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An acceptable use policy (AUP) (also acceptable usage policy or fair use policy (FUP)) is a set of rules applied by the owner, creator, possessor or administrator of a computer network, website, or service that restricts the ways in which the network, website or system may be used and sets guidelines as to how it should be used. AUP documents are written for corporations,^[1] businesses, universities,^[2] schools,^[3] internet service providers (ISPs),^[4] and website owners,^[5] often to reduce the potential for legal action that may be taken by a user, and often with little prospect of enforcement.

Acceptable use policies are an integral and critical part of the framework of information security policies; it is often common practice to ask new members of an organization to sign an AUP before they are given access to its information systems, just in case. For this reason, an AUP must be concise and clear. While at the same time covering the most important points about what users are, and are not allowed to do with the IT systems of an organization, it should refer users to the more comprehensive security policy where relevant. It should also, and very notably define what sanctions will be applied if a user breaks the AUP. Compliance with this policy should as usual, be measured by regular audits.

In some cases a fair usage policy applied to a service allowing nominally unlimited use for a fixed fee simply sets a cap on what may be used. This is intended to allow normal usage but, prevent what is considered excessive. For example, users of an "unlimited" broadband Internet service may be subject to suspension, termination, or bandwidth limiting for usage which is continually excessive, unfair, affects other users enjoyment of the broadband service. Also, it is not consistent with the usage typically expected on a particular access package.^[6] The policy is enforced directly, without legal proceedings.

Terminology

AUP documents are similar to and often serve the same function as the Terms of Service document (e.g., as used by Google Gmail and Yahoo!), although not always. In the case of IBM for instance, the Terms of Use are about the way in which IBM presents the site, how they interact with visitors of the site and little to no instruction as to how to use the site.

In some cases, AUP documents are named Internet and E-mail Policy, Internet AUP, Network AUP, or Acceptable IT Use Policy. These documents, even though named differently, largely provide policy statements as to what behavior is acceptable from users of the local network/Internet connected via the local network.

Common elements of AUP statements

In general, AUP statements/documents often begin with a statement of the philosophy of the sponsoring organization and intended reason as to why Internet use is offered to the users of that organization's network. For example, the sponsoring organization adopts a philosophy of self-regulation and offers the user connection to the local network and also connection to the Internet providing that the user accepts the fact she/he is going to be personally responsible for actions taken when connected to the network or Internet. This may mean that the organization is not going to provide any warning system should the user contravene policy, maintaining that it is up to the user to know when his/her actions are in violation of policy.^{[citation needed]} Often Acceptable Use Policy documents provide a statement about the use of the network and/or Internet and its uses and advantages to the business, school or other organisation sponsoring connection to the Internet.^[7] Such a statement may outline the benefit of email systems, ability to gain information from websites, connection with other people through the use of instant messaging, and other similar benefits of various protocols including the relatively new VoIP services.

The most important part of an AUP document is the code of conduct governing the behaviour of a user whilst connected to the network/Internet. The code of conduct may include some description of what may be called netiquette which includes such items of conduct as using appropriate/polite language while online, avoiding illegal activities, ensuring that activities the user may embark on should not disturb or disrupt any other user on the system, and caution not to reveal personal information that could be the cause of identity theft.

Most AUP statements outline consequences of violating the policy. Such violations are met with consequences depending on the relationship of the user with the organisation. Common actions that schools and universities take is to withdraw the service to the violator and sometimes if the activities are illegal the organization may involve appropriate authorities, such as the local police. Employers will at times withdraw the service from employees, although a more common action is to terminate employment when violations may be hurting the employer in some way, or may compromise security. Earthlink, an American Internet service provider has a very clear policy relating to violations of its policy.^[8] The company identifies six levels of response to violations:

issue warnings: written or verbal
suspend the Member's newsgroup posting privileges
suspend the Member's account
terminate the Member's account
bill the Member for administrative costs and/or reactivation charges
bring legal action to enjoin violations and/or to collect damages, if any, caused by violations.

Central to most AUP documents is the section detailing unacceptable uses of the network, as displayed in the University of Chicago AUP. Unacceptable behaviours may include creation and transmission of offensive, obscene, or indecent document or images, creation and transmission of material which is designed to cause annoyance, inconvenience or anxiety, creation of defamatory material, creation and transmission that infringes copyright of another person, transmission of unsolicited commercial or advertising material and deliberate unauthorised access to other services accessible using the connection to the network/Internet. Then there is the type of activity that uses the network to waste time of technical staff to troubleshoot a problem for which the user is the cause, corrupting or destroying other user's data, violating the privacy of others online, using the network in such a way that it denies the service to others, continuing to use software or other system for which the user has already been warned about using, and any other misuse of the network such as introduction of viruses.

Disclaimers are often added in order to absolve an organisation from responsibility under specific circumstances. For example, in the case of Anglia Ruskin University a disclaimer is added absolving the University for errors or omissions or for any consequences arising from the use of information contained on the University website. While disclaimers may be added to any AUP, disclaimers are most often found on AUP documents relating to the use of a website while those offering a service fail to add such clauses.

Particularly when an AUP is written for a college or school setting, AUPs remind students (or when in the case of a company, employees) that connection to the Internet, or use of a website, is a privilege not a right.^[9] Abuse of privileges can result in legal action from the school.^[10]

In a handbook for writing AUP documents, the Virginia Department of Education indicate that there are three other areas needing to be addressed in an AUP:^[7]

a statement that the AUP is in compliance with state and national telecommunication rules and regulations
a statement regarding the need to maintain personal safety and privacy while accessing the Internet
a statement regarding the need to comply with Fair Use Laws and other copyright regulations while accessing the Internet

Enforceability

Example:

6.3 This Policy shall be governed by the laws of England and the parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of England and Wales.

Due to the many jurisdictions covered by the Internet, the AUP document needs to specify the jurisdiction, which determines the laws that are applicable and govern the use of an AUP. Even if a company is only located in one jurisdiction and the AUP applies only to its employees, naming the jurisdiction saves difficulties of interpretation should legal action be required to enforce its statements.

AUP can be effectively enforced with Content and URL filters.

References

^ "IS.SEC.005". Hospital Corporation of America. 2007-12-01. Archived from the original on October 30, 2006. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
^ "Policy on Acceptable Use of Electronic Resources". University of Pennsylvania. Archived from the original on 18 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
^ "2008-2009 Code of Student Conduct" (PDF). Charlotte County Public Schools. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-01-20. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
^ "EMBARQ ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY & VISITOR AGREEMENT". 2006-10-20. Archived from the original on 20 November 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
^ "MySpace.com Terms of Use Agreement". Myspace. 2008-02-28. Archived from the original on 16 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
^ TalkTalk Fair Usage Policy Archived 2015-10-20 at the Wayback Machine "Tiscali UK Ltd - Fair usage policy". 2014-03-01. Archived from the original on 2014-03-01., typical fair usage conditions for
^ ^a ^b "Acceptable Use Policies: A Handbook". Virginia Department of Education. Archived from the original on 31 March 2007. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
^ "ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY". EarthLink. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
^ For example, Loughborough University's "Acceptable Use Policy". May 2005. Archived from the original on 6 May 2007. Use for other purposes, such as personal electronic mail or recreational use of the World Wide Web or Usenet News, is a privilege, which can be withdrawn, not a right.
^ For example, Northern Illinois University's "Information Technology Resources - Acceptable Use Policy". 29 August 2000. Archived from the original on 18 April 2007. Like any other campus facility, abuse of these privileges can be a matter of legal action or official campus disciplinary procedures.