Lokinet Terms of Service

Last Updated: 30 August 2022

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of our services that are fully owned and operated by the Oxen Privacy Tech Foundation (referred to as “we”, “our”, “OPTF”) including the Lokinet.org and the Lokinet App (collectively, referred to as the “Services”) and any information, text, links, graphics, videos, audio or other material uploaded, downloaded or appearing on the Services (collectively, referred to as “Content”).

These Terms and the Lokinet Privacy Policy form the End User Agreement between you and the OPTF.

The Services are fully owned and delivered by the Oxen Privacy Tech Foundation (OPTF), a not-for-profit charity registered in Australia.

1. Who can use the Services

Anyone who is not barred from using the Services under the laws of the applicable jurisdiction, and is at least 13 years of age can use the Service. If you are living in the United Kingdom or a European Union country, you must be at least 16 years old.

By using these Services, you agree to form a binding End User Agreement between you and the OPTF.

If you are accepting these Terms and using the Services on behalf of a company, organisation, government, or other legal entity, you represent and warrant that you are authorised to do so and have the authority to bind such entity to these Terms, in which case the words “you” and “your” as used in these Terms shall refer to such entity.

2. Our Privacy Policy

Privacy is central to our purpose and mission. For more details, please refer to the Lokinet Privacy Policy.

3. Our Services

Our Services are intended to inform you and educate you about Lokinet (via Lokinet.org), and facilitate anonymous internet access (Lokinet App).

3.1. Using the Lokinet Website

The purpose of the Lokinet Website (lokinet.org) is primarily to provide you with information about the Lokinet App and to provide access to the Lokinet App via download. We have done our best to make sure this information is accurate and up-to-date, however, there may be unintentional errors which may mislead you. Therefore, we encourage you to contact us for any clarifications.

3.2. Using the Lokinet App

The purpose of the Lokinet App is to facilitate anonymous internet access including creating and accessing SNapps (private, secure, and hidden web applications) and other web services while minimising the capture or sharing of personal data. It was intentionally created for use by individuals who require anonymity and security.

4. Our Responsibilities and Commitments to You

We are committed to ensuring the delivery of our Services in a way that is accessible and reliable.

Licence to use — OPTF grants you a licence to use Lokinet in a limited, revocable, non-exclusive, and non-transferable licence to use our Services in accordance with these Terms. It should also be noted that the software code related to Lokinet is licensed under the GNU Public License version 3.

Availability of Our Services — We strive to ensure that our Services are continuously available for use. However, there may be occasions when they are interrupted, including for maintenance, upgrades, or to resolve network or equipment failures. We may discontinue some or all of our Services, including certain features and the support for certain devices and platforms.

Keeping you informed — We continuously provide updates about our Services through various channels, including the Oxen Blog, Oxen and Lokinet Twitter Account and a number of community groups on Telegram. Where possible, we will strive to keep you updated about outages and service disruptions through these channels.

5. Your Responsibilities and Rights

5.1. Account Management and General Use

Software and account — You are responsible for keeping your device and the Lokinet App up-to-date.

Fees and Taxes — You are responsible for data and mobile carrier fees and taxes associated with the devices on which you use our Services.

Terms and Policies — You must use our Services according to our Terms and policies.

Legal and Acceptable Use — You agree to use our Services only for legal, authorised, and acceptable purposes. You will not use (or assist others in using) our Services in ways that: (a) violate or infringe the rights of Lokinet, our users, or others, including privacy, publicity, intellectual property, or other rights; (b) involve sending illegal or impermissible communications such as bulk messaging, auto-messaging, and auto-dialling; (c) breach the Lokinet Content Policy (5.2) described further below.

Harm to Lokinet — You must not (or assist others to) access, use, modify, distribute, transfer, or exploit our Services in unauthorised manners, or in ways that harm Lokinet, our Services, or systems. For example you must not (a) gain or try to gain unauthorised access to our Services or systems; (b) disrupt the integrity or performance of our Services; (c) create accounts for our Services through unauthorized or automated means; (d) collect information about other Lokinet users in any unauthorised manner; or (e) sell, rent, or charge for our Services.

Third-party services — Our Services may allow you to access, use, or interact with third-party websites, apps, content, and other products and services run by third parties. When you use third-party services, their terms and privacy policies govern your use of those services. When using SNapps operated by third-parties, these Terms as well as any terms or policies associated with the Open Group will govern your use.

Your Content — You own and/or take responsibility for the content (text messages, audio, video, images) you submit through our Services. We can not access this information unless you explicitly send it to us, or it is published in an accessible way through a SNApp, and you share details on how to access the SNApp.

Lokinet’s Rights — You acknowledge that the OPTF owns all copyrights, trademarks, domains, logos, trade dress, trade secrets, patents, and other intellectual property rights associated with our Services. You may not use our copyrights, trademarks, domains, logos, trade dress, patents, and other intellectual property rights unless you have our written permission. To report copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property infringement, please contact team@lokinet.org.

5.2. Lokinet Content Policy

OPTF exists to build private and secure technology, and defend your right to privacy and security in the digital world. We are also mission-driven to uphold key democratic, media freedom and human rights principles.

To enable us to uphold our mission principles, we have identified the following activities of Lokinet as a clear breach of these Terms.

Violent Behaviour, Violent Extremism and Terrorism

Lokinet cannot be used to:

  • to glorify violence, or promote violence of any form (physical, psychological, sexual) against another individual or group, or incite harm or directly attack or threaten other people on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, caste, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religious affiliation, age, disability, or serious disease.
  • by organisations, groups and individuals designated by the United Nations as terrorist organisations or terrorists.

Child Sexual Exploitation

Lokinet cannot be used to organise or promote child sexual exploitation. A child is defined as anyone under the age of 18. Specifically, Lokinet and Lokinet SNapps cannot be used to access, store or share:

  • visual depictions of a child engaging in sexually explicit or sexually suggestive acts;
  • illustrated, computer-generated or other forms of realistic depictions of a human child in a sexually explicit context, or engaging in sexually explicit acts;
  • sexualized commentaries about or directed at a known or unknown minor;
  • links to third-party sites that host child sexual exploitation material;
  • fantasies about or promoting engagement in child sexual exploitation;
  • recruiting, advertising or expressing an interest in a commercial sex act involving a child, or in harboring and/or transporting a child for sexual purposes.

Extremely Violence and/or Graphic Content

Lokinet and Lokinet SNapps cannot be used to access, store or share violent or gory content that is intended to shock or disgust others, or create harm or distress to the person or persons represented in the content.

Harmful and/or Unlawful Content

Lokinet and Lokinet SNapps cannot be used for cyber abuse, non-consensual sharing of intimate images and abhorrent violent material.

6.0 Monitoring Lokinet and Lokinet SNapp Breaches

Our Services have been created using a privacy-by-design approach which means that it is impossible for us to analyse or monitor content you access using Lokinet.. Our onion-routed approach to internet access maximises your anonymity and preserves privacy.

OPTF does not have the capacity to monitor all SNapps, however, we do make a concerted effort to monitor and where necessary moderate SNapps that have been created by us.

6.1 Third-party notification of breaches

We may be notified by third-parties of breaches to these Terms. In such cases, the evidence presented by the third-parties will be assessed by our Board and Members, to determine the severity of the breach and the required outcomes. We may engage external experts to further assist and inform us. The decisions made by our Board and Members will be final.

All notifications, including requests for information or take down notices, will be documented in our Transparency Report that is updated every three months.

7.0 Disclaimers and Limitations

Disclaimers — YOU USE OUR SERVICES AT YOUR OWN RISK AND SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING DISCLAIMERS. WE PROVIDE OUR SERVICES ON AN “AS IS” BASIS WITHOUT ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, AND FREEDOM FROM COMPUTER VIRUS OR OTHER HARMFUL CODE. Session DOES NOT WARRANT THAT ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED BY US IS ACCURATE, COMPLETE, OR USEFUL, THAT OUR SERVICES WILL BE OPERATIONAL, ERROR-FREE, SECURE, OR SAFE, OR THAT OUR SERVICES WILL FUNCTION WITHOUT DISRUPTIONS, DELAYS, OR IMPERFECTIONS. WE DO NOT CONTROL, AND ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR, CONTROLLING HOW OR WHEN OUR USERS USE OUR SERVICES. WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACTIONS OR INFORMATION (INCLUDING CONTENT) OF OUR USERS OR OTHER THIRD PARTIES. YOU RELEASE US, AFFILIATES, DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, PARTNERS, AND AGENTS (TOGETHER, “SESSION PARTIES”) FROM ANY CLAIM, COMPLAINT, CAUSE OF ACTION, CONTROVERSY, OR DISPUTE (TOGETHER, “CLAIM”) AND DAMAGES, KNOWN AND UNKNOWN, RELATING TO, ARISING OUT OF, OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH ANY SUCH CLAIM YOU HAVE AGAINST ANY THIRD PARTIES.

Limitation of Liability — THE SESSION PARTIES WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY LOST PROFITS OR CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES RELATING TO, ARISING OUT OF, OR IN ANY WAY IN CONNECTION WITH OUR TERMS, US, OR OUR SERVICES, EVEN IF THE SESSION PARTIES HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. OUR AGGREGATE LIABILITY RELATING TO, ARISING OUT OF, OR IN ANY WAY IN CONNECTION WITH OUR TERMS, US, OR OUR SERVICES WILL NOT EXCEED TEN DOLLARS ($10). THE FOREGOING DISCLAIMER OF CERTAIN DAMAGES AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY WILL APPLY TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW. THE LAWS OF SOME STATES OR JURISDICTIONS MAY NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF CERTAIN DAMAGES, SO SOME OR ALL OF THE EXCLUSIONS AND LIMITATIONS SET FORTH ABOVE MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY IN OUR TERMS, IN SUCH CASES, THE LIABILITY OF THE SESSION PARTIES WILL BE LIMITED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

8.0. Resolving Disputes and Ending Terms

Resolving disputes — You agree to resolve any Claim you have with us relating to or arising out of our Terms, us, or our Services exclusively in the state of Victoria, Australia. You also agree to submit to the personal jurisdiction of such courts for the purpose of litigating all such disputes. The laws of Australia govern our Terms, as well as any disputes, whether in court or arbitration, which might arise between Session and you, without regard to conflict of law provisions.

Ending these Terms — You may end these Terms with Lokinet at any time by deleting Lokinet from your device and discontinuing use of our Services. We may modify, suspend, or terminate your access to or use of our Services anytime for any reason, such as if you violate the letter or spirit of our Terms or create harm, risk, or possible legal exposure for Lokinet. The following provisions will survive termination of your relationship with Lokinet: “Licenses,” “Disclaimers,” “Limitation of Liability,” “Resolving dispute,” “Availability” and “Ending these Terms,” and “General”.

9.0 These Terms

Session may update the Terms at any time. When we update our Terms, We will update the “Last Modified” date associated with the updated Terms. Your continued use of our Services confirms your acceptance of our updated Terms and supersedes any prior agreed Terms. You will comply with all applicable export control and trade sanctions laws. Our Terms cover the entire agreement between you and Session regarding our Services. If you do not agree with our Terms, you should stop using our Services.

If we fail to enforce our Terms, we do not waive the right to enforce them. If any provision of the Terms is deemed unlawful, void, or unenforceable, that provision shall be deemed severable from our Terms and shall not affect the enforceability of the remaining provisions. Our Services are not intended for distribution to or use in any country where such distribution or use would violate local law or would subject us to any regulations in another country. If you have specific questions about these Terms, please contact us at team@lokinet.org.