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WhatGov Terms of Service

Last Updated: 16 November 2024

1. Introduction

Welcome to WhatGov ("we", "us", "our", "the Service"). By accessing or using WhatGov, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. Please read them carefully.

WhatGov is a service that provides access to and analysis of UK Parliamentary proceedings, using official Hansard data and artificial intelligence to make parliamentary information more accessible.

2. Definitions

  • "Service" refers to WhatGov, including all features, functionalities, and user interfaces
  • "User" refers to any person or entity accessing or using the Service
  • "Content" refers to parliamentary data, summaries, analyses, and user-generated content
  • "Hansard" refers to the official report of proceedings of the UK Parliament
  • "Premium Features" refers to additional functionalities available through paid subscriptions

3. Data Sources and Attribution

3.1 Parliamentary Data

The Service uses official Parliamentary data from Hansard, which is subject to Parliamentary Copyright and Open Parliament License. Any reproduction of Hansard content is made under the terms of the Open Parliament License v3.0.

3.2 AI-Generated Content

Summaries, analyses, and simplified versions of parliamentary proceedings are generated using artificial intelligence. While we strive for accuracy, users should refer to official Hansard records for authoritative information.

4. User Accounts and Security

4.1 Account Creation

  • You must be at least 16 years old to create an individual account
  • Educational institutions may provide supervised access to users under 16
  • You must provide accurate and complete information
  • You are responsible for maintaining account security

4.2 Account Tiers

  • Free tier access is provided at no cost
  • Premium, Professional, and Enterprise tiers require subscription
  • Features may vary based on subscription level
  • We reserve the right to modify tier features with notice

5. Acceptable Use

Users agree not to:

  • Misrepresent parliamentary information
  • Use the Service for unauthorised political campaigning
  • Attempt to access data beyond their subscription tier
  • Share account credentials
  • Scrape or bulk download content without permission
  • Use the Service for automated decision-making affecting individuals' legal rights

6. Privacy and Data Protection

6.1 Data Processing

We process personal data in accordance with:

  • The UK General Data Protection Regulation
  • The Data Protection Act 2018
  • Our Privacy Policy

6.2 User Data Rights

Users have the right to:

  • Access their personal data
  • Correct inaccurate data
  • Request data deletion
  • Object to data processing
  • Export their data

7. Intellectual Property

7.1 Our Rights

  • Service design, features, and interfaces are our intellectual property
  • AI-generated analyses and summaries are our intellectual property
  • Brand names, logos, and trademarks are our property

7.2 User Rights

  • Users retain rights to their comments and annotations
  • Users grant us license to display and process their content
  • Users may export their data and annotations

8. Subscription and Payment

8.1 Billing

  • Subscriptions are billed in advance
  • Prices are in Pounds Sterling (GBP)
  • VAT is charged where applicable
  • Educational discounts available with valid credentials

8.2 Cancellation

  • Users may cancel at any time
  • Refunds are provided according to our Refund Policy
  • Access continues until the end of the billing period

9. Liability and Disclaimers

9.1 Service Availability

  • We strive for 99.9% uptime but don't guarantee uninterrupted service
  • We are not liable for service interruptions due to:
    • Parliamentary data feed issues
    • Scheduled maintenance
    • Factors beyond our reasonable control

9.2 Content Accuracy

  • While we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee:
    • Complete accuracy of AI-generated summaries
    • Real-time updates of parliamentary data
    • Absolute accuracy of voting records

9.2 Response Times

We aim to respond to:

  • General support queries within 2 business days
  • Data protection requests within one calendar month
  • Technical issues within 1 business day
  • Emergency security concerns within 24 hours

10. Changes to Terms

We may modify these terms:

  • With 30 days' notice for material changes
  • Immediately for non-material changes
  • Users will be notified via email and in-app notifications

11. Termination

We may terminate or suspend access to the Service:

  • For violations of these terms
  • For abusive or disruptive behavior
  • For non-payment of subscriptions
  • As required by law

12. Governing Law

These terms are governed by:

  • The laws of England and Wales
  • UK data protection legislation
  • Relevant EU retained law

13. Contact Information

For questions about these terms:

14. Dispute Resolution

Any disputes will be resolved:

  • Initially through informal negotiation
  • Through mediation if necessary
  • In the courts of England and Wales if required

15. Additional Terms for API Users

API users must:

  • Comply with rate limits
  • Attribute data sources appropriately
  • Maintain data accuracy
  • Not redistribute bulk data

16. Survival

Sections relating to:

  • Intellectual property
  • Data protection
  • Liability
  • Governing law Will survive termination of these terms.

By using WhatGov, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service.