Acceptable Use Policy

This policy defines what you may not do with the hosted Lurker service. It is part of the Terms of Service, and breaking it is grounds for immediate suspension or termination.

1.0Purpose

Lurker carries your traffic onto independent IRC networks. To keep the service — and the networks we connect to — usable and in good standing, every account must follow this policy. We enforce it strictly; the standard for action is our reasonable judgment.

2.0Comply with every network you use

You are a guest on the IRC networks you connect to through Lurker. You must read and follow the rules, terms, and operator instructions of each network. Conduct that gets you banned from a network, or that a network reports to us, is a violation of this policy as well.

3.0Prohibited content and conduct

You may not use Lurker to create, store, send, or solicit any of the following:

• Anything illegal under applicable law, or that facilitates illegal activity.
• Child sexual abuse material (CSAM) or the sexualization of minors, in any form. This is a zero-tolerance category and will be reported to the appropriate authorities.
• Threats, harassment, stalking, doxxing, or incitement of violence against any person.
• Spam, flooding, mass-messaging, or other unsolicited bulk activity.
• Malware, phishing, or links and payloads intended to compromise others.
• Content that infringes intellectual-property or privacy rights.

4.0No attacks or abuse of infrastructure

You may not use Lurker to attack, disrupt, overload, or gain unauthorized access to any system, network, or account — whether the target is an IRC network, another user, a third party, or Lurker itself. This includes denial-of-service activity, ban evasion, unauthorized scanning or probing, and circumventing any network's access controls or user limits.

5.0Automation and fair use

Bots and automation are permitted only where the destination network allows them and only in a way that respects that network's rules and rate limits. You may not use Lurker in a way that places an unreasonable load on the service or degrades it for other users.

6.0Integrity and security

Do not probe, scan, or test the security of Lurker's own infrastructure except under a program we explicitly authorize. Do not impersonate Lurker or its operator. If you discover a vulnerability, report it responsibly to the contact below and give us a reasonable chance to fix it before disclosure.

7.0Enforcement

When we become aware of a violation we may, at our discretion and with or without prior notice: remove or disable access to content; suspend or terminate the account; cooperate with affected networks; and report unlawful activity to law enforcement. For severe violations — CSAM, credible threats, or active attacks — we will act immediately and may preserve relevant records. We may act on our own observation or on a report from a network or third party.

8.0Reporting abuse

To report a violation of this policy, contact abuse@lurker.chat. We review reports promptly.

9.0Changes

We may update this policy as the service and the networks we connect to evolve. The effective date above reflects the current version.