Language
Javascript
Tool Type
Algorithm
License
European Union Public Licence (EUPL) v1.2
Version
7.0.0
Open Terms Archive
The Open Terms Archive is a crucial tool for activists, journalists, and regulators seeking to influence digital platforms’ policies, which determine what citizens can say, how purchases are made, and where their data is processed. It enables deep, ongoing analysis of terms of service, privacy policies, and community standards—complex, evolving documents that define how platforms handle people’s data and set business practices. By providing easy and transparent access to these rules and tracking their changes over time, Open Terms Archive makes these conditions more understandable and helps ensure that platforms operate fairly and responsibly, that laws are enforced, values upheld, and our interests protected in the digital space.
Open Terms Archive solves the problem of opacity in online platforms' policies and terms of service. It facilitates a clear understanding of these complex and changing rules, allowing activists and regulators to advocate for more equitable and responsible platform governance.
Snapshot Recording captures multiple daily snapshots of online documents containing service terms; Document Processing selects relevant sections, removes insignificant content, and filters out noise; Decentralized Tracking enables independent tracking of terms for various collections through a federated system of public instances; Customizable Filtering uses customizable JavaScript filters for tailored analysis; Unified Data Format standardizes data into a single format for interoperability and collaborative analysis; Cross-platform Compatibility runs across UNIX, macOS, and Windows.
Built in Node.js, it leverages its ecosystem for efficient integration. Facilitates installation through an NPM module, simplifying deployment. Utilizes JSON files for term declaration, ensuring an open and standardized data format. Supports environment variables for advanced features like notifications and API. Uses MongoDB for data storage, ensuring compatibility with UNIX, macOS, and Windows systems. Provides a web API with OpenAPI specifications and a JavaScript API for integration.
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The image shows the "Open Terms Archive" process in four steps: 1. Focus on contractual documents. 2. Daily tracking by robots. 3. Change analysis for analysts. 4. Dissemination of versions for research.
This image shows a website header advocating for transparency in Big Tech's terms of service. Open Terms Archive tracks and provides access to these terms for oversight.
This image displays a section of a webpage describing "Datasets" from the Open Terms Archive, categorized into 'Generative AI', 'Platform Governance Archive', and 'P2B Compliance'.
Public archive that records each version of the digital terms of services to allow democratic oversight.
Official list of open source tools endorsed by the Digital Public Goods Alliance. This tool is part of this registry.
Article that presents the global alliance to promote digital public goods and its relationship with the IDB.