Acceptable Use

1. Purpose

This Acceptable Use Policy (“Policy”) sets out the rules and standards governing the use of our website, platform, services, and the uploading, storing, sharing, processing, and accessing of data through our systems.

By accessing, using, or uploading content to our website, users agree to comply with this Policy. Failure to do so may result in suspension or termination of access and, where appropriate, reporting to relevant authorities.

2. Scope

This Policy applies to all users of the website, including:

  • Customers
  • Employees
  • Contractors
  • Partners
  • Third-party users
  • Any person granted access to the platform

3. User Responsibilities

Users must:

  • Use the website only for lawful and legitimate purposes.
  • Ensure they have the legal right and appropriate authority to upload, store, process, or share any data.
  • Maintain the confidentiality of their login credentials.
  • Comply with all applicable laws, regulations, contractual obligations, and industry standards.
  • Promptly report any suspected security incidents, unauthorised access, or misuse of the platform.

4. Acceptable Data Uploads

Users may upload data only where:

  • The data is relevant to the intended use of the platform.
  • The upload complies with applicable privacy, data protection, and intellectual property laws.
  • Appropriate consent has been obtained where personal data is involved.
  • The user has authority to share the information.
  • The data does not infringe the rights of any third party.

Users are responsible for ensuring the accuracy, quality, legality, and integrity of all uploaded data.

5. Prohibited Content

Users must not upload, transmit, store, distribute, or otherwise make available any content that:

Illegal Content

  • Violates any applicable law or regulation.
  • Facilitates criminal activity.
  • Contains stolen or unlawfully obtained information.

Harmful Content

  • Malware, viruses, ransomware, Trojan horses, worms, or similar malicious code.
  • Content designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorised access to systems or data.

Offensive Content

  • Harassing, threatening, abusive, defamatory, or discriminatory material.
  • Hate speech or content that promotes violence.
  • Obscene or otherwise inappropriate content.

Intellectual Property Violations

  • Copyrighted materials without permission.
  • Proprietary information belonging to another party.
  • Content that violates trademarks, patents, trade secrets, or other intellectual property rights.

Sensitive Information

Unless specifically authorised and protected by appropriate safeguards, users must not upload:

  • Authentication credentials or passwords.
  • Government-issued identification numbers.
  • Confidential information belonging to third parties.
  • Personal information beyond what is necessary for the intended purpose.

6. Acceptable Use of the Website

Users must not:

  • Attempt to bypass security controls.
  • Access accounts, systems, or data without authorisation.
  • Conduct vulnerability scanning or penetration testing without written permission.
  • Reverse engineer, copy, modify, or exploit the platform unlawfully.
  • Interfere with other users’ access to the service.
  • Circumvent usage limits, licensing restrictions, or access controls.
  • Use automated tools or bots in a manner that negatively impacts service performance.
  • Use the platform to send spam, unsolicited communications, or fraudulent messages.

7. Data Protection and Privacy

Users are responsible for:

  • Ensuring compliance with applicable data protection laws, including the UK GDPR, Data Protection Act 2018, and any other relevant regulations.
  • Uploading only data necessary for the intended business purpose.
  • Maintaining appropriate records of consent where required.
  • Respecting the privacy rights of individuals whose information may be processed through the platform.

8. Data Retention

Users should only upload data that is necessary for the intended purpose and must not retain information on the platform for longer than required.

Users are responsible for ensuring that uploaded data is retained and deleted in accordance with applicable legal, regulatory, contractual, and data protection requirements.

We may retain, archive, anonymise, or delete data in line with our Data Retention Policy, legal obligations, and legitimate business needs. Data may be retained for longer where required for regulatory, legal, audit, security, or dispute resolution purposes.

Users acknowledge that data deleted from live systems may remain in backups or disaster recovery systems for a limited period before permanent removal.

9. Monitoring and Enforcement

To protect the security, integrity, and availability of the platform, we reserve the right to:

  • Monitor usage of the website and uploaded content.
  • Investigate suspected breaches of this Policy.
  • Remove or restrict access to content that violates this Policy.
  • Suspend or terminate user accounts.
  • Report unlawful activity to law enforcement or regulatory authorities.

Monitoring will be conducted in accordance with applicable privacy and data protection laws.

10. Security Requirements

Users must:

  • Use strong passwords and protect account credentials.
  • Enable multi-factor authentication where available.
  • Keep devices and software reasonably up to date.
  • Avoid sharing accounts with other individuals.
  • Notify us immediately of any suspected compromise of credentials or data.

11. Intellectual Property

Users retain ownership of any data they upload unless otherwise agreed in writing. By uploading data to the platform, users confirm they possess all necessary rights, permissions, and licences required for such use.

Users must not use the platform to infringe the intellectual property rights of others.

12. Breach of this Policy

Violations of this Policy may result in:

  • Content removal.
  • Temporary suspension of access.
  • Permanent account termination.
  • Contractual remedies.
  • Legal action where appropriate.
  • Reporting to regulatory or law enforcement authorities.

13. Changes to this Policy

We may update this Acceptable Use Policy from time to time. Updated versions will be published on our website and become effective upon publication unless otherwise stated.

14. Contact

Questions regarding this Policy or reports of misuse should be directed to:

  • Email: info@val.org.uk
  • Post: Stringer House, 34 Lupton Street, Hunslet, Leeds LS10 2QW
  • Telephone: 0113 2977920