Preparation

All you need to prepare is a PC and an internet connection. Alternatively, this exercise can also take place on a tablet or smartphone.

Method / Process description

Phase 1: Getting started (group work)

To get started, learners should reflect on the meaning of the terms of use of the online services they use (such as email accounts or other social networks). The most important question in relation to services such as Gmail, Facebook or Instagram is:

• Am I aware of the rights I give to the organisation?

The opinions / statements are noted down. These are later checked against the results of the terms of use evaluation. 

Phase 2: Research

Task:

•   Try to find the relevant sections in the terms of use, licence or user agreements that define how the organisation handles users' data and what rights the organisations reserve. 
• Tip: Information from the TOSDR website can be used as a supplement (https://tosdr.org/, in English). 

Phase 3: Reflection

After this exercise, the results are evaluated together: 

• Are the terms of use or other legal information of the website clear and sufficiently explained? 
• Are my rights restricted or are parts of my rights surrendered to the company by using the service? 

References

• Terms of Service I did not read: https://tosdr.org/ (in English)