ToS;DR: Aims to end biggest internet lie

Every time we register to a service or install an app, there is always a lengthy stipulation that explains the company’s/service provider’s terms of use for their product. But how many of us have actually understood or even read any of the ToS that we saw before we actually agreed to it?

Terms of service may not be that big of a deal for most users, but for those few people who actually make it a point to know what the terms are and understand what it entails (I salute you), it can be a determining factor for them to use the service.

ToS or ToUs can be tasking to read let alone understand. Unless you make a living out of reading through an almost-a-novel-long stipulation that mostly contains a crap load of gibberish, or just plain cautious of things before you agree to it or sign it, the usual notion is to scroll down and find the “I have read and agree to the terms” button and click it with reckless abandon. But that is about to change (hopefully) with ToS; DR.

ToS; DR is short for Terms of Service; Didn’t read. It’s a relatively new online campaign aimed at giving users the power to understand what is under a company’s/service provider’s stipulation before unwillingly ticking the “I have read and agree to the Terms”.

What the campaign does is that it grades a ToS of an app/service from A to E based on what the terms entail. The site also provides detailed information of the pros and cons of the terms which is rated with thumbs up for Good, thumbs down for Mediocre, X-mark for Alert and Arrow going to the right for Informative. Their findings are based on their unbiased opinions and the opinions of people who expressed theirs and are being discussed publicly.

This project will help people better understand the scope of the terms by making it easier for them to digest the information inside ToS agreement and with access to this information, people can now whole-heartedly agree or disagree with the terms of an app/service before they proceed with it. And maybe through this, company’s/service provider’s may have to revise their ToS and take out what may be potentially destructive to the interest of their users. You can find out more about their noble campaign by going their site.

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