4.1 Acceptable Use Policies - Misinformation and Disinformation
Updated 17 October 2025
This document outlines a policy regarding misinformation and disinformation for an online platform, likely GitHub or a similar community-driven site. It prohibits content that distorts reality, whether inaccurate or intentionally deceptive, if it's likely to cause public harm or interfere with fair societal participation. The policy provides examples of prohibited content and clarifies considerations for parody, satire, and context.
Misinformation and Disinformation
This document is taken from the GitHub website - more information about GitHub and its functions can be found at https://github.com/. Please note that many of the included provisions are designed for GitHub or similar site (such as for building and developing software with online communities), so they are not relevant to all types of business.
You can amend this document to be suitable for your own Community and purposes using the smart fields and customizing the bracketed sections. We recommend adding hyperlinks to your own policies and website pages - make sure your business has in place all the policies referred to here.
Please find the other specific GitHub Acceptable Use Policies in this 'GitHub Site Policies for Startups' repository.
You may not post content that presents a distorted view of reality, whether it is inaccurate or false (misinformation) or is intentionally deceptive (disinformation), where such content is likely to result in harm to the public or to interfere with fair and equal opportunities for all to take part in a free and open society. This may include:
Inaccurate or scientifically unsupported medical claims that endanger public health or safety
Manipulated media, whether audio or visual, likely to mislead or deceive in a way that may harm the public interest
False or misleading content likely to interfere with an individual's ability to participate in civic activities
Unsubstantiated claims that could promote hate or targeted harassment of specific groups of people
We encourage active participation in the expression of ideas, perspectives, and experiences and may not be in a position to dispute personal accounts or observations. We generally allow parody and satire that is in line with our Acceptable Use Polices, and we consider context to be important in how information is received and understood. When reviewing content under this policy, [company name] will consider the impact of various factors that may help to orient the viewer, such as whether the content has been provided with clear disclaimers, citations to credible sources, or includes other details that clarify the accuracy of the information being shared.
Synthetic & Manipulated Media Tools
[company name] does not allow any projects that are designed for, encourage, promote, support, or suggest in any way the use of synthetic or manipulated media for the creation of non-consensual intimate imagery or any content that would constitute misinformation or disinformation under this policy.
About this template
What is this template?
4.1 Acceptable Use Policies - Misinformation and Disinformation is a free, ready-to-use Commercial law template you can open, customize, and download on GitLaw. It gives you a professionally structured starting point, so you never have to draft from a blank page. The wording is plain and modern, organized into clear sections that are easy to read, edit, and adapt to your own situation before you share or sign it.
When should you use it?
Reach for this Commercial law template whenever you need a reliable agreement quickly and want to be sure the essentials are covered. It suits individuals, freelancers, startups, and established businesses alike. Instead of paying for a document drafted from scratch, you can start here, tailor the details to your arrangement, and have a polished draft ready in minutes. This version is drafted with United States of America in mind, though you should always review the final wording against the laws that apply to you.
What's typically included?
A well-drafted Commercial law usually sets out the parties involved, the scope of the agreement, and each side's rights and responsibilities. Expect sections covering key terms and definitions, how long the agreement lasts, how it can be ended, and what happens if something goes wrong. This template brings those building blocks together in a sensible order, so you can focus on the specifics rather than worrying about what to include. Open it to read the full document, then sign up to edit, negotiate, and e-sign it directly in GitLaw.