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Terms & Conditions,
Ethics, Welfare Safeguards,
Privacy Principles & Disclaimers

Clear, transparent policies on how we store, protect, and eventually delete your data.

1. Introduction

AfterEcho Ltd ("AfterEcho", "the Company", "we", "us", "our") is intended to operate as a calm, compassionate and ethically responsible digital legacy platform designed to honour personal wishes while protecting users, recipients and vulnerable individuals with dignity and care.

AfterEcho provides a secure digital platform allowing users to create, store, preserve and schedule personal messages, media and legacy communications for future delivery to designated recipients.

These Terms & Conditions, Ethics, Welfare Safeguards, Privacy Principles & Disclaimers ("Terms") govern access to and use of the AfterEcho platform, website, mobile applications and related services ("Services").

By accessing or using AfterEcho, users confirm that they:

  • have read and understood these Terms;

  • accept these Terms in full;

  • agree to comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

If a user does not agree to these Terms, they must not use the platform.

These Terms are intended to operate alongside:

  • applicable UK consumer protection legislation;

  • UK GDPR and data protection legislation;

  • safeguarding obligations;

  • intellectual property law;

  • cyber security obligations;

  • applicable digital services legislation.

AfterEcho is not a replacement for:

  • a Last Will & Testament;

  • probate services;

  • legal advisory services;

  • regulated fiduciary services.

Users are encouraged to obtain independent legal advice regarding estate planning and succession matters.

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2. Definitions

For the purposes of these Terms:

"Account" means a registered user profile operated through the platform.

"Content" means any uploaded or generated material including:

  • written messages;

  • audio recordings;

  • video recordings;

  • photographs;

  • documents;

  • digital legacy materials.

"Legacy Guardian" means a nominated trusted individual designated by the user to assist with verification procedures.

"Recipient" means an individual designated by the user to receive future communications.

"Safeguarding Review" means a confidential review process undertaken by authorised personnel in response to elevated welfare, fraud, legal or safety concerns.

"Services" means the website, applications, systems, storage environments, verification systems and associated AfterEcho infrastructure.

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3. Core Ethical Principles

AfterEcho is designed around the following principles:

  • dignity;

  • emotional respect;

  • privacy-first operation;

  • compassionate safeguarding;

  • responsible long-term preservation;

  • user autonomy;

  • recipient protection;

  • human-reviewed trust systems;

  • lawful proportionality;

  • ethical digital legacy management.

AfterEcho seeks to balance:

  • personal freedom of expression;

  • emotional sensitivity;

  • safeguarding obligations;

  • platform integrity;

  • legal compliance;

  • operational sustainability;

  • cyber resilience;

  • ethical content stewardship.

The platform is intended to function as: "A trusted, protected and ethically safeguarded legacy delivery platform."

AfterEcho recognises that emotionally sensitive communications may carry heightened safeguarding, welfare and reputational risks. Accordingly, the Company reserves broad discretionary authority to:

  • review content;

  • delay release;

  • apply safeguarding interventions;

  • require enhanced verification;

  • refuse transmission;

  • restrict harmful or unlawful activity;

  • protect vulnerable persons;

  • comply with legal obligations.

Such interventions shall be undertaken in good faith and, where reasonably practical, proportionately.

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4. Eligibility

Users must:

  • be at least 18 years of age;

  • possess legal capacity to enter binding agreements;

  • have lawful authority to upload and distribute Content;

  • provide accurate registration information;

  • comply with applicable laws and regulations.

Users must not:

  • impersonate another individual;

  • create fraudulent accounts;

  • use the platform for unlawful activity;

  • circumvent safeguarding systems;

  • attempt unauthorised access to systems or data.

AfterEcho reserves the right to:

  • suspend or terminate Accounts;

  • request identity verification;

  • restrict platform access;

  • reject registrations;

  • preserve evidence relating to suspected unlawful activity.

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5. User Content Ownership & Licence

Users retain ownership of uploaded Content.

By uploading Content, users grant AfterEcho a limited, revocable, non-exclusive licence solely for:

  • secure storage;

  • encryption;

  • processing;

  • moderation;

  • safeguarding review;

  • fraud prevention;

  • verification procedures;

  • scheduled delivery;

  • archival preservation;

  • lawful operational purposes;

  • regulatory compliance;

  • disaster recovery;

  • backup replication.

The licence granted shall survive:

  • temporary account suspension;

  • verification review;

  • safeguarding review;

  • lawful retention obligations;

  • operational backup cycles;

  • death verification processes.

AfterEcho does not claim ownership of user Content.

Users warrant that uploaded Content:

  • does not infringe third-party rights;

  • does not violate confidentiality obligations;

  • does not breach applicable law;

  • does not contain unlawful or malicious material.

Users remain solely responsible for their Content.

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6. Ethical Use & Prohibited Content

Users must not upload, distribute, transmit or schedule Content that:

  • violates applicable law;

  • infringes intellectual property rights;

  • contains credible threats of violence;

  • promotes terrorism or organised criminal activity;

  • exploits minors or vulnerable persons;

  • contains malware or malicious code;

  • encourages self-harm or suicide;

  • contains unlawful explicit material;

  • contains hate speech prohibited by law;

  • includes coercive, abusive or manipulative material intended to harm Recipients;

  • facilitates fraud, harassment or blackmail;

  • seeks to evade safeguarding protections.

AfterEcho reserves the right to:

  • remove prohibited Content;

  • restrict distribution;

  • delay release schedules;

  • conduct safeguarding reviews;

  • suspend or terminate Accounts;

  • preserve evidence;

  • cooperate with law enforcement;

  • notify relevant authorities where legally required or reasonably necessary to prevent immediate harm.

Nothing within these Terms obliges AfterEcho to monitor all Content proactively. However, AfterEcho may deploy:

  • automated moderation systems;

  • behavioural detection tools;

  • fraud detection systems;

  • human safeguarding review;

  • risk escalation procedures.

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7. Trust Architecture & Release Verification

AfterEcho operates a human-verified release system intended to reduce:

  • accidental release;

  • fraudulent release;

  • coercive release;

  • malicious release;

  • harmful transmission.

The platform does not rely solely on:

  • automated death detection;

  • inactivity triggers;

  • AI-only decision making.

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7.1 Inactivity Monitoring

The platform may monitor:

  • missed login activity;

  • failed wellness confirmations;

  • prolonged inactivity;

  • lack of response to verification prompts.

Inactivity alone does not trigger release. It may only initiate a verification review process.

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7.2 Legacy Guardians

Users may nominate trusted individuals ("Legacy Guardians") to assist with verification procedures. Legacy Guardians may:

  • report a death;

  • confirm known circumstances;

  • submit supporting documentation;

  • request review of release processes.

Legacy Guardians do not automatically receive access to private Content unless expressly authorised.

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7.3 Verification Safeguards

Before any legacy release may occur, AfterEcho may require:

  • executor confirmation;

  • guardian confirmation;

  • identity verification;

  • supporting evidence;

  • death certification;

  • enhanced review procedures;

  • delayed release windows;

  • secondary approvals;

  • legal review in higher-risk cases.

AfterEcho reserves the right to:

  • pause release;

  • deny release;

  • delay release;

  • refuse transmission;

  • seek further verification.

This may occur where:

  • fraud concerns arise;

  • disputes exist;

  • safeguarding concerns are identified;

  • legal uncertainty exists;

  • verification remains incomplete.

No user, guardian or Recipient is guaranteed automatic release rights.

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8. Welfare Safeguards & Suicide Prevention

Because users may upload emotionally sensitive Content, AfterEcho recognises that certain material may indicate:

  • risk of self-harm;

  • suicidal intent;

  • abuse or coercion;

  • threats of violence;

  • immediate danger to self or others.

AfterEcho is committed to balancing:

  • user privacy;

  • emotional dignity;

  • safeguarding obligations;

  • responsible intervention;

  • legal defensibility;

  • proportionality.

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8.1 Automated Safety Monitoring

Uploaded Content may be processed using automated safety technologies designed to identify potentially harmful material including:

  • explicit suicide intent;

  • threats of violence;

  • coercive language;

  • serious self-harm indicators;

  • unlawful or dangerous content.

Review technologies may apply to:

  • written text;

  • audio transcription;

  • video transcription;

  • uploaded documents.

Automated systems:

  • do not provide professional advice;

  • are not infallible;

  • may produce false positives or false negatives;

  • do not make final safeguarding determinations without human oversight in elevated-risk cases.

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8.2 Human Safeguarding Review

Where elevated welfare concerns are identified, Content may be referred for confidential internal review by authorised safeguarding personnel. The purpose of review may include:

  • assessing potential risk;

  • preventing harmful Content delivery;

  • protecting Recipients;

  • complying with safeguarding obligations;

  • determining whether intervention is reasonably necessary.

AfterEcho recognises that:

  • grief;

  • emotional distress;

  • reflective discussion;

  • bereavement expression;

  • philosophical discussion;

  • end-of-life reflection

do not automatically indicate risk.

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8.3 Welfare Intervention Measures

Where reasonably considered necessary and proportionate, AfterEcho may:

  • temporarily pause scheduled release;

  • restrict access to specific Content;

  • apply sensitivity warnings;

  • encourage support resource access;

  • suspend Accounts pending review;

  • delay delivery of traumatic material;

  • notify emergency services where there is a credible and immediate threat to life.

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8.4 Recipient Protection

Additional recipient safeguards may include:

  • content warnings;

  • delayed viewing options;

  • sensitive content filters;

  • family co-review settings;

  • Recipient opt-out rights;

  • restricted delivery procedures.

Recipients may choose not to receive future communications.

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8.5 No Crisis Response Service

AfterEcho is NOT:

  • a mental health provider;

  • a suicide prevention hotline;

  • a bereavement counselling service;

  • an emergency response organisation;

  • a regulated healthcare provider.

Users experiencing crisis or distress should contact appropriate emergency or professional support services immediately. For emergency support within the United Kingdom, users may contact:

  • NHS 111;

  • Samaritans;

  • emergency services.

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9. Subscription Plans, Fair Use & Unlimited Storage

Certain subscription plans may include "Unlimited" or similar storage offerings. "Unlimited" is intended to support generous long-term personal legacy storage for ordinary personal and family use. It is not intended for:

  • commercial hosting;

  • enterprise archiving;

  • software distribution;

  • public media streaming;

  • automated bulk uploading;

  • excessive non-personal backup activity.

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9.1 Platform Protection Measures

To preserve service reliability and sustainability, AfterEcho may apply reasonable operational safeguards including:

  • upload rate management;

  • archival storage migration;

  • inactive data optimisation;

  • fair bandwidth protections;

  • abuse monitoring;

  • cyber security protections.

These measures are intended solely to maintain:

  • platform stability;

  • safeguarding integrity;

  • security;

  • operational sustainability.

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9.2 Excessive Usage

Where usage substantially exceeds reasonable personal use, AfterEcho reserves the right to:

  • review Account activity;

  • request reduction of excessive usage;

  • apply additional storage arrangements;

  • restrict abusive behaviour;

  • suspend Accounts in cases of material misuse.

Where reasonably practical, AfterEcho shall seek to communicate with affected users before restrictive action is taken.

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9.3 Subscription Billing & Renewals

Where paid subscriptions apply:

  • fees shall be clearly displayed before purchase;

  • recurring billing terms shall be disclosed;

  • renewal cycles shall be identified;

  • cancellation procedures shall be made reasonably accessible.

Users may cancel recurring subscriptions in accordance with applicable consumer law. Nothing in these Terms restricts statutory consumer rights.

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9.4 Cooling-Off Rights

Where required under applicable consumer protection legislation, eligible users may possess statutory cancellation rights during applicable cooling-off periods. Where digital services commence immediately following purchase, users may be asked to acknowledge that certain cancellation rights may be reduced once performance begins.

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10. Data Security & Cyber Protection

AfterEcho implements commercially reasonable security measures including:

  • encrypted storage;

  • access controls;

  • authentication protections;

  • infrastructure segmentation;

  • monitoring systems;

  • two-factor authentication where applicable;

  • cyber incident procedures;

  • backup replication.

However:

  • no online platform can guarantee absolute security;

  • no storage environment is entirely immune from cyber threats;

  • transmission systems may be vulnerable to unforeseen attack vectors.

Users acknowledge and accept the inherent risks associated with internet-based services. AfterEcho shall not be liable for cyber incidents beyond its reasonable control where commercially reasonable safeguards have been implemented.

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11. Privacy & Data Protection

AfterEcho processes personal data in accordance with:

  • UK GDPR;

  • the Data Protection Act 2018;

  • applicable privacy legislation;

  • internal retention and safeguarding policies.

AfterEcho may process personal data for:

  • platform operation;

  • identity verification;

  • safeguarding review;

  • fraud prevention;

  • customer support;

  • lawful compliance obligations;

  • service improvement;

  • security monitoring.

AfterEcho does not sell personal data to third parties.

Users may possess rights including:

  • access rights;

  • rectification rights;

  • erasure rights;

  • restriction rights;

  • objection rights;

  • portability rights;

  • complaint rights with the Information Commissioner's Office.

Further information regarding data processing practices shall be contained within the AfterEcho Privacy Policy.

12. Data Retention & Archival Preservation

User Content may be retained:

  • while Accounts remain active;

  • for operational continuity;

  • for scheduled future delivery;

  • for safeguarding review purposes;

  • to comply with legal obligations;

  • for fraud prevention;

  • for disaster recovery.

Users may request deletion of data subject to:

  • verification procedures;

  • safeguarding reviews;

  • pending delivery processes;

  • legal retention obligations;

  • unresolved disputes.

Older or inactive materials may be migrated to secure archival storage systems for long-term preservation. AfterEcho does not guarantee perpetual storage or indefinite preservation.

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13. Account Responsibilities

Users are responsible for:

  • maintaining password confidentiality;

  • securing Account access;

  • keeping Recipient information accurate;

  • updating delivery preferences;

  • ensuring uploaded Content complies with these Terms.

Users must immediately notify AfterEcho of suspected:

  • unauthorised access;

  • Account compromise;

  • fraud;

  • security breaches.

Users are responsible for maintaining independent backup copies of important materials.

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14. Service Availability & Operational Continuity

AfterEcho may:

  • modify platform features;

  • perform maintenance;

  • suspend functionality;

  • update systems;

  • discontinue services;

  • migrate infrastructure.

Reasonable notice shall be provided where practical. AfterEcho does not guarantee:

  • uninterrupted availability;

  • exact delivery timing;

  • perpetual operation;

  • permanent preservation of uploaded Content;

  • uninterrupted third-party infrastructure availability.

Users are strongly encouraged to maintain independent backup copies of important materials.

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15. Force Majeure

AfterEcho shall not be liable for delays, interruption, failures or inability to perform resulting from circumstances beyond reasonable control including:

  • cyberattacks;

  • infrastructure failures;

  • internet outages;

  • cloud service disruption;

  • power failures;

  • natural disasters;

  • pandemics;

  • governmental action;

  • labour disputes;

  • war;

  • terrorism;

  • civil unrest.

Where reasonably practical, AfterEcho shall seek to restore services within commercially reasonable timeframes.

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16. Intellectual Property

All AfterEcho branding, platform designs, software, systems, interfaces and associated intellectual property remain the property of AfterEcho Ltd unless otherwise stated. Users may not:

  • copy platform software;

  • reverse engineer systems;

  • reproduce branding;

  • exploit proprietary systems;

  • misuse platform materials

without prior written permission. Nothing within these Terms transfers ownership of AfterEcho intellectual property to users.

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17. Third-Party Services

AfterEcho may rely upon third-party providers including:

  • cloud infrastructure providers;

  • payment processors;

  • communication providers;

  • verification systems;

  • cyber security providers.

AfterEcho is not responsible for failures attributable solely to third-party services beyond its reasonable control. Third-party services may be governed by separate terms and privacy policies.

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18. Complaints, Disputes & Resolution

Users may submit complaints through official platform contact channels. AfterEcho shall seek to review complaints reasonably and in good faith. Nothing within these Terms prevents users from pursuing statutory legal rights.

Where legally permissible, the parties shall seek to resolve disputes through:

  • good-faith communication;

  • internal review procedures;

  • alternative dispute resolution where appropriate.

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19. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, AfterEcho shall not be liable for:

  • emotional distress;

  • delayed delivery;

  • failed delivery;

  • indirect losses;

  • consequential damages;

  • reputational harm;

  • data corruption;

  • interruption of service;

  • loss of opportunity;

  • loss of profits;

  • third-party misconduct;

  • user misuse of the platform;

  • Recipient reactions to lawful Content.

AfterEcho total aggregate liability arising from the Services shall not exceed the greater of:

  • the amount paid by the user during the preceding 12 months; or

  • £100.

Nothing within these Terms excludes liability that cannot legally be excluded including liability relating to:

  • fraud;

  • fraudulent misrepresentation;

  • death or personal injury caused by negligence where exclusion is prohibited by law.

Users acknowledge that:

  • emotionally sensitive communications inherently carry subjective risk;

  • digital systems cannot guarantee perfect preservation or delivery;

  • safeguarding decisions may require discretionary judgement;

  • automated systems may not detect all harmful content.

Users agree that AfterEcho shall retain broad operational discretion regarding safeguarding interventions undertaken in good faith.

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20. Important Disclaimers
20.1 Security Disclaimer

While AfterEcho employs commercially reasonable security and encryption measures, no online platform can guarantee absolute protection against all cyber risks, data breaches or unauthorised access.

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20.2 Delivery Disclaimer

AfterEcho makes reasonable efforts to deliver scheduled Content according to user instructions but cannot guarantee:

  • exact delivery timing;

  • Recipient accessibility;

  • uninterrupted service availability;

  • successful transmission in all circumstances.

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20.3 Emotional Wellbeing Disclaimer

AfterEcho provides a digital legacy communication platform only and does not provide:

  • counselling;

  • therapy;

  • mental health treatment;

  • bereavement support;

  • legal advice;

  • probate services;

  • healthcare services.

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20.4 Content Responsibility Disclaimer

Users remain solely responsible for the Content they upload, schedule and distribute through the platform.

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20.5 AI & Automation Disclaimer

Any automated moderation, organisational, recommendation or verification systems are intended solely to assist platform operations. Automated systems:

  • are not infallible;

  • may require human review;

  • may generate inaccurate outcomes;

  • should not be relied upon as legal, emotional or professional advice.

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20.6 Preservation Disclaimer

"Lifetime", "Permanent" or similar terminology refers solely to long-term preservation during the operational life of the platform and does not guarantee perpetual storage or indefinite availability.

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20.7 Legal Reliance Disclaimer

No statement within the platform, website or Services constitutes:

  • legal advice;

  • fiduciary advice;

  • regulated financial advice;

  • medical advice;

  • psychiatric advice.

Users should seek independent professional advice where appropriate.

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21. Account Suspension & Termination

AfterEcho may suspend or terminate Accounts where:

  • these Terms are breached;

  • unlawful activity is suspected;

  • misuse occurs;

  • safeguarding risks arise;

  • fraudulent behaviour is identified;

  • cyber security concerns arise;

  • regulatory obligations require intervention.

Following termination, AfterEcho may:

  • preserve relevant evidence;

  • retain legally required records;

  • continue safeguarding reviews;

  • prevent re-registration attempts.

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22. Consumer Rights

Nothing within these Terms excludes or restricts statutory consumer rights available under applicable law. Where any provision is deemed unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in effect.

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23. Changes to These Terms

AfterEcho may update these Terms periodically to reflect:

  • evolving legal obligations;

  • safeguarding standards;

  • technological developments;

  • cyber security developments;

  • operational improvements.

Material updates may be communicated through:

  • website notices;

  • email notifications;

  • Account notifications.

Continued use of the platform following updates constitutes acceptance of revised Terms.

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24. Governing Law & Jurisdiction

These Terms shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of Scotland. Any disputes arising in connection with these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Scottish courts except where mandatory consumer protection law provides otherwise.

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25. Corporate Information

AfterEcho Ltd is intended to operate as the legal entity responsible for the Services. Registered company details, contact information and regulatory notices shall be made available through official platform channels.

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26. Contact

For questions regarding these Terms, safeguarding concerns, privacy matters or legal notices, users should contact AfterEcho through the official platform contact channels.

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