Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using pebbl ("pebbl," "Platform," "Service," "we," "us," or "our"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms") and our Privacy Policy. If you disagree with any part of these terms, you may not access the Service.

These Terms apply to all users of the Service, including without limitation users who are browsers, voters, contributors, and/or contributors of content.

2. Description of Service

pebbl is a civic engagement platform that currently plans to provide (subject to change):

• Trust-based community discussions on civic topics
• Gamified polling and voting systems ("pebble throwing")
• AI-powered ballot assistance and legislative information
• Multi-dimensional Civic DNA profiling (dimensions and features may vary)
• Community-driven content moderation and trust ratings
• Other features as we may develop, test, or discontinue

No Guarantee of Features: We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any feature, service, or functionality at any time without notice or liability.

3. User Accounts

3.1 Account Creation

• You must be at least 13 years old to create an account (or older in certain jurisdictions)
• You must provide accurate and complete information
• You are responsible for maintaining the security of your account
• You must notify us immediately of any unauthorized access
• One person, one account (no duplicate accounts)
• You must have legal capacity to enter into these Terms

3.2 Account Types

• Verified Accounts: Real-name verification through various methods
• Pseudonymous Accounts: Alternative verification without real names
• Anonymous Participation: Limited features with enhanced moderation

3.3 Username Policy

• Usernames must not impersonate others
• No offensive, misleading, or harmful usernames
• We may change usernames that violate our policies
• Limited username changes allowed (3 per week maximum)

4. User Conduct

4.1 Acceptable Use

4.2 Prohibited Activities

You agree not to:

• Harm Others: Harassment, bullying, threats, doxxing, or inciting violence
• Spread Falsehoods: Deliberate misinformation, impersonation, or fraud
• Manipulate Systems: Vote manipulation, creating fake accounts, or gaming CI scores
• Violate Laws: Any illegal activities or content
• Compromise Security: Hacking, malware, or unauthorized access attempts
• Spam: Unsolicited promotions, repetitive content, or commercial spam
• Infringe Rights: Copyright, trademark, or privacy violations
• Discriminate: Hate speech based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or other protected characteristics

5. Content Guidelines

5.1 Your Content

When you post content on pebbl, you:

• Retain ownership of your original content
• Grant us a license to use, display, and distribute it on the platform
• Represent that you have the right to post the content
• Accept responsibility for your content's accuracy and legality

5.2 Content Moderation

• Community Moderation: Users with high CI scores help moderate content
• AI Filtering: Automated civility checks for anonymous users
• User Controls: Customizable content filters and blocking options
• Appeals Process: Right to appeal moderation decisions

5.3 Content Removal

We may remove content that:

• Violates these Terms or community guidelines
• Is illegal or promotes illegal activities
• Infringes on intellectual property rights
• Poses a risk to user safety or platform integrity

6. Voting and Civic DNA

6.1 Voting Integrity

• One vote per user per poll/post
• No vote manipulation or brigading
• Votes may be public or private depending on settings
• Historical votes are preserved for transparency

6.2 Civic DNA Profile

• Your Civic DNA is based on your responses and interactions across ten dimensions:
  • Governance scale (local vs. centralized)
  • Freedom-security balance
  • Change orientation
  • Institutional trust
  • Moral foundations
  • Participation style
  • Economic values
  • Environmental priority
  • Urban-rural identity
  • Globalization stance
• You control the visibility of your profile
• Profiles are used for personalization, not discrimination
• You can update or reset your profile at any time

6.3 Community Influencer (CI) Score

• Earned through quality contributions and positive engagement
• Affects content visibility and moderation privileges
• Cannot be bought, sold, or transferred
• May be reduced for policy violations

7. AI Assistant and Legislative Data

7.1 AI Services

Our AI assistant provides:

• Ballot recommendations based on your Civic DNA
• Legislative summaries and analysis
• Fact-checking and source verification
• Personalized civic education

7.2 Limitations

8. Privacy and Data Protection

Your privacy is fundamental. Key points:

• We never sell your personal data
• You control your privacy settings
• Strong encryption protects your information
• You can delete your account and data anytime
• See our Privacy Policy for complete details

9. Intellectual Property

9.1 Platform Content

The Service and its original content (excluding user content) are owned by pebbl and protected by intellectual property laws. Our proprietary content includes:

• The pebbl name, logo, and branding
• Platform design and user interface
• Civic DNA framework and algorithms
• Software code and functionality

9.2 User License

We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and use the Service for personal, non-commercial purposes.

9.3 Feedback

Any feedback, suggestions, or ideas you provide become our property and may be used without compensation to you.

10. Third-Party Services

pebbl may contain links to third-party websites or services. We are not responsible for:

• The content or practices of third-party services
• Any damage or loss from using third-party services
• The privacy policies of external sites

11. Disclaimers and Limitations

11.1 Service Availability

The Service is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind. We do not guarantee:

• Uninterrupted or error-free service
• Accuracy or reliability of content
• That defects will be corrected
• That the Service meets your requirements

11.2 Limitation of Liability

IMPORTANT: READ THIS SECTION CAREFULLY AS IT LIMITS OUR LIABILITY TO YOU.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW:

• NO LIABILITY: IN NO EVENT SHALL PEBBL, ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, SUPPLIERS, OR LICENSORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE, OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER
• DAMAGES EXCLUDED: This includes, without limitation, damages for:
  • Loss of profits, revenue, data, or use
  • Business interruption or loss of business information
  • Personal injury or emotional distress
  • Loss of privacy or security breaches
  • Failure to meet any duty including good faith or reasonable care
  • Negligence or any other pecuniary loss
• MAXIMUM LIABILITY: OUR TOTAL LIABILITY SHALL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF $100 OR THE AMOUNT YOU PAID US IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS
• BETA RISKS: YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THE EXPERIMENTAL NATURE OF THE SERVICE AND ASSUME ALL RISKS
• ESSENTIAL PURPOSE: THESE LIMITATIONS SHALL APPLY EVEN IF A REMEDY FAILS OF ITS ESSENTIAL PURPOSE

11.3 Indemnification

YOU AGREE TO INDEMNIFY, DEFEND, AND HOLD HARMLESS pebbl, its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, consultants, agents, suppliers, and licensors from and against any and all claims, damages, costs, liabilities, losses, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and costs) arising from or related to:

• Your violation of these Terms or any applicable laws or regulations
• Your violation of any rights of any third party
• Your use or misuse of the Service
• Your content, posts, or any information you submit or transmit through the Service
• Your negligent or intentional wrongdoing
• Your violation of any third-party agreement or terms
• Any claims that your use of the Service caused damage to a third party

Defense and Settlement: We reserve the right, at your expense, to assume exclusive defense and control of any matter subject to indemnification by you. You agree to cooperate with our defense of such claims.

12. Account Termination

12.1 By You

You may delete your account at any time through account settings. Upon deletion:

• Your personal data will be removed per our Privacy Policy
• Some content may remain visible (anonymized)
• Deletion is permanent and cannot be reversed

12.2 By Us

We may suspend or terminate accounts that:

• Violate these Terms repeatedly
• Engage in illegal activities
• Pose a risk to other users or the platform
• Are inactive for extended periods

12.3 Effect of Termination

Upon termination:

• Your right to use the Service ceases immediately
• We may delete your content and data
• Provisions that should survive termination will remain in effect

13. Dispute Resolution

13.1 Informal Resolution

We prefer to resolve disputes informally. You must contact us at legal@pebbl.vote and attempt good faith negotiations before initiating any formal proceedings. You must provide 30 days written notice of any dispute.

13.2 Binding Arbitration

YOU AND PEBBL AGREE THAT ANY DISPUTE ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THESE TERMS OR THE SERVICE SHALL BE RESOLVED SOLELY BY BINDING, INDIVIDUAL ARBITRATION AND NOT IN A CLASS, REPRESENTATIVE, OR CONSOLIDATED ACTION OR PROCEEDING.

Arbitration shall be conducted by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) under its Consumer Arbitration Rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in San Francisco County, California, unless we agree otherwise. Each party shall bear its own costs, except as required by AAA rules.

13.3 Class Action Waiver

YOU AND PEBBL AGREE THAT EACH MAY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST THE OTHER ONLY IN YOUR OR ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING.

Unless both you and pebbl agree otherwise, the arbitrator may not consolidate more than one person's claims and may not preside over any form of representative or class proceeding.

13.4 Exceptions

• Either party may bring suit in court for injunctive relief for intellectual property violations
• You may bring claims in small claims court if your claims qualify
• Either party may seek emergency injunctive relief in court

13.5 30-Day Opt-Out Right

You have the right to opt out of arbitration by sending written notice to legal@pebbl.vote within 30 days of first accepting these Terms. If you opt out, neither you nor pebbl can force the other to arbitrate.

13.6 Severability

If the class action waiver is found unenforceable, the entire arbitration provision shall be null and void. If any other part is found invalid, the remainder shall continue in effect.

14. General Provisions

14.1 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of California and the United States of America, without regard to conflict of law principles.

14.2 Entire Agreement

These Terms and our Privacy Policy constitute the entire agreement between you and pebbl.

14.3 Severability

If any provision is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in effect.

14.4 Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision is not a waiver of that right or provision.

14.5 Assignment

You may not assign these Terms without our consent. We may assign our rights to any successor or affiliate.

15. Changes to Terms

We may attempt to notify you of changes by:

• Posting the updated Terms on this page
• Updating the "Effective Date"
• Email notification for changes we deem significant (at our sole discretion)
• In-app notifications or banners

YOUR RESPONSIBILITY: You are responsible for reviewing these Terms regularly. Your continued use of the Service after any changes means you accept and agree to the modified Terms. If you do not agree, you must immediately stop using the Service.

NO RELIANCE: You may not rely on any version of these Terms other than the current version posted on our Service.

16. Contact Information

17. Special Provisions

17.1 Political Neutrality

pebbl aims to be politically neutral. We do not:

• Endorse political candidates or parties
• Favor any political ideology
• Censor legal political speech
• Accept political advertising that violates our neutrality

Note: Our neutrality policies may evolve as the platform develops.

17.2 Research and Data

Aggregated, anonymized data may be used for:

• Academic research (with or without IRB approval)
• Public civic insights
• Platform improvement
• Business intelligence and analytics
• Any lawful purpose we deem appropriate

Data Rights: We retain full rights to all aggregated and anonymized data.

17.3 Accessibility

We aim for accessibility but make no guarantees:

• WCAG 2.1 AA compliance is a goal, not a commitment
• Mobile-first design where feasible
• SMS participation may be available
• Multiple language support as resources permit

17.4 Force Majeure

We shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performance due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, natural disasters, war, terrorism, riots, embargoes, acts of civil or military authorities, fire, floods, accidents, strikes, pandemic, or shortages of transportation facilities, fuel, energy, labor, or materials.

17.5 Service Modifications

We explicitly reserve the right to:

• Modify, suspend, or terminate the Service (or any part thereof) at any time
• Change our business model, including introducing fees or subscriptions
• Limit access to certain features or user groups
• Transfer user data in connection with a sale or merger
• Change our technology stack, infrastructure, or third-party services
• Pivot to different market segments or use cases
• All without notice or liability to you

17.6 Beta User Acknowledgment

As a beta user, you acknowledge and agree that:

• You are voluntarily participating in testing an experimental platform
• Your feedback may be used without compensation or attribution
• Features you rely on may disappear without warning
• The Service may contain bugs, errors, or security vulnerabilities
• We owe you no duty of continuity, consistency, or support
• You have no expectation of privacy beyond what is explicitly stated
• You waive any claims arising from the beta nature of the Service

17.7 DMCA Policy

17.7.1 Copyright Infringement Notification

We respect intellectual property rights and will respond to clear notices of alleged copyright infringement. If you believe your work has been copied in a way that constitutes copyright infringement, please provide our DMCA Agent with:

• Physical or electronic signature of the copyright owner or authorized person
• Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to be infringed
• Identification of the material to be removed and its location
• Your contact information (address, phone, email)
• A statement that you have good faith belief the use is unauthorized
• A statement under penalty of perjury that the information is accurate

17.7.2 DMCA Agent

Send DMCA notices to:
DMCA Agent
HELTON FOR CONGRESS 2026
3245 GEARY BLVD UNIT 590843
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118
Email: dmca@pebbl.vote

17.7.3 Counter-Notification

If you believe your content was wrongly removed, you may submit a counter-notification with:

• Your physical or electronic signature
• Identification of removed material and its former location
• Statement under penalty of perjury that removal was a mistake
• Your name, address, phone number, and consent to jurisdiction

17.7.4 Repeat Infringers

We reserve the right to terminate accounts of repeat infringers at our sole discretion.

17.8 Export Control and Sanctions Compliance

Export Restrictions: The Service is subject to United States export control and sanctions laws, including but not limited to the Export Administration Regulations and sanctions programs administered by OFAC.

You represent and warrant that you:

• Are not located in a country subject to U.S. Government embargo (including Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and the Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions)
• Are not on any U.S. Government list of prohibited or restricted parties (including the Treasury Department's SDN list)
• Will not use the Service for any purposes prohibited by U.S. law
• Will not export or re-export any part of the Service in violation of U.S. export restrictions

Compliance: You agree to comply with all applicable export and import laws and regulations. You acknowledge that we may restrict or terminate access based on export control requirements.

17.9 Additional Legal Protections

17.9.1 No Professional Advice

The Service provides information for general purposes only. Nothing on the Service constitutes professional advice (legal, financial, medical, or otherwise). You should consult appropriate professionals for specific advice.

17.9.2 Third-Party Content Disclaimer

We are not responsible for third-party content, including user-generated content, external links, or embedded media. Such content does not represent our views or endorsements.

17.9.3 Assumption of Risk

You acknowledge that civic engagement and political discussion carry inherent risks. You assume all risks associated with using the Service, including exposure to content you may find offensive, inaccurate, or otherwise objectionable.

17.9.4 No Guarantee of Influence

While the Service facilitates civic engagement, we make no guarantees about political influence, policy changes, or any real-world impact from platform activities.

← Back to pebbl