Terms of Use
Effective Date: December 1, 2025
Platform Owner: Lesma Ellis Foundation (“LEF”, “we”, “us”, or “our”)
Website/App: GovWatch Ja
Foundation Website: https://thelef.foundation
1. About GovWatch Ja
GovWatch Ja is a civic technology platform designed to strengthen public accountability, transparency, and citizen engagement in Jamaica. The platform enables users to report, track, and discuss public projects, infrastructure concerns, and budget implementation, while supporting civic education and community dialogue.
GovWatch Ja is operated by the Lesma Ellis Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to good governance, youth leadership, and civic participation.
2. Acceptance of These Terms
By accessing or using GovWatch Ja, you agree to comply with and be bound by these Terms of Use. If you do not agree, you must not use the platform.
These Terms apply to all users, including citizens, community members, youth leaders, public officials, and partner organizations.
3. Eligibility and Accounts
- You must be at least 13 years old to use GovWatch Ja.
- You are responsible for all activity under your account.
- You agree to provide accurate information during signup.
Display Name and Verification
- Users select a display name during signup.
- Display names are not required to be verified.
- If a user completes a verification process (where offered), the platform will clearly indicate that the account is “Verified.”
- Verification does not imply endorsement by the Lesma Ellis Foundation or any government body.
4. Purpose and Appropriate Use
GovWatch Ja is intended solely for:
- Civic reporting and issue tracking
- Public discussion and feedback
- Civic education (including budget explainers)
- Transparency and accountability monitoring
❌ No Transactions
GovWatch Ja must not be used to:
- Conduct financial transactions
- Request or send money
- Solicit donations, payments, or services
- Facilitate contracts, procurement, or commercial dealings
5. User Content and Responsibilities
You are responsible for any content you post, including reports, comments, images, and messages.
You Agree To:
- Post content that is truthful to the best of your knowledge
- Engage respectfully with others
- Use the platform in good faith to support civic participation
⚠️ Personal Identifiable Information (PII)
For your safety and the safety of others:
- Do not publish personal identifiable information, including:
- National ID numbers
- Home addresses
- Phone numbers
- Email addresses
- Financial or banking details
- Sensitive personal data of private individuals
- Avoid posting personal information about third parties without their consent.
GovWatch Ja may remove content that exposes personal data or creates safety risks.
6. Prohibited Conduct
To maintain a safe and constructive civic space, users must not:
- Post false, misleading, or defamatory information
- Harass, threaten, or intimidate others
- Promote hate speech, discrimination, or violence
- Impersonate public officials, organizations, or other users
- Upload malicious code, spam, or automated content
- Use the platform for political manipulation, vote-buying, or coordinated disinformation
- Attempt to interfere with the platform’s security or operations
- Use GovWatch Ja for commercial advertising or unauthorized campaigns
Violation of these rules may result in content removal, account suspension, or permanent termination.
7. Data Protection and Privacy
Data Collection
GovWatch Ja collects limited personal data necessary to operate the platform, such as:
- Email address
- Display name
- User-generated content
- Usage and interaction data
Purpose Limitation
In accordance with the Jamaica Data Protection Act (2017):
- Data is collected only for the purposes of operating and improving GovWatch Ja
- Data is used for civic engagement, reporting, communication, and platform functionality
Email Privacy
- We do not sell, rent, or share user email addresses with third parties for marketing or commercial purposes.
- Emails are used only for:
- Account access
- Notifications (if enabled)
- Important platform-related communications
Data Security
We take reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect user data. However, no system can be guaranteed 100% secure.
8. Content Moderation
GovWatch Ja reserves the right to:
- Review, moderate, or remove content that violates these Terms
- Limit visibility of content under investigation
- Suspend or terminate accounts that pose a risk to the community
Moderation decisions aim to balance free expression with safety, accuracy, and public interest.
9. No Government Affiliation or Endorsement
GovWatch Ja:
- Is an independent civic platform
- Is not a government website
- Does not officially represent any government ministry, agency, or official
Participation by public officials or agencies does not constitute endorsement of the platform or of user-generated content.
10. Disclaimer
GovWatch Ja provides information and user-generated content “as is.”
- We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or resolution of reported issues.
- The platform does not replace official complaint mechanisms or legal processes.
11. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law:
- The Lesma Ellis Foundation is not liable for user-generated content
- We are not responsible for damages arising from platform use, misuse, or reliance on posted information
12. Changes to These Terms
We may update these Terms from time to time.
- Significant changes will be communicated via the platform
- Continued use of GovWatch Ja means acceptance of the updated Terms
13. Contact Information
For questions, concerns, or data protection inquiries, contact:
Lesma Ellis Foundation
🌐 https://thelef.foundation