Terms of Service

1. Agreement and Acceptance

These Terms of Service ("Terms") constitute a binding legal agreement between you ("User", "you", or "your") and ZKyNet ("Company", "we", "us", or "our") regarding your use of the ZKyNet MVP VPN service ("Service"). By accessing or using our Service, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy.

If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not access or use our Service. You must be at least 18 years of age or the age of majority in your jurisdiction to use our Service.

2. Service Description

ZKyNet MVP VPN is a Virtual Private Network service that provides:

• Encrypted internet traffic routing through our secure servers
• IP address masking to protect your online identity
• Support for custom VPN configurations
• WireGuard and AmneziaWG protocol support
• Cross-platform compatibility (Android, with other platforms in development)

Important Notice: This is our MVP (Minimum Viable Product) VPN service. It is separate from our future ZKyNet privacy infrastructure technology, which will feature zero-knowledge proofs and decentralized abuse mitigation. This MVP service operates under different privacy and logging policies as outlined in Section 6.

3. User Eligibility and Account

3.1 Eligibility Requirements

• You must be at least 18 years of age or the age of majority in your jurisdiction
• You must have the legal capacity to enter into binding agreements
• You must not be located in a jurisdiction where VPN use is prohibited
• Your use must comply with all applicable Canadian and local laws

3.2 Account Security

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activities that occur under your account. You must immediately notify us of any unauthorized use of your account or any other breach of security.

4. Acceptable Use Policy

4.1 Permitted Uses

You may use our Service for lawful purposes, including but not limited to:

• Protecting your privacy and security online
• Bypassing geographical restrictions for legal content
• Securing your connection on public Wi-Fi networks
• Testing and development purposes (with custom configurations)

4.2 Prohibited Activities

You agree NOT to use our Service for any of the following activities:

• Illegal Activities: Any activity that violates Canadian federal, provincial, or local laws, or the laws of your jurisdiction
• Spam and Unsolicited Communications: Sending spam, bulk emails, or unsolicited communications
• Malicious Content: Distributing malware, viruses, or any harmful code
• Intellectual Property Infringement: Infringing copyrights, trademarks, or other intellectual property rights
• Unauthorized Access: Attempting to access, probe, or connect to computing devices without proper authorization
• Network Abuse: Activities that disrupt or interfere with networks, servers, or other users' enjoyment of the Service
• Harassment and Hate Speech: Harassing, threatening, or promoting hate speech against individuals or groups
• Fraud and Deception: Engaging in fraudulent activities or misrepresenting your identity
• Reselling: Reselling or redistributing access to our Service without explicit written permission

5. Abuse Prevention and Investigation

5.1 Monitoring and Investigation

While we respect user privacy, we reserve the right to investigate violations of these Terms and take appropriate action, including:

• Monitoring connection patterns for abuse detection
• Temporarily retaining minimal connection logs as described in Section 6
• Cooperating with law enforcement when legally required
• Suspending or terminating accounts that violate these Terms

5.2 Enforcement Actions

If we determine that you have violated these Terms, we may take one or more of the following actions:

• Issue a warning
• Temporarily suspend your access
• Permanently terminate your account
• Report illegal activities to appropriate authorities
• Take legal action to recover damages

6. Privacy and Data Handling

6.1 MVP Logging Policy

Important: Our MVP VPN service temporarily retains minimal connection logs for abuse mitigation purposes. This differs from our future ZKyNet technology, which will implement zero-knowledge proof-based abuse prevention without centralized logging.

What We Temporarily Log:

• User ID (anonymized identifier)
• Connection timestamp (start and end times)
• Data transfer amounts (for bandwidth management)
• Server location connected to

What We DO NOT Log:

• Your real IP address (beyond connection establishment)
• Websites you visit or traffic content
• DNS queries while connected
• Browsing history or online activities
• Files downloaded or uploaded

6.2 Data Retention and Deletion

Connection logs are automatically deleted within 15 minutes of disconnection. Account information is deleted within 30 days of account cancellation or upon user request, whichever comes first.

6.3 PIPEDA Compliance

Our data handling practices comply with Canada's Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). We:

• Only collect personal information necessary for service provision
• Obtain consent for data collection and use
• Implement appropriate security safeguards
• Provide access to personal information upon request
• Allow users to challenge accuracy and request corrections

7. Service Availability and Performance

7.1 Service Availability

We strive to provide reliable service but do not guarantee 100% uptime. Our Service may be temporarily unavailable due to maintenance, technical issues, or circumstances beyond our control.

7.2 Performance Expectations

Internet speeds through our VPN will typically be slower than your direct connection. Factors affecting performance include server load, distance to servers, and your ISP's infrastructure.

7.3 Fair Use Policy

We implement fair use policies to ensure service quality for all users. Excessive bandwidth usage that impacts other users may result in temporary speed limitations or account suspension.

8. Limitation of Liability

8.1 Service Disclaimers

Our Service is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind. We disclaim all warranties, express or implied, including but not limited to:

• Uninterrupted or error-free service operation
• Complete security or privacy protection
• Compatibility with all devices or networks
• Specific performance levels or speeds

8.2 Limitation of Damages

To the maximum extent permitted by Canadian law, our total liability for any claims arising from or relating to our Service shall not exceed the amount you paid for the Service in the 12 months preceding the claim. We shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages.

8.3 User Responsibility

You are solely responsible for your use of the Service and any consequences arising from such use. We are not responsible for any illegal activities conducted by users or for any damages resulting from such activities.

9. Jurisdiction and Dispute Resolution

9.1 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of Canada and the Province of Ontario, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any legal action or proceeding arising under these Terms will be brought exclusively in the federal or provincial courts located in Ontario, Canada.

9.2 Dispute Resolution Process

Before initiating legal proceedings, we encourage you to contact us directly to resolve any disputes. If informal resolution is unsuccessful, disputes will be resolved through binding arbitration under the rules of the ADR Institute of Canada.

10. Account Termination

10.1 Termination by User

You may terminate your account at any time by contacting our support team. Upon termination, your access will be immediately revoked, and your account data will be deleted within 30 days as outlined in our privacy policy.

10.2 Termination by ZKyNet

We may suspend or terminate your account immediately if you violate these Terms, engage in prohibited activities, or for other legitimate business reasons. We will provide notice when reasonably possible.

10.3 Effect of Termination

Upon termination, your right to use the Service immediately ceases. Sections of these Terms that by their nature should survive termination (including liability limitations and dispute resolution) will remain in effect.

11. Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in our Service, legal requirements, or business practices. We will notify users of material changes by email or through our website at least 30 days before the changes take effect.

Continued use of our Service after the effective date of changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms. If you do not agree to the changes, you must stop using our Service and may terminate your account.

12. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms or our Service, please contact us:

Privacy Complaints

If your privacy concerns are not addressed to your satisfaction, you may contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada: