Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to Yapp (You're All Press People), (also referred to as "YappApp"), a mobile centric application facilitating real-time citizen journalism through user-generated content ("Content"). These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the Yapp platform. By accessing or using Yapp, you agree to be bound by these Terms.

2. User-Generated Content (UGC)

Yapp focuses on visually appealing, raw content created by its users, rather than official announcements or press releases. This means that the news and information you see on Yapp comes directly from the people who are experiencing it, providing a unique and unfiltered perspective on current real-time events. Yapp allows you to see the world through the eyes of others and to stay informed about what is happening around you in real-time, whether that be funny moments, right through to serious incidents of public interest. Only missing person appeals supported by official press releases are allowed, in most cases.

Yapp is a platform for authentic, user-generated content that is visually appealing and informative for the benefit of all users. Personal appeals that aim solely to identify perpetrators, or to report personal missing stolen items including vehicles, are not suitable for the platform unless supported by visually appealing footage.

Official Press releases, while important, can sometimes be impersonal and lack the immediacy and rawness of user-generated content. For this reason, it will likely be removed as it does not add to the user experience.

3. Content Ownership and Use

3.1 Content Ownership and Grant of License:

You retain ownership of all intellectual property rights associated with the Content you submit to Yapp. However, by submitting Content, you grant Yapp an exclusive, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, modify, publish, distribute, and create derivative works of the Content in any format, media, or channel.

3.2 Anonymity:

Yapp respects your right to anonymity. We will make every effort to fiercely protect your anonymity when you submit Content. However, we reserve the right to disclose information that may lead to your identity being revealed. This would only be in exceptional circumstances as required by law when supported by a Court order.

3.3 Copyright Responsibility:

You are solely responsible for ensuring your Content does not infringe on the intellectual property rights of any third party. You will bear any and all financial or legal consequences arising from copyright infringement claims related to Content you submit. By submitting content we assume that it belongs to you, or that you have permission to share it to Yapp. We do not permit Content to be used that you do not have permission to share.

4. Content Guidelines and Restrictions

Yapp is committed to providing a safe and informative environment for all users. To maintain this commitment, you agree not to post:

• Misleading or Deceptive: This includes fake content, old content, copied content, screenshots presented as original content, and misleading information.
• Promotional or Inappropriate Business Profiles: Profiles promoting unauthorised businesses and or containing irrelevant content will be removed.
• Identification of Vulnerable Individuals: Content that identifies a victim of sexual assault, or promotes the identification of such victims in any way, such as through jigsaw identification or publishing a residential address is strictly prohibited, and is an criminal offence and is punishable in law.
• Recycled Content: Yapp thrives on fresh, original content. Uploading old content previously published elsewhere, in particular without permission is not allowed.
• Official Announcements: While Yapp focuses on real-time events, official announcements such as police appeals are not suitable content, and not visually appealing. However, missing person appeals are allowed. But only with official press releases for safety reasons, as some 'missing' persons do not want to be found. Only reveal the location of missing persons, in particularly children, to official sources. This is to protect them from possible harm from others.
• Watermarked Content, Advertisements, or Political/Religious Agendas:Watermarked content, advertisements (including audio), and content promoting specific political or religious agendas are not permitted. Filming general scenes of demonstrations or incidents taking place at them for example, is allowed.
• Personal Appeals: Content should be appealing, and be for the benefit the Yapp community, and not be a personal appeal without visually appealing content.
• Bullying and Harassment: Content that bullies or harasses others, especially with identifiable minors, is strictly prohibited. Fight videos requiring anonymisation can be submitted directly to Yapp for appropriate editing.
• Preplanned Confrontations: Content arising from preplanned confrontations, such as, but not limited to, content created by 'Auditors' is not appropriate for the Yapp platform.
• Solicitation: Using Yapp as a 'free alerting services' for business reasons, or to contact other users for commercial reasons, such as, but no limited to, purchasing/selling content, harvesting stories, will result in immediate, and permanent account termination. When using our services to alert you to incidents, you must publish to Yapp first before publishing to your own platform(s).

It will not be possible to open a new account following a termination. In some cases a reconnection admin fee is offered on request.

5. Commitment to Free Speech

Yapp is committed to upholding the principle of free speech. Users are encouraged to express their views and opinions freely, subject to the limitations outlined in these Terms. We believe in freedom or expression, not freedom of aggression.

Yapp is not controlled by any outside influences or alliances.

6. User Conduct

Users agree to use Yapp responsibly and in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. Users are prohibited from posting content that is, but not limited to:

• Hateful, discriminatory, or abusive
• Incites violence or harm
• Is defamatory or libellous
• Infringes on intellectual property rights
• Violates privacy rights
• Is spam or unsolicited commercial content

7. Graphic Content, and Content Involving Persons Known to You

Downloading Yapp is a choice. Yapp features real-time user generated content, that may initially include questionable content that will be removed/edited in real time once by admin, or when reported by using the three dots reporting system. If you are sensitive to such content, Yapp may not be suitable for you. Viewing content, including comments, that could in some cases relate to incidents involving persons known to you, during or immediately after an event, is entirely at your own risk. An option to block such content (permanently) is accessible via the three dots reporting system.

8. Legal Compliance, Filming and Photography

You are solely responsible for ensuring your use of the App complies with all applicable laws and regulations. While Yapp accepts real-time, real-life incidents, you are solely responsible for any legal repercussions arising from capturing images or videos (e.g., taking pictures while driving or using a drone in violation of regulations).

You have the right to film and take pictures anywhere in a public place, including at ongoing Emergency response scenes under UK law. No one, including emergency service personal (Police, Fire, Ambulance etc) have powers to prevent you, force deletion, or confiscate your device (with the exception of drones, that can be confiscated if the rules are not followed). Contact us for guidance if your equipment is taken. There maybe certain locations that filming is not allowed, for example military sites. But these will usually be supported by signage.

9. Location Services

Yapp requires access to your device's location services to provide you with relevant, location-based news and information. This data is used solely to enhance your user experience by delivering news and incidents tailored to your current location. Your location data is not shared with any third parties, and we do not personally have access to it, and we are not able to identify you personally from it.

9.1 Data Usage:

Yapp does not collect or store personally identifiable information from your location data. The location data used is aggregated and anonymous. It is only used to provide you with the Yapp service during your current session.

9.2 User Rights:

You have the right to disable location services for Yapp at any time through your device settings. However, disabling location services may limit the app's functionality, for example, we will not be able to provide you with current location information.

9.3 Privacy Policy:

Yapp is committed to protecting your privacy. The Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, and protect your information.

9.4 Information Collection:

Yapp collects location data from your device when you enable location services. This data is used exclusively to provide you with location-based news within the app. We do not collect any personally identifiable information.

9.5 Data Usage:

Your location data is used solely to deliver relevant news based on your current location. It is not shared with third parties for advertising or any other purposes.

9.6 Data Security:

Yapp implements reasonable security measures to protect your data from unauthorised access, disclosure, or alteration. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure.

9.7 Data Retention:

Personal data is not stored or retained.

10. Removal Requests

Yapp does not have a policy of removing images, which we have a legal right and duty to archive for the public record.

It may also assist to explain how the GDPR 'right to be forgotten' impacts on the media. Yapp (and all other media) are not obliged to remove identifiable references to individuals from articles if we reasonably believe this would be incompatible with the purposes of journalism. The right to have information erased under Article 17 GDPR 'right to be forgotten' does not apply to processing of data necessary for exercising the right to freedom of expression (17.3).

The Recitals to the Regulation make it entirely clear that the protection of personal data is not an absolute right but rather it must be balanced against other fundamental rights - including the right to freedom of expression and information - in accordance with the principle of proportionality. It goes on to note that a derogation from the basic principles is required to protect journalistic purposes and that this notion should be interpreted broadly, with a particular focus on the protection of news archives.

Article 17 of the GDPR on which you rely does not apply to the extent that processing is necessary for exercising the right of freedom of expression and, as previously explained, publishers are under no general obligation to remove accurate records of events, in public or in court.

11. Termination

Yapp reserves the right to permanently prevent you access to the App, revenue, and your account if you breach any of these Terms. This includes, but is not limited to, any conduct that is detrimental to Yapp or its business interests. Upon termination, you will not be able to create a new account.

12. Disclaimer of Warranties

Yapp provides the App "as is" and without warranties of any kind, express or implied. This means we do not guarantee the App will be error-free, uninterrupted, or entirely secure.

We strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, but we make no guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any Content submitted by users in the early stages of an incident. However, an official accounts will be included as soon as practically possible in most cases.

13. Limitation of Liability

Yapp is not liable for any damages arising from your use of the App or the Content. This includes damages resulting from graphic content, misleading information, or any other user-generated content. Any issues with regards content, is between the contributing user and yourself.

14. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.

15. Contact Us

If you have any questions regarding these Terms, please contact us at terms@yappapp.co.uk.

16. Entire Agreement

These Terms constitute the entire agreement between you and Yapp regarding your use of the App.