Service Agreements, Terms of

Terms of service (variously named end user license agreements, privacy policies or user agreements, statements of responsibilities, etc.) are the contracts users commit themselves to when accessing most online platforms, services, applications, and software. Within these contracts lie important legally binding detail about the rights and responsibilities of the users and service providers, however, they are written by the service providers, rarely read by users, and thus typically benefit the service provider or vendor rather than the user. To better understand why these contracts matter and what is embedded within them, this entry looks at terms of service agreements within the context of internet governance and as a legal construct and corporate tool; the impact users experience, privacy and freedom of expression; and broader human rights frameworks and transparency.