Acceptable Use Policy

While Free Geek works to encourage creativity and free speech within our walls and on our networks, we also understand that, in order to keep a communications system that's safe and comfortable to use, and therefore encourages community, we need guidelines concerning the acceptable use of our networks.

The following behaviors are not acceptable, and will warrant disciplinary measures:

• Using our network for malicious or illegal purposes, including but not limited to:
  • Breaking into our network or others' networks with malicious intent
  • Flaming or threatening emails to staff, volunteers, or our lists
  • Illegal activities
  • Sending spam and/or threats to FG email accounts (that may happen to be lists)
  • Sending spam from our network, via email, chat room, irc, or other protocols
  • Using our computers to deface web sites (e.g. wikipedia)
• Accessing material considered by the Free Geek community to be inappropriate at Free Geek, including but not limited to:
  • Browsing porn sites (and/or printing them)

The above policy was adopted by the Staff HR Committee on April 21, 2006, and stands as policy unless altered by Staff or Council. (It is largely the same as the tentative policy in place here since November 11, 2005.)

Procedure

If a person has violated the above policy, we will take appropriate actions, including, but not limited to:

• Perpetrators of illegal activities will be turned over to the appropriate officials.
• Our Volunteer Discipline Policy will be used as a guide.
• Email moderation will be used as needed, as will expulsion from email lists. Our Netiquette at Free Geek page gives guidelines for appropriate email list use, and should be referenced as needed.

If an offense isn't very serious or extreme, we will work to talk to the offender about the Acceptable Use Policy, what is and isn't allowed and why.