March 12, 2024

Why we now require accounts for uploads

Over the past few months, we've seen a sharp increase in abuse on our platform — automated spam uploads, CSAM, and coordinated misuse by bad actors. After careful consideration, we've decided to require email verification for all new uploads starting March 15, 2024.

We know this is a change from the fully anonymous hosting that PixServe has offered since 2019, and we don't take this decision lightly. But the safety of our users and the integrity of our platform must come first.

What's changing:

New uploads now require a free PixServe account
Account creation requires a valid email address and email verification
Existing images are not affected — all previously uploaded content remains accessible

What's NOT changing:

Viewing images does not require an account
Direct hotlinks continue to work exactly as before
We still don't collect payment information or real names
Our privacy commitments remain the same

The reality is that fully anonymous upload services are increasingly untenable. In Q1 2024 alone, we removed over 4,000 images that violated our terms — the vast majority uploaded by automated bots. Email verification won't stop all abuse, but it raises the cost for bad actors significantly while keeping the barrier low for legitimate users.

We'll continue to evaluate this policy and may introduce additional upload options (such as API keys for verified developers) in the future. Thank you for your patience and for being part of the PixServe community.