# Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)
> **DRAFT — pending review by qualified IT counsel before public launch.**
This Acceptable Use Policy is part of our Terms of Service. It defines what you may not do on the Platform.
## 1. Forbidden Services
You may **not** offer, request, advertise, or perform any of the following through the Platform. This list is not exhaustive but includes:
### 1.1 Emissions tampering — strictly prohibited
- DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) delete, removal, or defeat
- EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) delete or defeat
- AdBlue / SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) delete or defeat
- Catalytic converter ("cat") delete or defeat
- O2 / lambda sensor defeat or simulation
- Any "emissions delete," "emissions tune," or "rolling coal" service
- Removal or disablement of any factory emissions component
These services violate, among others, the U.S. Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. § 7522), EPA enforcement policy, and EU Regulation 2018/858.
### 1.2 Odometer / mileage manipulation — strictly prohibited
- Odometer rollback, correction, or "adjustment"
- Mileage rewriting on any module
- Any service marketed to misrepresent vehicle mileage to a third party
These violate U.S. federal law (49 U.S.C. § 32703 — felony) and EU Directive 2014/45.
### 1.3 VIN tampering — strictly prohibited
- Changing, cloning, or removing a Vehicle Identification Number
- "Re-VIN" services
These violate U.S. federal law (18 U.S.C. § 511) and equivalent provisions across EU member states.
### 1.4 Speed-limiter removal on commercial vehicles
Removal or defeat of factory speed limiters on commercial vehicles, buses, or governed equipment is prohibited where required by law (e.g. EU Regulation 2019/2144).
### 1.5 Services without proof of ownership
- Key programming, immobilizer reset, ECU unlock, or remote unlock services where the requester cannot demonstrate ownership or written authorization from the legal owner.
- Any work that would aid theft or recovery of a stolen vehicle.
### 1.6 Other prohibited activities
- Bypassing manufacturer DRM in a manner unlawful in your jurisdiction (e.g. circumventing protections on commercial flashing software). Lawful right-to-repair activity is permitted.
- Tuning that defeats safety systems (ABS off, airbag delete, ESP defeat for road use).
- Any service to a vehicle the requester does not own or is not authorized to service.
## 2. Conduct
You may not:
- Harass, threaten, dox, or discriminate against any user
- Send unsolicited bulk messages or spam
- Impersonate another person or organization
- Attempt to circumvent platform fees or move transactions off-platform to evade Platform protections
- Submit false reviews or manipulate ratings (a federal violation in the U.S. under the FTC Fake Reviews Rule, 16 CFR Part 465)
- Create multiple accounts to evade bans
- Reverse engineer, scrape at scale, or interfere with the Service
## 3. Off-Platform Communication
You may exchange direct contact details only after a session begins, and only if both parties consent. **Conducting paid work off-platform forfeits all Platform protections**, including escrow, dispute resolution, verified-review status, and access to support. We do not police private communications, but we will not assist with disputes arising from off-platform deals.
## 4. AI Feature Use
- AI output is informational. Do not represent AI output to third parties as a professional diagnosis or sign-off.
- Do not attempt to use AI features to perform forbidden services (e.g. asking the AI to write a tune that defeats emissions).
- Sharing your AI session credentials, recordings, or transcripts publicly without consent of all participants is prohibited.
## 5. Recording
Recording of live sessions is **off by default**. Recording can be enabled only when every party in the session has provided explicit, in-product consent. Surreptitious recording — including by external tools — violates this AUP and may violate the law in your jurisdiction.
## 6. Reporting
If you observe a violation, report it via the in-product **Report** function or `abuse@obd2.online`. We acknowledge reports within 24 hours and act on substantiated reports within 7 days.
## 7. Enforcement
We may, at our discretion and proportionately to the violation:
1. Issue a warning
2. Hide content from public view
3. Suspend account features
4. Terminate the account
5. Forfeit held funds (subject to applicable law)
6. Report to relevant authorities (EPA, EU type-approval authorities, DMV-equivalent agencies, law enforcement)
7. Pursue civil remedies
We maintain an audit log of moderation actions and publish a transparency report twice a year.
## 8. Appeals
A user whose account or content is actioned may appeal in writing within 30 days to `appeals@obd2.online`. Appeals are reviewed by a different person from the original decision-maker.
## 9. Updates
We may revise this AUP. Continuing use of the Service after changes take effect constitutes acceptance.