and experts in youth mental health.
   The AI uses natural language processing to interpret user inputs and provide supportive techniques that have been crafted and validated by clinical professionals. Echo AI does not provide therapeutic interventions or clinical assessments.

5. Age Verification and User Eligibility

   Axelo implements age verification measures to ensure that only eligible teenagers access the platform.
   Users below the approved age threshold are not permitted to use Echo AI or the Axelo application.

6. Parental or Guardian Consent for Expert Sessions

   Booking sessions with human mentors, counselors, or therapists requires verified parental or guardian consent.Users without verified consent have limited access to features within the application.

7. Usage Safeguards and Break Intervals

   Axelo incorporates usage monitoring protocols to promote healthy digital habits.
   Teens receive reminders after prolonged use, including a mandatory break reminder after three hours of continuous interaction.

8. Informed User Consent and Safety Disclosures

   Before interacting with Echo AI, teens are presented with clear information regarding the AI’s capabilities, limitations, privacy practices, and safety measures. Use of the platform is permitted only after informed consent is provided.

9. Emergency and SOS Resources

   Axelo provides an always-available SOS feature that allows teenagers to access national and local crisis helplines.
   Users may also notify pre-selected trusted contacts in the event of an emergency.

10. Human Oversight and Ongoing Monitoring

    Echo AI is supported by a human-in-the-loop review structure.
    Clinical experts and designated safety reviewers conduct regular audits of anonymized interactions to ensure that the AI responds safely, consistently, and in accordance with Axelo’s policies.
    Findings from these audits are used to enhance model performance and improve user safety.

11. Content Moderation and Safety Guardrails

    Echo AI is designed to decline or avoid engaging with content that is unsafe or inappropriate, including but not limited to:
    • self-harm instructions
    • sexual or exploitative content
    • bullying, hate, or harassment
    • graphic violence
    • medical or diagnostic advice beyond general emotional support
    These guardrails align with best practices for youth safety and AI-based mental health support systems.
    
    

12. User Reporting and Safeguarding Controls

    Axelo provides mechanisms for teenagers to report responses that they perceive as unsafe, inappropriate, or inaccurate.
    Users may request deletion of personal information or raise concerns related to their safety or wellbeing at any time.
    These controls reinforce transparency, accountability, and user empowerment.