Terms of Service

Last updated: 8/2/2025

Welcome to Q-Gov Digital Government Platform ("Q-Gov", "we", "us", or "our"). These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of our digital platform designed for government project transparency, citizen engagement, and public consultation through video content and interactive responses.

By accessing or using our platform, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you disagree with any part of these terms, you may not access or use our services.

1. Platform Purpose and Scope

Q-Gov provides a digital platform that enables:

• Government Transparency: Sharing of government IT projects and digital initiatives through video content
• Citizen Engagement: Public consultation and feedback on government projects
• Official Responses: Government officials providing detailed responses to public inquiries
• Expert Evaluation: Independent evaluation by volunteer IT professionals
• Public Discussion: Community discussions on government digital initiatives

2. User Accounts and Verification

Account Registration

• You must provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration
• You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials
• You must notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account
• You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

Government Verification

• Government officials may request verification to access enhanced features
• Verification requires submission of official government-issued identification
• Verified status enables posting official government responses and documents
• False verification attempts may result in permanent account suspension

3. User Roles and Responsibilities

General Users

• View video content and public discussions
• Submit comments and feedback on government projects
• Participate in public consultations
• Rate and review government responses

Verified Government Officials

• Post official government responses to public inquiries
• Upload supporting documents (PDF, DOC, DOCX)
• Represent government positions and policies
• Maintain professional conduct and accuracy in all communications

Moderators and Administrators

• Review and moderate user-generated content
• Manage user accounts and enforce community guidelines
• Ensure platform security and integrity
• Handle disputes and policy violations

4. Content Guidelines and Standards

Acceptable Use

When using our platform, you agree to:

• Provide constructive, respectful feedback on government projects
• Maintain civil discourse in all discussions and comments
• Respect different viewpoints and engage in good faith dialogue
• Use accurate information and clearly distinguish between facts and opinions
• Comply with all applicable laws and regulations

Prohibited Activities

You may not:

• Post false, misleading, or defamatory content
• Engage in harassment, hate speech, or discriminatory behavior
• Share personal information of other users without consent
• Attempt to manipulate voting, ratings, or engagement metrics
• Upload malicious files or attempt to compromise platform security
• Impersonate government officials or other individuals
• Use the platform for commercial advertising or spam
• Violate intellectual property rights of others

5. Video Content and YouTube Integration

• Video content is embedded from YouTube and subject to YouTube's Terms of Service
• We do not host video files directly but provide curated access to government content
• Video submissions must be relevant to government projects or digital initiatives
• All video content is subject to moderation and approval processes

6. Document Upload and Sharing

• Document uploads are limited to PDF, DOC, and DOCX formats
• Maximum file size is 10MB per document
• Documents must be relevant to the associated government response or project
• Uploaded documents become publicly accessible once approved
• You retain ownership of your documents but grant us license to display them
• We reserve the right to remove documents that violate these Terms

7. Intellectual Property Rights

• You retain ownership of content you create and submit to the platform
• By submitting content, you grant us a non-exclusive license to display, distribute, and moderate it
• Government documents and official responses remain property of respective government agencies
• Our platform code, design, and proprietary features are protected by intellectual property laws
• You may not copy, modify, or distribute our platform without permission

8. Privacy and Data Protection

Your privacy is important to us. Our collection and use of personal information is governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. By using our platform, you consent to our privacy practices as outlined in the Privacy Policy.

9. Government Information and Disclaimers

• Government responses represent official positions but may not reflect final policy decisions
• Information provided is for transparency and consultation purposes only
• We are not responsible for the accuracy of government-provided information
• Platform discussions do not constitute official government consultation processes
• Users should verify information through official government channels when necessary

10. Moderation and Enforcement

• We reserve the right to moderate, edit, or remove content that violates these Terms
• Violations may result in warnings, temporary suspension, or permanent account termination
• We may restrict access to certain features based on user behavior
• Appeals process is available for moderation decisions
• We cooperate with law enforcement when required by law

11. Platform Availability and Maintenance

• We strive to maintain 99.9% platform uptime but cannot guarantee continuous availability
• Scheduled maintenance will be announced in advance when possible
• We may temporarily suspend services for security or technical reasons
• Emergency maintenance may occur without prior notice

12. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Q-Gov shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or any loss of profits or revenues, whether incurred directly or indirectly, or any loss of data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses resulting from your use of our platform.

13. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Q-Gov and its affiliates from and against any claims, damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs, or debt, and expenses (including attorney's fees) arising from your use of the platform or violation of these Terms.

14. Termination

• You may terminate your account at any time by contacting our support team
• We may terminate or suspend your account for violations of these Terms
• Upon termination, your access to the platform will cease immediately
• Public contributions may remain visible for transparency purposes
• Account data will be handled according to our data retention policies

15. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with applicable local laws. Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of the platform shall be resolved through binding arbitration, except where prohibited by law.

16. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will notify users of any material changes by posting the updated Terms on this page and updating the "Last updated" date. Your continued use of the platform after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

17. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect. The invalid provision shall be replaced with a valid provision that most closely approximates the intent of the original provision.

18. Contact Information

If you have any questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us:

• Email: qgov-people@gmail.com
• Support: qgov-people@gmail.com
• Address: [Your Legal Address]