TERMS OF SERVICE — FILES DON’T LIE
1. Acceptance of Terms
By accessing or using FilesDon’tLie.com (the “Site”), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service (“Terms”). If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use this Site.
These Terms were last updated on July 13, 2026.
2. Description of Service
Files Don’t Lie provides research-based analysis of publicly available documents, including declassified government records, FOIA releases, court filings, corporate registries, and other data sources. Our content is for educational and informational purposes only.
We do not provide legal, professional, financial, or security advice. All content should be independently verified.
3. Nature of Our Content
3.1 Primary Sources
Every claim we publish cites a primary source when available. However:
Documents may be incomplete, redacted, or contested
FOIA releases may contain errors or omissions
Historical records may reflect biases of their creators
We present what documents say, not what we believe is true
3.2 AI-Assisted Research
Some research workflows utilize AI tools for document organization and summarization. All content is reviewed by human researchers before publication. We disclose when AI assistance was used on individual articles.
3.3 Entertainment Disclaimer
All content provided by Files Don’t Lie is for entertainment and informational purposes only. It does not constitute factual, legal, or professional advice. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any content presented.
4. User Conduct
By using this Site, you agree NOT to:
Prohibited Activity Example
- Harassment Threatening other users or our team
- Spamming Posting unsolicited commercial links
- Impersonation Pretending to be staff or affiliated entities
- Malicious Use Using our research to facilitate fraud or illegal acts
- Data Scraping Automated extraction of Site content without permission
- Copyright Violation Reproducing our content without attribution or license
- We reserve the right to terminate access for any violation, at our discretion.
5. User Contributions
If you submit content (comments, tip submissions, document suggestions):
- You grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to publish, modify, and display your submission
- You represent that you own or have rights to the content you submit
- You indemnify us against claims arising from your contributions
- We reserve the right to edit, reject, or remove any submission at our discretion
- Submissions do not constitute a guarantee of publication.
6. Intellectual Property
All content created by Files Don’t Lie — including articles, graphics, trademarks, and original research — is owned by Files Don’t Lie and protected by copyright.
Permitted Use
You may:
Share articles via social media with attribution
Quote limited portions (<25% of an article) with citation
Link to our content on other websites
Prohibited Use
You may NOT:
- Reproduce entire articles without written permission
- Sell or license our content commercially
- Remove attribution or copyright notices
- Claim our work as your own
For licensing inquiries:Â contact@filesdontlie.com
7. Third-Party Links & External Sources
Our content links to external sources — government databases, news outlets, academic papers, and other websites. These links are provided for convenience only.
We do not control or endorse third-party content
We are not responsible for the accuracy, legality, or availability of linked sites
Access external links at your own risk
Review each site’s terms and privacy policy independently
8. Limitation of Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law:
We Are Not Liable For Including
- Direct Damages Financial loss, business interruption
- Indirect Damages Consequential harm, lost opportunities
- Incidental Damages Costs arising from site use
- Special Damages Punitive damages, emotional distress
- Our total liability to you shall not exceed $100 USD.
Some jurisdictions do not allow limitation of liability for certain damages. In such cases, our liability is limited to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.
9. Accuracy of Information
While we strive to cite primary sources, information may change, be corrected, or prove inaccurate over time. We:
- Update articles when new documents emerge
- Note corrections visibly within articles
- Retain links to archived versions where possible
- We are not obligated to update content, but we endeavor to maintain accuracy.
10. Privacy & Data Protection
Your use of this Site is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which explains how we collect, use, and protect your information.
If you are a resident of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, or Virginia, you may have additional privacy rights under state law. Details are outlined in our Privacy Policy.
11. Jurisdiction & Governing Law
These Terms are governed by the laws of the United States and the State of Illinois, without regard to conflict of law principles.
Any disputes arising from these Terms shall be resolved exclusively in the courts located in Cook County, Illinois, or the federal courts of the Northern District of Illinois.
Arbitration Clause
Except where prohibited by law, all disputes shall be resolved through binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association under its Commercial Arbitration Rules. Individual arbitration waives class action rights unless you opt out in writing within 30 days of first accepting these Terms.
12. Class Action Waiver
You agree to resolve any dispute with Files Don’t Lie on an individual basis. You waive any right to participate in a class action lawsuit or representative proceeding.
13. Severability
If any provision of these Terms is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
14. Modifications
We reserve the right to update these Terms at any time. Changes become effective upon posting. Continued use of the Site after modifications constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.
Major changes will be communicated via email or Site notification where feasible.
15. Termination
We may suspend or terminate your access to this Site at any time, for any reason, without notice. This includes access to comment sections, newsletters, and any member features.
16. Contact Information
Questions about these Terms? Reach us at:
Email:Â contact@filesdontlie.com