User Policy

User Policy

The purpose of the user policy is to define the conditions of the Free Speech TV Internet Service and the responsibility and the rights of the Free Speech TV and its members.

I. The effect of the User Policy

• This policy goes into effect as soon as the information is published on the Free Speech TV site or when a user gets this information by other means.
• Free Speech TV preserves the right to modify this policy any time if there is reasonable reason while not violating users privacy and rights.
• When the policy is modified, the new policy will be available from Free Speech TV front page for the review purpose for seven days before it goes into effect.
• Any changes to the agreement that go into effect after seven days of review will be considered to be agreed upon should no objection be submitted during the review period.

II. Free Speech TV User Policy Agreement and Membership Application

• The policy agreement will be put into effect when a user submit the membership application.
• When these conditions occur, Online Community administration will not be able to process the users’ application immediately:
  

  1. If the user’s email address is incorrect
  2. If the user had violated our policy before.
  3. When our resource is limited.
  4. When we experience technical difficulties

III. The Terms of Service

• The Free Speech TV will provide the services below:

  1. Social Forum Service
  2. Online Journal Service
  3. Vlog Service
  4. Weblog Service

• The services can be modified or added in the future. If the content of service is modified or added, user would get an email announcement.
• User ID management: Users are responsible for managing their IDs and Passwords (users cannot change ID name, though they can create additional accounts should they choose to).
• Service Cancellation
  

  1.Users may cancel their membership at anytime by notifying the Free Speech TV administrator through the online membership cancellation form or by email.
  2. Free Speech TV reserves the right to suspend or cancel an account or remove contents for reasons that include but are not limited to:

  Failure to comply with the User Policy Agreement
  • Disruption of the services the Free Speech TV provides
  • Using the services for commercial means or to distribute commercial advertisements or spam
  • Distribution/implementation of malicious software
  • Disrupting other users
  • Explicitly acting against the vision of Free Speech TV and its online community.

• The process of service suspension and cancellation
  

  1. Free Speech TV will notify the user(s) via emails five days before the account cancellation or suspension. The account(s) will be immediately closed if there is urgent need to do so.
  2. The member(s) who got warnings from Free Speech TV could appeal.
  3. When appeal is submitted, until the decision is made the account wouldn't be closed.
  4. If there is no login record for a year, Free Speech TV could cancel the user's account and remove its data.

• Data Storage
  

  1. Free Speech TV retains the right to limit the duration and size of data posted on the site
  2. Free Speech TV may stop services in the case of upgrades, maintenance, and repairs. Members will be notified of such events whenever possible.
  3. In the case of an emergency services may be limited or halted without warning. Members will be notified of such at the first possible convenience.

IV. Member Responsibility

• Members must adhere to the User Policy agreement
• Members must abide by the following when they use the service:
  

  1. Members will not use other member's ID/accounts without permission
  2. Members will respect the privacy of other members and the autonomous operation rules of each community
  3. Members will not engage in violence against other members including verbal abuse and sexual harassment.
  4. Members will not disrupt or harm Free Speech TV services
  5. Members will not engage in criminal actions as prohibited by law
  6. Members will not act against the vision of Free Speech TV and its online community.

• Members also need to follow the specifics provided by Online Community’s special announcement.
• No member will use Free Speech TV services for commercial purposes without permission of the Free Speech TV

V. Service Operation Policy

• If a member post its information on Free Speech TV, we will consider that the user agrees with the Free Speech TV's user policy.
• The Free Speech TV will not remove user content without prior notice, except in the following cases:
  

  1. Violation of other member's privacy and rights
  2. Posting of illegal contents
  3. Contents containing viruses or other malicious programs
  4. Contents explicitly against the vision of Free Speech TV and its online community

• Other than the reasons above, FSTV will warn the user before it removes the content from FSTV Community site. However, if the situation requires immediate actions, the notification will be sent after the fact. This policy is in effect since September 2004.

Online Community Privacy Policy
The Free Speech TV (FSTV) collects members’ information in order to provide personalized service. Each community may collect information from its members according to its own operation/privacy policy. The information will be used strictly to develop member services and will not be shared with any third parties.

Required Information
FSTV will request users to submit necessary information in order to open a member account. The required information needed for a new account is:
1. User ID
2. Email

Your User ID and Email is the minimum information required to open an account. Additional information is optional and used for customized service. Such information includes region (state, city), gender, occupation, and special interests. This information will not be used for any purpose besides developing better services for members of the Online Community.

Upon membership cancellation, all information tied to the cancelled account will be removed from the database.

Information and Third Parties
We will not share member information with any third parties without users consent with one exception. User information may be used for statistics reports or academic research purposes so long as it does not violate an individual's privacy.

Private Information Protection Policy
The Online Community administration team will protect member information through appropriate security members, and will back up data on a regular basis.

How You Can Protect Yourself
Make sure your password is something you can remember but hard for others to guess. Do not share your password with others, and be sure to log out after each session to protect your information and password.