Legal

Acceptable use policy

Draft for legal review

PADS works because people can trust it. These are the few simple rules that keep it safe, private and kind for everyone, including mentors.

Last updated: [publication date] · Forms part of our Terms and conditions

In short

Use PADS for yourself, lawfully and honestly.
Only share what is yours to share, and respect other people’s privacy.
As a mentor, keep what you see private and respond with care, not pressure.
Don’t try to break, copy or misuse the app.
If someone is in danger, contact emergency services, not PADS.

This summary is to help you. The full text below is what applies.

On this page

1. Why we have this policy
2. Use PADS for yourself
3. Respect other people’s privacy
4. Being a mentor
5. Catch-ups and comments
6. Things you must not do
7. Keeping PADS secure
8. Reporting a concern
9. If these rules are broken

1. Why we have this policy

PADS is a private place to steady yourself and plan, and a way to let someone you trust walk alongside you. This policy explains how everyone using PADS, including mentors, is expected to behave. It forms part of our Terms and conditions.

2. Use PADS for yourself

Your PADS account is for you. Please:

use it for your own planning and reflection, not to run a business or service;
keep to one personal account and give accurate details;
not create an account for someone else or use someone else’s account without their permission;
keep your phone, PIN and recovery phrase safe.

3. Respect other people’s privacy

Your entries may mention other people. That is a normal part of life, but please:

only add trusted contacts who would be comfortable being reached through the Talk button;
not share private information about someone else with a mentor unless it is needed and fair to do so;
not use PADS to monitor, track or collect information about another person.

4. Being a mentor

Being invited as a mentor is an act of trust. If you accept, you agree to:

keep it private. Don’t screenshot, copy, forward or discuss what is shared with you without the person’s clear permission;
respect their choices. They decide what to share and when, and can change permissions or end the connection at any time;
support, don’t pressure. Encourage and listen. Don’t judge, shame, threaten or try to control them;
know your limits. You are not expected to be a counsellor, doctor or financial adviser. Encourage professional help when it is needed;
act in an emergency. If you believe someone is in immediate danger, contact emergency services. PADS is not monitored and cannot respond for you.

5. Catch-ups and comments

Catch-ups and comments are for encouragement and reflection. When you write a Catch-up or reply to one:

be honest and kind, and keep comments about what was shared;
don’t use comments to demand updates, criticise, or push someone towards a decision;
don’t share links to anything harmful, misleading or unlawful;
don’t give financial, legal or medical instructions as if they were professional advice.

Either person can stop sharing or end the mentorship at any time, without giving a reason.

6. Things you must not do

You must not use PADS to:

harass, bully, threaten, intimidate or exploit anyone;
share content that is unlawful, hateful, sexually explicit, or that encourages self-harm or violence;
impersonate anyone or mislead people about who you are;
send spam, advertising or unwanted messages;
share content you do not have the right to share;
break the law or help anyone else to do so.

7. Keeping PADS secure

Please do not try to:

access accounts, data or systems that are not yours;
break, bypass or test our security or encryption without our written permission;
copy, modify, decompile or reverse-engineer the app, except where the law allows;
overload, disrupt or interfere with PADS or pads-app.com, including through bots or automated tools.

If you find a security problem, please tell us privately at [[email protected]] so we can fix it.

8. Reporting a concern

If someone is in immediate danger, call 999 in the UK, 000 in Australia, or your local emergency number.

If you are worried about how someone is using PADS, including a mentor, you can end the connection straight away in the app. You can also tell us through our Support page or at [[email protected]]. Because we cannot read your entries, please describe what happened; we may not be able to see it ourselves.

9. If these rules are broken

If we reasonably believe this policy has been broken, we may give a warning, end a mentorship connection, or suspend or close an account. Where we must by law, or where someone may be at serious risk, we may share information we hold with the police or other authorities. Where it is safe and lawful, we will tell you what we have done and why, and you can contact us if you think we have made a mistake.

Questions about this policy?

Email [[email protected]], or write to [Company legal name], [registered address].