Terms of Use

United Kingdom Ministry of Defence Guidelines for the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom and the Royal College of Defence Studies Summit Alumni Network

The terms and conditions for participation, which must be accepted, are set below.

TERMS OF USE

Introduction

1. The Summit Alumni Network is the social media website for eligible current and former participants of courses at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom and Royal College of Defence Studies courses (thereafter referred to as the Defence Academy and RCDS). 

2. This site gives eligible alumni opportunities to reconnect with colleagues. There is no particular format for content on the Summit Alumni Network: however, whether formal or informal, entries must be appropriate and should further the objectives outlined in these Terms and Conditions.

3. Before setting up a profile in the Summit Alumni Network, eligible participants must read and acknowledge their agreement to the following Terms of Use. By acknowledging these guidelines, you agree that your use of the Summit Alumni Network and anything you post to the Summit Alumni Network will comply with these Terms of Use.

4. Failure to comply with these Terms of Use when using the Summit Alumni Network will lead to a participant being suspended or terminated from this social media platform.

5. Any incident that has, or is likely to, compromise the security of the system or includes details of classified information will be reported in accordance with United Kingdom Ministry of Defence Departmental Security Regulations.

6. The Defence Academy and RCDS does monitor the Summit Alumni Network and will remove posted content at any time if the Defence Academy or RCDS determines in its discretion that the content violates the Terms of Use. The Terms of Use set forth the types of information that should not be disclosed, as well as other requirements that you must comply with when posting to the Summit Alumni Network.

Guidelines for Using the Summit Alumni Network

7. The Summit Alumni Network is a platform for eligible alumni to connect with other alumni, post comments in a chat group and upload approved content. Remember that your name will be attached to whatever you post and that all participants in the Summit Alumni Network will be able to see all content that is posted. Content must comply with these Terms of Use. 

8. English is the only language of use on the Summit Alumni Network.

9. When using the Summit Alumni Network, follow these rules on prohibited conduct:

10. General: Participants shall not use the Summit Alumni Network to post or distribute material that:

• Violates any applicable law or regulation;
• May adversely affect the Summit Alumni Network or its users;
• May expose the UK Ministry of Defence to criminal or civil liability; or 
• Violates, infringes upon or otherwise misappropriates any third-party rights, including intellectual property rights, rights of publicity and privacy rights.

Examples of materials that should not be posted on the Summit Alumni Network include, but are not limited to:

• Protectively marked information. Please do not post any information at OFFICIAL or above.
• Third-party music, articles or videos - where the poster is not the rights-holder;
• Confidential information about a third party. This includes adherence to the Chatham House Rule of non-disclosure that applies to all aspects of Defence Academy and RCDS business.  When a meeting, or part thereof, is held under the Chatham House Rule, participants are free to use the information received, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participant, may be revealed.
• Shareholder issues;
• Personal or sensitive information about other alumni or persons;
• Anything disrespectful, discriminatory, harassing, or defamatory about other users of the Summit Alumni Network, the UK Ministry of Defence, the Defence Academy, RCDS or their employees, or those outside the institutions.
• Views or opinions that are not your own
• General inflammatory behaviour, trolling, spamming, scamming, posting links to commercial sites, promotion or selling of products and services.

11. Inappropriate Content: Participants shall not use the Summit Alumni Network to post or distribute material that the UK Ministry of Defence reasonably determines is inappropriate, obscene, indecent, defamatory, libelous, tortious, threatening, abusive, hateful or violent.

12. Harmful Content: Participants shall not post links to or otherwise distribute or transmit material that may be harmful to or interfere with the Summit Alumni Network or any third-party network or website. Such prohibited harmful content includes, but is not limited to, viruses, worms, adware or Trojan horses.

13. Fraudulent/Misleading Content: Participants shall not post or otherwise distribute or transmit material containing fraudulent offers for goods or services, or any advertising or promotional material that contain false, deceptive, or misleading statements, claims or representations. 

14. Acceptable Use. All information contained within the Summit Alumni Network, plus access to the Summit Alumni Network, is for the designated purposes only.

• Appropriate photos, content and video can be posted.
• You will create a personal profile to use the Summit Alumni Network, which will have various options that you must review.
• Content posted on the Summit Alumni Network is monitored and can be edited or deleted by the administrator if it fails to meet the required Terms of Use.
• The content posted is public, may be viewed internally and is visible to every other member of the Summit Alumni Network. 

15. Eligible Participants. Participation is limited to:

• Alumni of relevant courses delivered by the Defence Academy and/or RCDS.
• Defence Attaches and Defence Advisors of the United Kingdom Global Defence network during their period of employment in this role.
• Individuals who have made a significant contribution to the courses delivered by the Defence Academy and/or RCDS (on a case-by case basis).

Rights of the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence

16. The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence may suspend or terminate participation on the Summit Alumni Network if a participant has violated any element of the Terms of Use. The UK Ministry of Defence may suspend participation without notice if the UK Ministry of Defence becomes aware of a violation of any applicable law or regulation or activity, including but not limited to a violation of the Terms of Use that exposes the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence to criminal or civil liability or that exposes the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence's network to harm. The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence may take such further action as the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence determines to be appropriate under the circumstances to eliminate or preclude repeat violations. 

17. The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence reserves the right to take down any material – or otherwise block access to such material—created or accessible on the Summit Alumni Network and suspend or terminate any participant creating, posting or disseminating such material where the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence becomes aware that the material violates the Terms of Use and/or exposes the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence to civil or criminal liability, including without limitation, under applicable copyright laws. 

18. The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence reserves the right to cooperate with legal authorities and third parties in the investigation of any alleged wrongdoing related to the Terms of Use, including the disclosure of the identity of the participant that the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence deems responsible for the wrongdoing. The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence will not be liable for any damages of any nature suffered by any participant or third party resulting in whole or part from the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence's exercise of its rights under the Terms of Use.

19. The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence reserves the right to modify the Terms of Use in its discretion, at any time. Such modifications shall be effective upon posting, and use of the Summit Alumni Network after such modification constitutes acceptance of such modifications.