Legal

Acceptable Use Policy

Last updated: 6 June 2026

This is a plain-language legal document written for clarity. It does not constitute legal advice. Defined terms are used consistently across our legal pages.

This Acceptable Use Policy ("AUP") sets the rules for using the GeoQ Service. It is incorporated into the Terms of Service. These rules exist because IP signals are powerful and easy to misuse — and because we said we'd be honest about their limits.

1. No sole-basis automated decisions about individuals

You must not use GeoQ output as the sole basis of an automated decision that produces legal effects concerning an individual, or that similarly significantly affects them (consistent with Article 22 GDPR). GeoQ signals are probabilistic and must be one input among several, with meaningful human involvement available for consequential decisions about people. Prefer step-up verification over silent denial.

2. No re-identification

You must not attempt to use GeoQ output to identify, single out, track or de-anonymise a specific individual, or to combine it with other data for that purpose. GeoQ describes networks, not named people, and must not be used to undo that.

3. No bulk resale or redistribution of GeoQ data

You must not resell, sublicense, scrape, cache for redistribution, or otherwise make available in bulk the GeoQ data or any derived dataset as a standalone product or feed. You may use the output within your own application to serve your own users.

4. No unlawful or discriminatory use

You must not use the Service:

for any unlawful purpose, or to facilitate unlawful activity;
to discriminate against individuals or groups on the basis of protected characteristics, or as a proxy for such discrimination (e.g. using geolocation to target a protected group);
to harass, stalk, surveil or endanger any person;
in any way that infringes the rights of others.

5. Preserve attribution

Where attribution is required (including on the Free tier and as required by third-party data licences such as DB-IP under CC BY 4.0), you must preserve and display the required attribution as described on our Attributions page. You must not remove, obscure or falsify attribution or licensing notices.

6. Respect the limits of the signals

You acknowledge that signals are probabilistic and that residential-proxy and bot detection are beta. You must not represent GeoQ output to your own users or third parties as definitive fact, nor make claims of certainty the data does not support.

7. No abuse of the Service

You must not attempt to circumvent quotas or rate limits, share API keys to exceed plan limits, probe or attack the Service, or interfere with other customers' use.

8. Enforcement

We may investigate suspected violations and may suspend or terminate access for breach of this AUP, with or without notice depending on severity. Serious or unlawful misuse may be reported to the relevant authorities.

9. Questions

If you're unsure whether a use case is acceptable — especially anything that affects individuals — ask us first: support@geoq.io.