Terms of Service

Effective date: [TODO: set effective date before publishing]

SOS Connect is not an emergency service. If you are in immediate danger or experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number). SOS Connect coordinates community relief; it does not dispatch emergency responders and cannot guarantee that any request receives a response.

1. Who we are and what these terms cover

SOS Connect (the "Service") is a disaster-relief coordination platform operated by SOS Global Inc., a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 33-2797387, 149 Weaver Blvd #127, Weaverville, NC 28787). These terms govern your use of the Service — the website at sosconnect.org and the coordination tools it provides. By using the Service you agree to these terms.

2. The Service

The Service connects people affected by disasters with volunteers, relief partners, and coordinators. Requests for help are logged, routed, and tracked; helpers and partner organizations respond as they are able. SOS Global facilitates coordination — it does not employ, supervise, or vouch for individual helpers, and it does not itself provide relief goods or services unless expressly stated.

3. Eligibility and accounts

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account. You are responsible for the accuracy of the information you provide and for everything done under your account. Coordinators, partners, and volunteers agree to use access to other people's information only for coordinating relief — never for solicitation, harassment, or any purpose outside the Service's mission.

4. Acceptable use

You agree not to: submit false or misleading requests or reports; misrepresent your identity or affiliation; harvest, export, or misuse personal information of people on the platform; interfere with the operation or security of the Service; or use the Service for any unlawful purpose. We may suspend or remove accounts that put people at risk.

5. Volunteers and partner organizations

Volunteers and partner organizations act independently and at their own risk and judgment. SOS Global does not perform background checks unless expressly stated on the Service, and a "verified" marker on a request or report reflects a coordinator's review of the information — not an endorsement or guarantee of any person or organization.

[TODO: confirm whether any screening/background-check language is accurate for launch partners.]

6. Privacy

The Service handles sensitive personal information — names, contact details, locations, and the circumstances of people seeking help. How we collect, use, and protect it is described in our Privacy Policy.

7. Disclaimers

The Service is provided "as is" and "as available," without warranties of any kind, express or implied. We do not warrant that requests will be answered, that information posted by users is accurate, or that the Service will be uninterrupted — particularly during the disasters it is built for.

8. Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, SOS Global Inc., its directors, employees, and volunteers are not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or for any loss or injury arising from interactions between users of the Service, from relief provided or not provided, or from reliance on information on the Service.

[TODO: counsel review — consider a liability cap and jurisdiction-specific carve-outs.]

9. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless SOS Global Inc. from claims arising out of your use of the Service, your violation of these terms, or your violation of any rights of another person.

10. Termination

You may stop using the Service at any time. We may suspend or terminate access at our discretion, including for conduct that violates these terms or endangers others. Sections that by their nature should survive termination (disclaimers, limitation of liability, indemnification) survive.

11. Changes to these terms

We may update these terms as the Service evolves. Material changes will be posted on this page with a new effective date; continued use after a change means you accept the updated terms.

12. Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of the State of North Carolina, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

[TODO: counsel to confirm venue/jurisdiction language.]

13. Contact

Questions about these terms: team@sosconnect.org.