Acceptable Use Policy
Effective Date: March 1, 2026 | Last Updated: March 3, 2026
This Acceptable Use Policy ("AUP") supplements the Terms of Service and provides detailed guidance on permitted and prohibited uses of the OpenIntel platform. Violation of this AUP constitutes a violation of the Terms of Service and may result in immediate termination, legal action, and referral to law enforcement.
1. Fundamental Principles
All use of OpenIntel must satisfy all four of the following principles:
- Lawful - The activity must comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws
- Ethical - The activity must be conducted with professional integrity and respect for individual rights
- Professional - The activity must be within the scope of your professional duties and authorization
- Proportionate - The scope of investigation must be proportionate to the legitimate purpose
2. Permitted Uses
The following activities are permitted when conducted lawfully, ethically, and within professional scope:
| Activity | Permitted By | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Skip tracing for debt recovery | Collection agencies, law firms | FDCPA compliance, valid debt authorization |
| Litigation support / witness location | Attorneys, licensed PIs | Active legal matter, attorney engagement letter |
| Insurance claim investigation | SIU teams, licensed investigators | Active claim, proper authorization chain |
| Due diligence / background research | Financial institutions, law firms | Legitimate business purpose, FCRA if applicable |
| Fraud investigation | Financial institutions, insurers, law enforcement | Documented suspicion, internal authorization |
| Asset location / recovery | Attorneys, judgment creditors, licensed PIs | Court order or valid judgment |
| Regulatory compliance research | Compliance officers, legal teams | Regulatory mandate, documented need |
| Threat assessment / executive protection | Corporate security, licensed PIs | Documented threat, proportionate scope |
| Law enforcement investigation | Federal, state, local agencies | Active case, proper authority and jurisdiction |
3. Prohibited Uses
The following activities are strictly prohibited and will result in immediate termination, potential legal action, and referral to law enforcement where applicable:
3.1 Personal or Non-Professional Use
- Investigating personal relationships (spouses, partners, neighbors, acquaintances)
- Looking up individuals out of personal curiosity
- Conducting investigations outside the scope of your professional duties
- Using the platform for personal vendetta, revenge, or retribution
3.2 Harassment and Harm
- Stalking, cyberstalking, or tracking individuals without lawful authority
- Harassment, intimidation, or threats against any person
- Doxxing - publishing private information to shame, threaten, or endanger individuals
- Discrimination - targeting individuals based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, national origin, or any protected class
3.3 Unauthorized Surveillance
- Monitoring individuals without proper legal authorization
- Conducting surveillance beyond the scope of a valid investigation
- Intercepting communications without proper warrant or consent
3.4 Unlawful Data Use
- Consumer reporting without FCRA compliance (OpenIntel is NOT a consumer reporting agency)
- Making employment, credit, insurance, or housing decisions based on OpenIntel data without FCRA-compliant permissible purpose
- Selling, reselling, or redistributing data obtained through the platform
- Compiling data for marketing, solicitation, or commercial sale
3.5 Technical Abuse
- Reverse engineering, decompiling, or disassembling platform components
- Circumventing security features, access controls, or license restrictions
- Using automated tools, bots, or scrapers except through provided APIs
- Attempting to access other users' data or systems
- Sharing API keys, credentials, or access tokens with unauthorized parties
4. Regulatory Compliance Requirements
4.1 Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
OpenIntel is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the FCRA. You must NOT use information obtained through OpenIntel as a factor in determining eligibility for credit, employment, insurance, housing, or any other purpose covered by the FCRA unless you independently verify the information through FCRA-compliant sources.
4.2 Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA)
If you are a financial institution, you must handle all information obtained through OpenIntel in accordance with your GLBA information security program and privacy notices.
4.3 Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA)
Any motor vehicle records information must be used only for permissible purposes as defined by the DPPA. You are responsible for maintaining records of your permissible purpose.
4.4 State Private Investigator Licensing
If you are conducting investigations as a private investigator, you must hold a valid PI license in each jurisdiction where you operate and conduct all investigations within the scope of your licensure. We may request proof of current licensure at any time.
4.5 State Privacy Laws
You are responsible for complying with all state-specific privacy laws applicable to your investigations, including but not limited to CCPA/CPRA (California), VCDPA (Virginia), CPA (Colorado), and similar state regulations.
5. Record-Keeping Requirements
You must maintain records sufficient to demonstrate compliance with this AUP, including:
- The lawful, professional purpose for each investigation conducted through the platform
- Authorization documentation (engagement letters, court orders, internal approvals)
- Records of who accessed what information and when
- Evidence of compliance with applicable regulatory requirements
These records must be maintained for a minimum of 5 years or as required by applicable law, whichever is longer.
6. Reporting Suspected Misuse
If you become aware of any actual or suspected misuse of the OpenIntel platform - by yourself, your colleagues, or any other user - you are required to report it immediately to:
- Email: abuse@detailedindesign.com
- Subject line: "AUP Violation Report"
All reports are treated confidentially. We prohibit retaliation against any person who reports a suspected violation in good faith.
7. Enforcement
Violations of this AUP may result in:
- Warning: Written notice for minor or first-time technical violations
- Suspension: Temporary suspension of access pending investigation
- Termination: Permanent termination of access and license revocation
- Legal action: Civil litigation for damages, injunctive relief, or breach of contract
- Law enforcement referral: Reporting to appropriate law enforcement agencies for criminal violations
Serious violations - including harassment, stalking, unauthorized surveillance, and discrimination - will result in immediate termination without warning.
8. Updates
We may update this AUP at any time. Material changes will be communicated via email. Continued use of the platform after updates constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.
This Acceptable Use Policy is incorporated by reference into the Terms of Service. Questions about this policy should be directed to legal@detailedindesign.com.