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Borough

Terms of Service & Privacy Policy

Effective Date: January 1, 2026 Last Updated: April 1, 2026

 

Legal Notice: This document constitutes a binding legal agreement. Borough recommends that all Government Partners have this agreement reviewed by qualified legal counsel prior to execution. This draft is provided for reference purposes and is not a substitute for professional legal advice.

 

PART I: TERMS OF SERVICE

1. End User License Agreement (EULA), Platform Acceptance & App Store Notices

1.0 Custom EULA — Apple App Store & Google Play Store

For Apple App Store Users: This Terms of Service constitutes a Custom End User License Agreement ("Custom EULA") between you and Ankita Enterprises LLC (operating as Borough) for the Borough iOS application. This Custom EULA expressly supersedes and replaces Apple's Standard Licensed Application End User License Agreement in its entirety. Apple is not a party to this Custom EULA and has no obligation whatsoever to furnish any maintenance or support services with respect to the Borough app. Apple is not responsible for any product warranties, product claims, consumer protection or privacy compliance, intellectual property infringement, or legal compliance obligations related to the Borough app — all of which are the sole responsibility of Ankita Enterprises LLC.

You acknowledge that:

  • Your license to use the Borough iOS app is granted by Ankita Enterprises LLC, not Apple;

  • Apple and its subsidiaries are third-party beneficiaries of this Custom EULA solely with respect to Apple's right to enforce it against you; and

  • Apple has no obligation to provide any support, maintenance, or warranty for the Borough app.

For Google Play Store Users: This Terms of Service constitutes the binding End User License Agreement ("EULA")governing your use of the Borough Android application. Google Play's Developer Distribution Agreement governs the distribution relationship between Borough and Google; it does not govern the relationship between Borough and you as a user. Your rights and obligations as a Borough user are exclusively governed by this Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. By downloading or using the Borough app from Google Play, you agree to be bound by this EULA in addition to Google Play's own Terms of Service.

1.1 Device Diagnostic Data Consent

By using the Borough app on any device, you consent to Borough and its service providers collecting technical and diagnostic data from your device — including device type, operating system version, app version, crash logs, performance data, and related diagnostic information ("Diagnostic Data") — for the purposes of:

  • Providing software updates and product support;

  • Diagnosing and resolving technical issues;

  • Improving Platform performance and stability; and

  • Analyzing aggregate usage patterns to enhance Borough features.

Diagnostic Data is collected in a form that does not personally identify you wherever possible. Where Diagnostic Data is linked to your account, it is handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy (Part II). You may limit Diagnostic Data collection by adjusting your device's analytics sharing settings, though doing so may affect Borough's ability to diagnose and resolve issues affecting your experience.

1.2 Age-Appropriate Experiences — Google Play (Age Signals)

In compliance with Google Play's Age Signals policy (effective January 1, 2026), Borough uses age signal data provided by the Google Play platform solely to deliver age-appropriate experiences within the Borough app. Borough does not use Age Signals data for any purpose beyond tailoring in-app content and features to be appropriate for the user's age group. Borough does not share Age Signals data with third parties. Users identified as minors receive the protections described in Section 14 of the Privacy Policy (Part II) and are subject to the minor user restrictions described in Section 2.1 of these Terms.

1.3 Public Benefit Purpose & Government Endorsement Disclaimer

Borough is a civic technology platform operated for public benefit.

Borough's mission is to strengthen communities by improving the flow of information between residents, local governments, and civic institutions. The Platform is designed to support civic engagement, neighborhood transparency, and access to local government information as a public good.

However, Borough is an independent, privately operated platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or acting on behalf of any government entity, municipality, county, special district, or public agency unless that entity has executed a formal Government Partner Agreement with Ankita Enterprises LLC.

Users acknowledge and agree that:

  • The presence of Borough in a community does not indicate that any government entity has approved, reviewed, endorsed, or adopted the Platform;

  • Content published on the Platform — including TownHall publications, neighborhood posts, service request information, and civic summaries — does not represent the official position, policy, or communication of any government entity unless explicitly published by a verified Government Partner account;

  • Borough's use of public government meeting recordings, public records, and publicly available civic information for TownHall and related features does not constitute a government partnership, affiliation, or endorsement;

  • Government logos, seals, official names, or other government identifiers displayed on the Platform in connection with TownHall content are used solely for informational attribution purposes and do not imply any government endorsement of Borough or Ankita Enterprises LLC; and

  • Residents should always verify important civic information through official government websites, direct contact with their municipality, or other authoritative government sources.

Verified Government Partners: Communities where a local government has executed a Government Partner Agreement with Borough are clearly designated within the app with a verified government partner badge. Only verified Government Partner accounts may publish content on behalf of a government entity. All other civic content is community-sourced and independent.

If you are a government official interested in becoming a verified Government Partner, please contact yuvraj@boroughusa.com.

1.4 About Borough & Acceptance of Terms

Borough ("Borough," "we," "us," or "our") is a civic technology platform that connects residents, local governments, elected officials, and community organizations to improve neighborhoods and streamline public services. By accessing or using the Borough platform — including its mobile applications, web interfaces, APIs, and related services (collectively, the "Platform") — you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms").

These Terms apply to all users of the Platform, including:

  • Residents – individual members of the public who register for a personal account;

  • Government Users – employees, contractors, or agents of a municipality, county, special district, or other government entity authorized to use Borough on behalf of that entity;

  • Government Partners – the government entities themselves that have entered into a separate Government Partner Agreement with Borough;

  • Elected Officials – officeholders or candidates using the Platform in their official or campaign capacity; and

  • Businesses – commercial entities or organizations using Borough for community engagement.

If you are registering on behalf of a Government Partner or Business, you represent that you have authority to bind that entity to these Terms.

If you do not agree to these Terms, do not access or use the Platform.

2. Eligibility & Account Registration

2.1 Age Requirements

The Platform is intended for users aged 18 and older. Users between the ages of 13 and 17 may only use the Platform with verifiable parental or guardian consent and under their supervision. Borough does not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 in accordance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

2.2 Resident Account Registration

Residents must provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration, including a verifiable residential address. Borough uses address verification methods to confirm residency within a participating community. You may not:

  • Create an account using a false identity or another person's information;

  • Maintain more than one active personal account;

  • Use a P.O. Box or non-residential address as your primary address.

Borough reserves the right to verify residency at any time and to suspend accounts where verification cannot be confirmed, consistent with practices used by platforms such as Nextdoor.

2.3 Government User & Official Accounts

Government Users must be authorized by their Government Partner prior to accessing government-facing features. Elected Official accounts may be verified through official government email addresses, public records, or a manual verification process. Borough may display a verified badge on Official accounts.

2.4 Account Security

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account. You agree to notify us immediately at legal@boroughusa.org of any unauthorized use of your account.

3. Beta Program & Pre-Release Access

3.1 Beta Status

Borough is currently made available as a beta version of the Platform ("Beta"). By accessing the Beta, you acknowledge and agree that:

  • The Beta is a pre-release, incomplete version of the Platform provided for testing and feedback purposes;

  • The Beta may contain bugs, errors, incomplete features, data inaccuracies, and other issues that may affect performance, stability, or data integrity;

  • Features available in the Beta may be modified, removed, or replaced in future versions without notice;

  • Borough does not guarantee the availability, reliability, or continuity of any Beta feature; and

  • The Beta is not intended to be relied upon for emergency services, critical government communications, or time-sensitive civic matters. Always use official government channels for urgent needs.

3.2 No Warranty for Beta

THE BETA IS PROVIDED STRICTLY "AS IS" WITH NO WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND. BOROUGH EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE BETA, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ACCURACY, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. YOUR USE OF THE BETA IS ENTIRELY AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Borough is an early-stage startup and the Platform is actively being built, improved, and refined. You may encounter bugs, errors, incomplete features, or unexpected behavior. We ask for your patience and partnership as we grow. If you encounter any issue, please report it to legal@boroughusa.org or use the in-app "Report a Bug" feature. Your reports directly help us improve Borough for your community and every community we serve. We take every report seriously and will endeavor to acknowledge and address issues as promptly as our team's capacity allows.

We are grateful for every user who takes the time to help us build a better civic platform.

3.3 Beta Data & Stability

Borough does not guarantee that data entered, submitted, or created during the Beta — including service requests, posts, profile information, Borough Points, and Leaderboard rankings — will be preserved, migrated, or carried over to future production versions of the Platform. Borough may reset, wipe, or migrate Beta data at its discretion with reasonable notice where operationally feasible.

3.4 Government Partner Beta Access

Government Partners accessing GovDash during the Beta period acknowledge that:

  • Service request routing, analytics, and integrations may function inconsistently during Beta;

  • Borough does not guarantee SLA commitments during the Beta period unless separately agreed in writing;

  • Government Partners should not rely exclusively on Borough for public-facing service delivery during Beta; and

  • Any Government Partner Agreement entered during Beta is subject to updated terms upon general availability ("GA") launch.

3.5 Beta Feedback

By participating in the Beta, you grant Borough a perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, worldwide license to use any feedback, bug reports, feature suggestions, or other input you provide regarding the Beta ("Beta Feedback") for any purpose, including improving the Platform, without any obligation of compensation, attribution, or confidentiality to you. Borough is not obligated to act on any Beta Feedback.

3.6 Beta Distribution — Apple TestFlight & Google Play Beta

The Beta may be distributed via Apple TestFlight and/or the Google Play Beta Program. Use of these distribution platforms is additionally subject to:

  • Apple TestFlight: Apple's TestFlight Terms and Conditions, available at developer.apple.com/testflight. TestFlight builds expire after 90 days. Borough will endeavor to push timely updates to maintain Beta access.

  • Google Play Beta: Google Play's Developer Distribution Agreement and applicable Google Play policies.

In the event of any conflict between these Terms and TestFlight or Google Play Beta terms, the platform's terms govern with respect to the distribution mechanism, and Borough's Terms govern with respect to the Platform itself.

3.7 Beta Confidentiality

Certain features of the Beta may be designated as confidential pre-release features ("Confidential Beta Features"). Where Borough designates a feature as confidential, you agree not to publicly disclose, screenshot, record, or distribute information about that feature without Borough's prior written consent. Borough will clearly identify Confidential Beta Features within the app.

3.8 Transition to General Availability

Upon Borough's general availability ("GA") launch:

  • Updated Terms of Service and Privacy Policy will take effect with reasonable notice;

  • Beta users will be invited to transition to full production accounts; and

  • Borough Points and community data accumulated during Beta will be migrated to production accounts where technically feasible, at Borough's discretion.

Borough will provide Beta users with no less than 14 days' notice before transitioning to GA or sunsetting the Beta program.

4. The Platform & Services

3.1 Core Features

Borough provides, among other features:

  • Neighborhood Feed – a location-based community discussion board for sharing local information, recommendations, and neighborhood news;

  • Issue & Service Request Reporting – tools enabling residents to submit, track, and follow up on non-emergency service requests (e.g., potholes, graffiti, broken streetlights), similar to functionality offered by SeeClickFix and integrated with government work order systems;

  • Government Announcements & Alerts – a channel through which Government Partners and Elected Officials may publish official communications, emergency alerts, meeting notices, and public records, comparable to tools offered by Granicus GovDelivery;

  • Community Polls & Engagement Tools – surveys, Q&A sessions, and civic feedback tools;

  • Direct Messaging – private communication between users subject to these Terms; and

  • Business & Organization Pages – profiles for local businesses and community groups.

3.2 Government Partner Features

Government Partners accessing Borough's administrative dashboard ("GovDash") may additionally access:

  • Service request management and routing tools;

  • Analytics and reporting on community engagement and service delivery;

  • Mass notification and alert distribution tools;

  • Public records and open data publishing features; and

  • Integration with third-party government software systems (e.g., CRM, 311 systems, GIS).

Government Partner access is governed by a separate Government Partner Agreement, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference for Government Partners.

3.3 Service Modifications

Borough reserves the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of the Platform at any time, with reasonable notice to Government Partners where operationally feasible. We will endeavor to provide Government Partners with no less than 30 days' written notice of material changes to features relied upon for public service delivery.

4. User Conduct & Community Standards

4.1 General Standards

Borough is a civic platform built on the principle that civil, constructive dialogue strengthens communities. All users agree to:

  • Treat other community members with respect and dignity;

  • Post content that is accurate to the best of their knowledge;

  • Use the Platform only for lawful purposes; and

  • Comply with all applicable local, state, and federal laws.

4.2 Prohibited Content & Conduct

Users may not post, share, transmit, or facilitate content or behavior that:

  • Is defamatory, harassing, threatening, or constitutes hate speech targeting individuals or groups based on protected characteristics;

  • Is false, misleading, or constitutes deliberate disinformation about government services, public officials, elections, or public safety;

  • Infringes any third-party intellectual property, privacy, or publicity rights;

  • Contains spam, unsolicited commercial solicitations, or pyramid schemes;

  • Includes nudity, graphic violence, or sexually explicit material;

  • Impersonates any person, government agency, official, or organization;

  • Involves unauthorized data collection (e.g., scraping) of the Platform;

  • Attempts to circumvent Platform security, authentication, or access controls; or

  • Violates any applicable law or regulation, including the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.

4.3 Government User Standards

Government Users and Elected Officials additionally agree to:

  • Use Government accounts solely for official, authorized government communications;

  • Not use the Platform for partisan political campaigning using government account credentials;

  • Comply with all applicable open records, sunshine, and public communications laws in their jurisdiction; and

  • Ensure that public communications published via Borough comply with accessibility standards (e.g., ADA, Section 508).

4.5 Reporting, Moderation & User Safety Tools

Borough operates a robust content moderation system to maintain a safe, trustworthy civic community. In compliance with Apple App Store Guideline 1.2 and Google Play Developer Program Policies, the following moderation tools are available to all users:

Reporting Objectionable Content — Maximum 2 Taps: Any user may report content that violates these Terms or Borough's Community Guidelines directly from within the app in no more than two taps:

  • Tap the "..." (more options) menu on any post, comment, or profile; then

  • Tap "Report" and select the reason.

Reports are reviewed by Borough's moderation team. Borough commits to reviewing all reports promptly and removing content that violates these Terms.

Blocking Users: Any user may block another user at any time to prevent that user from viewing your profile or interacting with your content:

  • Navigate to the user's profile; then

  • Tap "Block User" from the profile options menu.

Blocked users cannot see your posts, comment on your content, or send you direct messages. Blocking is immediate and reversible at any time through Settings > Privacy > Blocked Users.

Age Rating — 13+: Borough is rated 13+ on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Users under 13 are not permitted to use the Platform. Users aged 13–17 require parental or guardian consent as described in Section 2.1. Borough has completed Apple's updated age rating questionnaire in compliance with the July 2025 age rating requirements.

Moderation Escalation: For urgent content concerns — including content involving minors, threats of violence, or public safety matters — contact Borough immediately at legal@boroughusa.org. Borough treats these reports with highest priority.

4.6 AI Transparency & Third-Party AI Services

In compliance with Apple's AI Transparency Guidelines (effective November 13, 2025):

Borough uses artificial intelligence in the following ways within the Platform:

AI UsePersonal Data InvolvedThird-Party AI Service

TownHall clip selection & summarizationNo — operates on public government recordings onlyMay use third-party AI services; no personal user data shared

Content moderation & spam detectionMinimal — content flagging only, not linked to identityMay use third-party moderation services

Neighborhood feed personalizationYes — verified location and engagement dataNo personal data shared with third-party AI

Bug diagnosis & crash reportingAnonymized diagnostic data onlyThird-party crash reporting services (see SDK list)

Borough's AI Commitment:

  • Borough does not share your personally identifiable information with third-party AI services for training purposes;

  • Where third-party AI services process any Borough data, they are contractually bound to data protection standards equivalent to this Privacy Policy;

  • Borough will seek explicit user consent before introducing any AI use case that involves sharing personal data with third-party services beyond those disclosed above; and

  • This AI disclosure will be updated with each material change to Borough's AI practices, with 30 days' advance notice to users.

4.7 Account Deletion — In-App Path

In compliance with Apple App Store and Google Play requirements, users may initiate full account deletion directly within the Borough app at any time without contacting support:

To delete your account:

  1. Open Borough app

  2. Go to Settings

  3. Tap Account

  4. Tap Delete Account

  5. Confirm deletion

Account deletion permanently removes your profile, posts, Borough Points, and personal data within 30 days, subject to legal retention obligations described in Privacy Policy Section 10. This action is irreversible. You may also request account deletion by emailing legal@boroughusa.org as an alternative path.

Borough operates a community engagement points system ("Borough Points") to recognize and reward active, constructive civic participation.

How Points Are Earned: Users earn Borough Points for actions including posting to the neighborhood feed, submitting service requests, commenting on TownHall publications, participating in community polls, attending virtual civic events, and other Platform engagement activities. Borough reserves the right to adjust point values and earning criteria at any time.

Public Visibility of Points: Your Borough Points total is publicly visible to all verified members of your community. By creating a Borough account and participating in the Platform, you acknowledge and consent to your Points total being displayed on your public profile. Points reflect civic engagement activity only and do not disclose the specific content of your private messages or service requests.

Community Leaderboard: The top 5 most civically engaged residents in each neighborhood — ranked by Borough Points — are featured on the Borough Community Leaderboard ("Leaderboard"). The Leaderboard is visible to all verified members of your community. Your display name and Points total will appear on the Leaderboard if you rank in the top 5 of your neighborhood. Leaderboard placement is a public feature of the Platform and is visible to all verified community members as a standard condition of participation.

Onboarding Consent Disclosure: During account registration, Borough displays the following disclosure which all users must acknowledge before completing signup:

🏛️ Welcome to Borough — A Few Things to Know

Borough is a civic community platform. Before you join, please note:

✅ Your Borough Points — earned through civic participation — are visible to all verified members of your neighborhood.

🏆 If you rank in the Top 5 of your neighborhood, your display name and Points total will be featured on the public Community Leaderboard.

🔒 Your private messages and service request details are never publicly visible.

By tapping "Finish" you acknowledge and agree to these community features as described in our [Terms of Service] and [Privacy Policy].

[Finish] [Review Terms]

Fair Play: Borough Points are intended to reflect genuine civic engagement. Any attempt to artificially inflate Points — including through coordinated inauthentic activity, spam, duplicate accounts, or abuse of engagement features — constitutes a violation of these Terms and may result in Points forfeiture, account suspension, or permanent ban.

Borough reserves the right to adjust, reset, or remove Points or Leaderboard standings at its sole discretion in cases of abuse, technical error, or Platform policy changes.

4.5 Reporting & Moderation

Borough employs a combination of automated tools and human review to moderate content. Users may report content that violates these Terms using in-app reporting tools. Borough reserves the right — but not the obligation — to remove content, warn users, suspend accounts, or permanently ban users who violate these Terms, consistent with moderation practices described in our Community Guidelines [link].

Borough is not liable for content posted by users but will respond to valid legal takedown requests as described in Section 9.

5. Content & Intellectual Property

5.1 Your Content

You retain ownership of content you post to the Platform ("User Content"). By posting User Content, you grant Borough a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, sublicensable license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, distribute, and display your User Content in connection with operating and promoting the Platform.

This license terminates when you delete your User Content or account, except to the extent your content has been shared with others who have not deleted it, or as required by law.

5.2 Government Content

Government Partners and Government Users acknowledge that communications and records published through Borough may constitute public records subject to applicable public records laws (e.g., FOIA, state sunshine laws). Government Partners are solely responsible for ensuring compliance with records retention obligations. Borough may provide data export tools to assist Government Partners in meeting these obligations.

5.3 Borough Content

The Borough Platform, including its software, design, trademarks, logos, and proprietary technology, is owned by Borough or its licensors and protected by applicable intellectual property laws. Nothing in these Terms grants you a right to use Borough's trademarks, logos, or proprietary technology outside of normal Platform use.

5.4 Feedback

If you submit feedback, suggestions, or ideas about Borough, you grant us a perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free license to use that feedback without any obligation to you.

6. Service Requests & Government Integration

6.1 Non-Emergency Services Only

The issue and service request reporting feature is intended for non-emergency matters only. Borough is not a substitute for emergency services. For emergencies, users must contact 911 or their local emergency services.

6.2 Government Responsibility for Service Requests

Borough facilitates the submission and routing of service requests to Government Partners but does not guarantee response times, resolution outcomes, or government action on any submitted request. Government Partners are solely responsible for reviewing, prioritizing, and responding to service requests in accordance with their own policies and applicable law.

6.3 Third-Party Integrations

Borough may integrate with third-party government platforms (e.g., 311 systems, GIS mapping tools, CRM systems). Borough is not responsible for the performance, data practices, or availability of third-party systems. Use of third-party integrations may be subject to additional terms imposed by those providers.

7. Privacy

Your privacy is important to us. Our collection, use, and sharing of your personal information is governed by the Borough Privacy Policy (Part II of this document), which is incorporated into these Terms by reference.

8. Platform Tiers, Advertising & Business Marketplace

8.1 Platform Tiers

Borough offers the Platform across two primary tiers:

Government Partner Communities ("Premium"): In communities where a local government has executed a Government Partner Agreement with Borough, residents access a fully government-integrated experience including verified civic data, official government alerts, real-time service request routing, and an enhanced, reduced-advertising experience as negotiated in the applicable Government Partner Agreement.

Freemium Communities: In communities where no Government Partner Agreement is in active effect, residents access Borough's Freemium tier at no charge. The Freemium tier may be supported in part by regional advertising and local business promotions as described in this Section. By using the Freemium tier, you acknowledge and agree that you may be shown regionally relevant advertisements and promoted local business content in the future.

8.2 Advertising — Current Status & Future Intent

Borough does not currently run advertising on the Platform.

Borough intends to introduce a regional advertising program in the future, limited to local and regional businesses relevant to your verified community. When and if advertising is introduced, Borough commits to the following principles:

  • Ads will be geographically targeted based on your verified neighborhood location only — never based on your personal browsing history, behavioral profile, or personal characteristics;

  • Borough will never sell your personal information to advertisers;

  • Borough will never share personally identifiable user data with advertisers for targeting purposes;

  • All paid content will be clearly labeled as "Sponsored," "Ad," or "Promoted" so it is always distinguishable from civic, community, and government content; and

  • Advertising will never appear alongside or be confused with official government communications from verified Government Partners.

8.3 Borough for Business — Coming Soon

Borough intends to launch a Local Business Verification and Marketplace Program ("Borough for Business") in a future release. This program will enable local and regional businesses to establish verified profiles, promote their services to nearby residents, and engage with their local community through the Platform.

Government Partner Communities & Local Business: Government Partner communities may, at the discretion of the applicable Government Partner, choose to enable local and regional business features within their Borough community. Where enabled by a Government Partner, residents of that community may see promoted content from verified local businesses operating within their area. Any such business features within Government Partner communities:

  • Are enabled only with the explicit consent and configuration of the applicable Government Partner;

  • Are limited to local and regional businesses relevant to that community;

  • Are always clearly labeled as promoted or sponsored content;

  • Are strictly separated from all official government communications, civic data, and TownHall content; and

  • May contribute to sustaining Borough's civic platform in that community.

Borough believes that connecting residents with their local economy — alongside their local government — strengthens communities. Local business visibility on Borough is designed to complement, not commercialize, the civic experience.

Borough for Business and any associated Government Partner business features are not currently available. When launched, additional terms will be published at boroughusa.com/business-terms and incorporated into these Terms by reference.

For early interest or inquiries, contact yuvraj@boroughusa.com.

8.4 Borough's Evolving Business Model

Borough is a growing civic platform. You acknowledge and agree that:

  • Borough's monetization practices may evolve as the Platform grows;

  • Borough may introduce new revenue streams — including advertising, business promotions, and premium resident features — with 30 days' advance notice to users before implementation;

  • In Freemium communities, future advertising and business promotion revenue enables Borough to operate as a free civic resource for residents; and

  • Any evolution of Borough's business model will remain consistent with its civic mission and will not compromise the integrity of civic or government content on the Platform.

Borough's Permanent Commitments regardless of business model evolution:

  • Borough will never sell your personal information to any third party for any purpose;

  • Borough will never allow advertisers to access your personally identifiable information;

  • Borough will always clearly label paid and promoted content; and

  • Borough will always provide 30 days' notice of material changes to advertising or monetization practices.

8.5 Ad Preferences & Feedback

When advertising is introduced, Borough will provide residents with the ability to report ads that appear irrelevant, inappropriate, or misleading. Concerns about advertising practices may be directed to legal@boroughusa.org at any time.

8.1 Resident Accounts

Core resident features of Borough are provided at no charge. Borough may offer optional premium features or subscriptions in the future, at which point additional terms will apply.

8.2 Government Partner Fees

Government Partner access to GovDash and administrative features is subject to subscription fees set forth in the applicable Government Partner Agreement. Fees are billed annually or as otherwise agreed. Government Partners may cancel as described in their Government Partner Agreement.

8.3 Taxes

Government Partners are responsible for all applicable taxes associated with their use of Borough, except where Borough is legally required to collect and remit such taxes.

9. Civic Journalism, Public Records & Fair Use

9.1 Borough as a Civic Journalism Platform

Borough operates as a civic journalism platform. A core feature of the Platform — TownHall — involves the creation of curated short-form news clips ("TownHall Clips") derived from publicly recorded government proceedings, including municipal meetings, town halls, public hearings, school board sessions, and other governmental sessions broadcast or published by public, educational, and governmental (PEG) access media channels and government entities ("Public Proceedings Content").

Each TownHall publication consists of multiple curated clips — typically 3 to 5 segments of 2 to 3 minutes each — selected from a single long-form government meeting recording to highlight the most newsworthy, relevant, or impactful moments for residents. The selection, sequencing, and editorial framing of TownHall Clips constitutes original civic journalism and editorial expression by Borough.

9.2 Fair Use Basis

Borough's use of Public Proceedings Content is undertaken in good faith as news reporting and civic journalism under the fair use doctrine (17 U.S.C. § 107). Borough's position is supported by the following factors:

  • Purpose: Borough uses Public Proceedings Content solely for non-commercial civic journalism and news reporting — the most protected category of fair use. Borough does not use such content for entertainment, advertising, or commercial exploitation.

  • Nature of Content: Government meeting recordings are factual public proceedings. Copyright protection afforded to factual content is among the thinnest recognized under U.S. copyright law.

  • Amount Used: Each TownHall publication uses 3 to 5 clips of 2 to 3 minutes each from a source recording that typically runs 1 to 4 hours in length. The total content used represents a small fraction of the original — selected editorially for newsworthiness — consistent with the minimum necessary to report meaningfully on matters of public interest.

  • Market Effect: Borough credits the original source on every TownHall publication, links to the full original recording where publicly accessible, and drives viewership back to the original content. Borough does not compete with or substitute for the original broadcast.

9.3 Attribution & Source Credit

Borough is committed to crediting original sources. Every TownHall publication will include:

  • The name of the originating PEG channel, government entity, or broadcaster;

  • A link or reference to the full original recording where publicly accessible; and

  • The date, meeting type, and jurisdiction of the underlying proceeding.

9.4 Media & Access Media Partnerships

Borough actively welcomes partnerships with media organizations, local news outlets, PEG access media channels, community broadcasters, journalism schools, and civic media nonprofits. Potential partnership arrangements may include, but are not limited to:

  • Content Licensing Agreements — formal arrangements granting Borough rights to use a media organization's public proceedings content in TownHall publications;

  • Co-Publishing Arrangements — collaborative production of TownHall content with a media partner's editorial involvement, branding, or byline;

  • Cross-Promotion — Borough driving traffic and viewership to a partner's full recordings, newsletters, or platforms in exchange for content access;

  • Data & Analytics Sharing — providing media partners with aggregated, anonymized community engagement data to support their editorial and grant-making activities; and

  • Student & Community Journalism Programs — partnerships with journalism schools and student news organizations to support civic reporting through the Borough platform.

Borough believes that local news organizations and civic platforms are stronger together. If you represent a media organization, PEG access channel, community broadcaster, or civic journalism initiative and are interested in exploring a collaboration or formal partnership with Borough, we'd love to hear from you. Please reach out to us at yuvraj@boroughusa.com to start the conversation.

9.5 No Endorsement

The use of Public Proceedings Content does not imply endorsement of Borough by any PEG channel, government entity, broadcaster, or public official featured in such content.

9.6 Takedown Requests from Content Owners

If you are a PEG channel, government entity, or content owner and believe Borough has used your content in a manner that exceeds fair use or that you wish to have removed, please contact us at legal@boroughusa.org. We will review all requests promptly and in good faith. Borough reserves the right to reinstate content we reasonably believe is protected by fair use following review.

9.7 User-Contributed Civic Journalism

Users who submit, post, or publish civic journalism content to the Platform — including reports on local government, community issues, or public proceedings — represent that:

  • Their content is factually accurate to the best of their knowledge;

  • They have not misrepresented their identity or affiliation in connection with their reporting; and

  • Their content does not defame any individual or make knowingly false statements of fact.

Borough supports student journalists and community reporters. Users publishing under a journalistic capacity are encouraged to identify themselves as such in their profile.

10. Copyright & DMCA

If you believe content on the Platform infringes your copyright, please send a written notice to Borough's Designated Copyright Agent:

Borough Copyright Agent [Address] Email: legal@boroughusa.org

Your notice must include the information required by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (17 U.S.C. § 512(c)(3)). Borough will process valid takedown notices in accordance with the DMCA.

10. Disclaimers & Limitation of Liability

10.1 "As Is" Service

THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. BOROUGH DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE PLATFORM WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS.

10.2 Government Service Delivery

BOROUGH DOES NOT GUARANTEE THAT SERVICE REQUESTS SUBMITTED THROUGH THE PLATFORM WILL BE ACTED UPON BY ANY GOVERNMENT ENTITY. BOROUGH IS A COMMUNICATION FACILITATOR AND IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR GOVERNMENT DECISIONS, ACTIONS, OR INACTIONS.

10.3 Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, BOROUGH'S TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ANY CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS OR THE PLATFORM SHALL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) THE FEES YOU PAID TO BOROUGH IN THE 12 MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM, OR (B) ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100). BOROUGH SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES.

Note for Government Partners: Liability terms as between Borough and Government Partners are governed by the Government Partner Agreement and may differ from the above.

10.4 Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Borough and its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from: (a) your use of the Platform; (b) your User Content; (c) your violation of these Terms; or (d) your violation of any third-party rights.

11. Termination

11.1 By You

Residents may delete their account at any time through the Platform settings. Government Partners may terminate their subscription as provided in their Government Partner Agreement.

11.2 By Borough

Borough may suspend or terminate your access to the Platform at any time, with or without notice, if we believe you have violated these Terms, for legal or regulatory reasons, or if we discontinue the Platform. Borough will endeavor to provide Government Partners with advance notice of termination except where immediate action is required.

11.3 Effect of Termination

Upon termination, your license to use the Platform ends. Sections 5, 9, 10, 12, and 13 survive termination.

12. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

12.1 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of [STATE], without regard to conflict of law principles.

12.2 Disputes with Residents

For disputes between Borough and individual residents, the parties agree to resolve disputes through binding individual arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) under its Consumer Arbitration Rules, except that either party may bring claims in small claims court. YOU WAIVE YOUR RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT OR CLASS-WIDE ARBITRATION.

12.3 Disputes with Government Partners

Disputes between Borough and Government Partners shall be resolved as set forth in the applicable Government Partner Agreement, which may include mediation, arbitration, or litigation as agreed upon by the parties.

12.4 Injunctive Relief

Nothing in this Section prevents either party from seeking injunctive or other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction to prevent irreparable harm.

13. General Provisions

  • Entire Agreement: These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and any applicable Government Partner Agreement, constitute the entire agreement between you and Borough regarding the Platform.

  • Severability: If any provision of these Terms is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in full force.

  • No Waiver: Borough's failure to enforce any provision of these Terms does not waive its right to do so in the future.

  • Assignment: You may not assign your rights under these Terms without Borough's consent. Borough may assign its rights freely.

  • Contact: Questions about these Terms may be directed to legal@boroughusa.org.

PART II: PRIVACY POLICY

 

Plain-Language Summary: Borough collects your information to help connect you with your local government and community. We verify your address to keep your neighborhood feed trustworthy. We do not sell your data. In communities where your local government has not yet partnered with Borough, you may see ads from local and regional businesses — targeted by your neighborhood location only, never by your personal data. Government Partner communities have reduced or no advertising. You can delete your account and your data at any time. For questions, contact legal@boroughusa.org.

 

1. Introduction & Scope

Ankita Enterprises LLC, operating as Borough ("Borough," "we," "us," "our"), is committed to protecting the privacy of all users of the Borough platform — residents, government staff, elected officials, and businesses. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, store, share, and protect your personal information when you use the Platform.

This Policy applies to:

  • The Borough mobile application (iOS and Android);

  • The Borough web platform at www.boroughusa.com;

  • The Borough GovDash administrative portal; and

  • Any APIs or integrations that reference this Policy.

This Policy is intended to comply with applicable privacy laws including the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA/CPRA), Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA), Colorado Privacy Act (CPA), Connecticut Data Privacy Act (CTDPA), and Apple App Store and Google Play Store privacy requirements. It is also informed by best practices from platforms including Nextdoor, Meta, Granicus, and SeeClickFix.

This Privacy Policy is accessible within the Borough app at all times and is also available at www.boroughusa.com/privacy.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

CategoryData TypesPurpose

Account InformationName, email address, password, phone numberAccount creation & authentication

Location & AddressHome address, neighborhood, ZIP codeResidency verification & local content delivery

Profile InformationProfile photo, bio, interests, neighborhood associationsPersonalization

User ContentPosts, comments, photos, service request submissions, messagesPlatform functionality

Government User InformationName, title, government email, department, jurisdictionGovernment access & verification

Support CommunicationsEmails or messages sent to BoroughCustomer support

Payment InformationBilling contact, purchase order details (Government Partners only)Subscription billing via PCI-compliant processors

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you use the Platform, we automatically collect:

  • Device Information: Device type, model, operating system version, browser type, and unique device identifiers (including device ID and advertising identifier where applicable);

  • Network Information: IP address, mobile carrier, and connection type;

  • Usage Data: Features used, pages viewed, search queries within the app, clicks, session duration, and crash/diagnostic data;

  • Precise Location: GPS-based location data, only if you explicitly grant location permission through your device settings. You may revoke this permission at any time in your device settings;

  • Approximate Location: Location inferred from IP address, used to deliver locally relevant content; and

  • Log Data: Access times, pages viewed, app activity logs, and error reports.

2.3 Information from Third Parties

  • Address Verification Services: Borough uses third-party address verification providers to confirm residency. Only verification status (confirmed/not confirmed) is retained after verification is complete; raw verification data is discarded;

  • Government Data Sources: Jurisdiction boundary data, public records, and GIS data from official government databases to power local features;

  • Single Sign-On (SSO): If you authenticate via a third-party identity provider (e.g., government SSO, Apple Sign-In), we receive only the information you authorize; and

  • Integration Partners: If your government entity connects a third-party service (e.g., a 311 system), we may receive data from that service as configured by the Government Partner.

2.4 Sensitive Information

Borough may collect the following categories of sensitive personal information solely as necessary to provide Platform functionality:

  • Precise geolocation (with your explicit consent);

  • Government-issued ID details (only where required for official account verification); and

  • Information about civic participation (e.g., service requests submitted, meeting attendance).

Borough does not collect sensitive information such as racial or ethnic origin, religious beliefs, health data, biometric data, sexual orientation, or financial account details for any purpose.

3. How We Use Your Information

Borough uses your personal information only for the following purposes:

PurposeLegal Basis

Provide and operate the PlatformPerformance of contract / legitimate interest

Verify residency and identityLegitimate interest (community trust & safety)

Deliver locally relevant content and TownHall publicationsLegitimate interest

Route service requests to Government PartnersPerformance of contract / user consent

Send service updates, government alerts, and Platform notificationsLegitimate interest / consent

Moderate content and enforce Terms of ServiceLegitimate interest

Improve and develop Platform featuresLegitimate interest

Aggregate and anonymize data for civic research and reportingLegitimate interest

Comply with legal obligationsLegal compliance

AI-assisted editorial selection for TownHall (see Section 11)Legitimate interest

Borough does not sell your personal information. Borough does not use your personal information for behavioral advertising targeting across third-party platforms. In Freemium communities, Borough may display regionally targeted advertisements and promoted local business content based solely on your verified community location — not on your personal browsing history, behavioral profile, or personal characteristics. Government Partner communities operate under reduced or no advertising as agreed in the applicable Government Partner Agreement. All advertising practices are described fully in Section 8 of the Terms of Service.

4. Data Minimization

Borough is committed to collecting only the minimum personal information necessary to provide the Platform. We do not collect data speculatively or in excess of what is needed for a stated purpose. This commitment reflects Apple App Store data minimization requirements and applicable privacy law principles.

If you choose not to provide certain information (e.g., precise location), you may still use core Platform features, though some location-dependent features may be unavailable.

5. How We Share Your Information

5.1 Within Your Community

Content you post to neighborhood feeds (posts, comments, photos) is visible to other verified members of your neighborhood or community, subject to your privacy settings. You control visibility of certain content types through your account settings.

Borough Points & Leaderboard: Your Borough Points total is publicly visible to all verified members of your community. If you rank in the top 5 of your neighborhood, your display name and Points total will appear on the Community Leaderboard as a standard condition of Platform participation. Leaderboard placement is a public feature of Borough and is disclosed to users at account creation. See Section 4.4 of the Terms of Service for full details.

5.2 With Government Partners

When you submit a service request or engage directly with a government feature, relevant information — including your name, contact information, address, and the substance of your request — is shared with the applicable Government Partner solely to facilitate a response. Government Partners:

  • May not use resident data for any purpose other than responding to service requests or official government communications;

  • May not share resident data with third parties for commercial purposes;

  • May not use Borough data to surveil residents or monitor individual resident activity beyond the scope of a submitted request; and

  • Are contractually bound by Borough's Government Partner Data Processing Agreement.

Borough does not allow Government Partners to see a resident's general browsing activity, reading history, or content engagement on the Platform.

5.3 Service Providers & Third-Party SDKs

Borough works with third-party service providers including:

Provider TypePurposeData Shared

Cloud hostingPlatform infrastructureAll platform data (encrypted)

Address verificationResidency confirmationAddress data (discarded post-verification)

Analytics providersUsage analysis & improvementAnonymized/aggregated usage data

Push notification servicesDelivering alerts & updatesDevice tokens, notification content

Payment processorsGovernment Partner billingBilling contact info only

Customer support toolsSupport ticket managementSupport communications

Crash reportingDiagnosing app errorsDevice info, crash logs

All service providers are contractually required to: (a) use your data only on Borough's behalf; (b) provide equivalent data protection to this Policy; and (c) delete or return data upon termination. This satisfies Apple App Store requirements for third-party data protection equivalency.

5.4 Apple Sign-In & Platform Requirements

If you use Apple Sign-In, Borough receives only the information Apple provides pursuant to your authorization. Borough does not use Apple-provided data for purposes beyond account authentication and Platform functionality, consistent with Apple's developer guidelines.

5.5 Legal Requirements & Public Records

Borough may disclose your information when required by law, valid court order, subpoena, or legal process. Communications published through Government Partner accounts may constitute public records subject to applicable open records laws. Borough will endeavor to notify you of disclosures where legally permitted.

5.6 Business Transfers

If Borough or Ankita Enterprises LLC is acquired by, merged with, or transfers substantially all assets to another entity, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will provide notice of any such transfer and your rights in connection with it.

5.7 Aggregated & De-identified Data

Borough may share aggregated, anonymized data — which cannot reasonably identify you — with Government Partners, civic researchers, journalism partners, or the public (e.g., service request trend reports, community engagement statistics).

Borough never shares individually identifiable data with journalism or media partners.

6. Location Data

6.1 How We Use Location

Borough uses location data to:

  • Verify that you reside in a participating community (one-time address verification);

  • Deliver neighborhood-specific content, TownHall publications, and government alerts relevant to your area; and

  • Route service requests to the correct government jurisdiction.

6.2 Precise vs. Approximate Location

  • Precise GPS location is only accessed if you explicitly grant permission via your device's location settings. You may revoke this at any time.

  • Approximate location (derived from IP address or ZIP code) is used as a fallback for content delivery when precise location is not granted.

6.3 What We Do Not Do With Location

  • Borough does not share your precise location with Government Partners beyond what is necessary to route a specific service request you submit;

  • Borough does not track your location in the background or when the app is closed;

  • Borough does not sell or share location data with advertisers or data brokers; and

  • Borough does not use location data to build behavioral profiles.

6.4 Residency Verification Data

Your home address is used for residency verification purposes. After verification, only your verified neighborhood/jurisdiction association is retained for content delivery. Raw address data is stored securely and is not visible to other residents or Government Partners beyond what you explicitly submit in a service request.

7. App Tracking Transparency (ATT) — Apple Devices

In accordance with Apple's App Tracking Transparency (ATT) framework, Borough will request your permission before accessing your device's advertising identifier (IDFA) or tracking you across other companies' apps or websites. Borough does not engage in cross-app tracking for advertising purposes. If tracking is requested, it is solely for purposes permitted under ATT (e.g., analytics attribution). You may change your tracking preference at any time in your device's Privacy & Security settings under Tracking.

8. AI & Automated Processing

8.1 TownHall AI Editorial Tools

Borough uses artificial intelligence and automated tools to assist in the selection and summarization of clips for TownHall publications. This AI processing operates on publicly available government meeting recordings — not on your personal account data or user-generated content.

8.2 Content Moderation

Borough may use automated tools to detect content that violates our Terms of Service (e.g., spam detection, prohibited content flagging). Automated moderation decisions may be reviewed by a human moderator upon request. You may appeal any moderation action by contacting legal@boroughusa.org.

8.3 No Automated Decision-Making on Personal Rights

Borough does not make automated decisions that produce legal effects or similarly significant effects on you based solely on automated processing of your personal data without human review.

8.4 AI Training

Borough does not use your personal account data, private messages, or personally identifiable user content to train third-party AI models without your explicit consent. Aggregated, de-identified civic data may be used to improve Borough's own civic intelligence features.

9. Push Notifications & Communications

Borough may send you the following types of communications:

TypeDescriptionOpt-Out

Service Request UpdatesStatus changes on requests you submittedPer-request settings

Government AlertsOfficial emergency and public safety alerts from your Government PartnerIn-app notification settings

Government AnnouncementsNon-emergency official communicationsIn-app notification settings

TownHall PublicationsNew civic journalism clips relevant to your areaIn-app notification settings

Community ActivityResponses to your posts, nearby community activityIn-app notification settings

Borough Platform UpdatesMaterial changes to the Platform or these policiesCannot opt out (legally required)

You may manage push notification preferences in your device settings or within the Borough app at any time. Opting out of notifications does not delete your account or data.

10. Data Retention & Deletion

Data TypeRetention Period

Resident account dataDuration of account + 90 days post-deletion

Service request dataUp to 7 years (public records compliance)

User-generated content (posts, comments)Deleted within 30 days of account deletion request

Precise location dataNot retained beyond active session

Address verification dataVerification status only; raw data discarded post-verification

Crash & diagnostic logs90 days

Government Partner dataPer Government Partner Agreement and applicable records law

Anonymized/aggregated dataIndefinitely (cannot identify you)

To request deletion of your account and personal data, go to Settings > Account > Delete Account within the Borough app, or contact legal@boroughusa.org. We will process deletion requests within 30 days, subject to legal retention obligations.

11. Data Security

Borough implements the following security measures to protect your information:

  • Encryption: All data transmitted between your device and Borough servers is encrypted using TLS 1.2 or higher. Data at rest is encrypted using AES-256 or equivalent.

  • Access Controls: Role-based access controls (RBAC) limit employee and contractor access to personal data to those with a documented need.

  • Authentication: Borough employs multi-factor authentication for administrative access to production systems.

  • Penetration Testing: Borough conducts regular security assessments and third-party penetration testing.

  • Vulnerability Management: Borough maintains a documented process for identifying and remediating security vulnerabilities.

  • Data Breach Response: In the event of a data breach affecting your personal information, Borough will notify affected users and applicable regulatory authorities within the timeframes required by applicable law (generally 30–72 hours for regulatory notice and as promptly as practicable for user notice).

No security system is impenetrable. If you believe your account has been compromised, contact us immediately at legal@boroughusa.org.

12. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

Borough uses the following technologies on its web platform:

TechnologyPurposeCan You Opt Out?

Essential cookiesSession management, login, securityNo (required for app function)

Analytics cookiesUnderstanding usage patterns (anonymized)Yes — via Cookie Preference Center

Preference cookiesRemembering your settingsYes — via Cookie Preference Center

Push notification tokensDelivering alerts to your deviceYes — via device notification settings

Borough does not use advertising cookies, cross-site tracking pixels, or third-party advertising networks.

You may manage cookie preferences at [www.boroughusa.org/cookie-preferences]. Disabling non-essential cookies does not affect core Platform functionality.

13. Your Privacy Rights & Choices

13.1 Universal Rights — All Users

Regardless of where you live, all Borough users have the right to:

  • Access: Request a copy of the personal information Borough holds about you;

  • Correct: Update or correct inaccurate personal information via account settings or by contacting us;

  • Delete: Request deletion of your account and associated personal data;

  • Portability: Receive your personal data in a portable, machine-readable format;

  • Opt Out of Non-Essential Communications: Manage notification preferences in-app; and

  • Withdraw Consent: Where processing is based on consent, withdraw it at any time without affecting prior processing.

13.2 California Residents (CCPA/CPRA)

California residents additionally have the right to:

  • Know what personal information is collected, used, shared, or sold (Borough does not sell personal information);

  • Opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information (not applicable — Borough does not sell data);

  • Limit the use of sensitive personal information;

  • Non-discrimination for exercising privacy rights; and

  • Receive a response within 45 days of a verified request.

Submit California privacy requests to: legal@boroughusa.org

13.3 Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut & Other State Privacy Laws

Residents of states with comprehensive consumer privacy laws (VCDPA, CPA, CTDPA, and others) additionally have:

  • The right to opt out of profiling for decisions with legal or significant effects (Borough does not engage in such profiling);

  • The right to appeal a denial of a privacy rights request within 60 days; and

  • The right to a response within 45 days, extendable by an additional 45 days with notice.

Submit state privacy requests to: legal@boroughusa.org

13.4 European & International Users

While Borough currently operates primarily in the United States, users in the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom, or other jurisdictions with data protection laws may have additional rights under GDPR or equivalent law, including rights to restriction of processing and to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority. Contact legal@boroughusa.org for international privacy inquiries.

13.5 Government Users

Government Users should direct personal privacy inquiries to their Government Partner's designated privacy officer, as Government Partners operate as independent data controllers for personal information they receive through Borough.

13.6 How to Submit a Request

To exercise any privacy right:

  • In-app: Settings > Privacy > Data Requests

  • Email: legal@boroughusa.org

  • Response time: Within 30 days (45 days for CCPA requests)

  • Verification: We may ask you to verify your identity before processing your request

14. Children's Privacy (COPPA Compliance)

Borough does not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. The Platform is not directed at children under 13.

For users aged 13–17 (minors):

  • A parent or guardian must provide verifiable consent before a minor may use the Platform;

  • Borough collects only the minimum information necessary for minor users;

  • Minor account data is subject to heightened protection and is not shared with third parties for commercial purposes; and

  • Parents or guardians may request access to, correction of, or deletion of their minor child's data by contacting legal@boroughusa.org.

For Borough's student journalism program, school or parental consent is required for users under 18 who publish content on the Platform. Student journalist accounts are separately designated and subject to additional protections.

If you believe Borough has inadvertently collected personal information from a child under 13, contact us immediately at legal@boroughusa.org and we will delete it promptly.

15. Third-Party Links, Integrations & SDKs

The Platform may link to third-party websites or integrate with third-party services (e.g., government 311 systems, GIS mapping tools, journalism partner platforms). This Privacy Policy does not govern third-party data practices.

Borough's app may incorporate third-party SDKs. All SDKs integrated into the Borough app are required to provide privacy manifests and signatures in compliance with Apple's SDK privacy requirements. A list of third-party SDKs used by Borough and their data practices will be made available at www.boroughusa.com/sdk-list as the Platform develops. For current SDK inquiries, contact legal@boroughusa.org.

16. Government Partner Privacy Obligations

Government Partners using Borough acknowledge and agree that:

  • They are independent data controllers for personal information received from Borough in connection with their government functions;

  • They are independently responsible for compliance with all applicable government privacy laws, including the Privacy Act of 1974, state privacy statutes, and open records laws;

  • They shall maintain appropriate technical and organizational safeguards for personal data received through Borough;

  • They shall not use resident data obtained through Borough for surveillance, behavioral tracking, or any purpose beyond direct government service delivery; and

  • They shall notify Borough within 48 hours of becoming aware of any data breach involving Borough-sourced resident data.

17. Do Not Track

Some browsers and devices send "Do Not Track" (DNT) signals. Borough's web platform currently does not respond to DNT signals because there is no agreed-upon standard for how to interpret them. Borough's privacy practices are described in this Policy regardless of DNT signals. We will update this section if an industry standard emerges.

18. Privacy Nutrition Label (Apple App Store)

In accordance with Apple App Store requirements, Borough's Privacy Nutrition Label — summarizing data types collected, whether they are linked to your identity, and whether they are used for tracking — is available on Borough's App Store product page and is kept current with each app update. The label reflects the data practices described in this Privacy Policy.

Data used to track you: None. Borough does not track users across third-party apps or websites.

Data linked to you: Account information, contact information, location (if granted), user content, identifiers, usage data.

Data not linked to you: Crash data, diagnostic logs (anonymized).

19. Changes to This Policy

Borough may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by:

  • Posting the updated Policy at www.boroughusa.com/privacy;

  • Sending an in-app notification; and

  • Where required by law, sending an email notification.

Your continued use of the Platform after the effective date of a material change constitutes acceptance of the updated Policy. Government Partners will receive at least 30 days' advance written notice of material changes.

20. Contact Us

For all privacy, legal, copyright, and data rights inquiries: Ankita Enterprises LLC — Borough Privacy & LegalEmail: legal@boroughusa.org

For media inquiries, partnerships, general questions, and non-legal matters: Email: yuvraj@boroughusa.com

Mailing Address: Ankita Enterprises LLC, c/o yuvraj@boroughusa.com

© 2026 Ankita Enterprises LLC. All rights reserved. Borough is operated by Ankita Enterprises LLC.

This document is a comprehensive draft for legal review. It does not constitute legal advice. Ankita Enterprises LLC and its Government Partners should consult qualified legal counsel prior to finalizing and publishing these documents.

© 2026 Ankita Enterprises LLC. All rights reserved.

This document is a draft template for legal review. It does not constitute legal advice. Borough and its Government Partners should consult qualified legal counsel prior to finalizing and publishing these documents.

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