Terms of Service

The rules of the game. Please read these carefully.

PART I — PRELIMINARY

1. ABOUT READCHIEF AND THESE TERMS

ReadChief (“ReadChief,” “the Platform,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is an anonymous storytelling and narrative-sharing platform accessible at www.readchief.com. It is owned and operated by ReadChief Limited (or its successor entity, “the Company”), a duly registered company under the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

These Terms of Service and User Agreement (“Terms” or “ToS”) constitute a binding legal agreement between you (“User,” “you,” or “your”) and ReadChief governing your access to and use of the Platform, its features, content, tools, and services (collectively, “the Services”). These Terms are to be read alongside our Privacy Policy, and Guidelines, and any other supplementary policies published on the Platform, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

By accessing, registering on, browsing, posting, or otherwise interacting with the Platform in any manner, you represent that you have read, understood, and agreed to be bound by these Terms in their entirety. If you do not agree, you must immediately discontinue all use of the Platform.

2. DEFINITIONS

For the purposes of these Terms, the following definitions shall apply:

  • "Anonymous Content": Any story, narrative, post, comment, or other User Content uploaded to or shared via the Platform without direct attribution to a legally identifiable individual.
  • "Content Violation Notice": A formal written notice submitted to ReadChief in accordance with Section 22 of these Terms alleging that specific User Content infringes upon the legal rights of a third party.
  • "Data Controller": As defined under the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 (“NDPA”) — any person or entity that determines the purpose and means of processing personal data.
  • "Data Subject": Any natural person whose personal data is processed through the Platform.
  • "Intellectual Property Rights": All current and future rights to patents, copyright, design rights, trademarks, trade secrets, database rights, and all other proprietary rights, whether or not registered or registrable, existing anywhere in the world.
  • "Prohibited Content": Any content described in Section 11 of these Terms as impermissible on the Platform.
  • "Registered User": A person who has completed the Platform’s registration process and holds an active account.
  • "User Content": Any text, story, narrative, fiction, non-fiction account, comment, review, rating, image, audio, or other material uploaded, posted, transmitted, or otherwise made available by a User through the Platform.
  • "User": Any natural person who accesses or uses the Platform, whether registered or not.

3. GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. By using the Platform, you irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for resolution of any disputes arising out of or in connection with these Terms or the Platform.

For Users outside Nigeria, these Terms additionally acknowledge compliance obligations under applicable international frameworks, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of the European Union, where applicable, and other relevant national laws. ReadChief does not waive any jurisdictional arguments it may have in connection with proceedings instituted outside Nigeria.

The foregoing notwithstanding, ReadChief reserves the right to seek injunctive or other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction to protect its Intellectual Property Rights or enforce these Terms where urgent relief is required.

4. ELIGIBILITY AND CAPACITY TO CONTRACT

The Platform is intended solely for persons who are eighteen (18) years of age or older and who are legally capable of entering into binding contracts under applicable law. By accessing the Platform, you represent and warrant that:

  • You are at least 18 years of age or, if using the Platform in a jurisdiction where the age of majority is higher, you are of the age of majority in your jurisdiction;
  • You are not barred from receiving services under the laws of Nigeria or any other applicable jurisdiction;
  • You have the full legal capacity and authority to enter into these Terms;
  • You are not accessing the Platform on behalf of a minor or for the purpose of creating or distributing content targeting minors;
  • Your use of the Platform does not violate any applicable law or regulation.

ReadChief reserves the right to terminate any account and refuse Services to any person whom it reasonably suspects does not meet the eligibility requirements set forth herein. In particular, pursuant to the Child Rights Act 2003 of Nigeria and the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 (as amended 2024), ReadChief will take all reasonable steps to prevent access by minors to age-restricted content.

PART II — USER ACCOUNTS AND PLATFORM ACCESS

5. ACCOUNT REGISTRATION

To access certain features of the Platform, you must create an account. In doing so, you agree to:

  • Provide accurate, current, and complete registration information as may be required;
  • Maintain the security and confidentiality of your login credentials;
  • Accept responsibility for all activities conducted through your account;
  • Notify ReadChief immediately at readchieff@gmail.com upon becoming aware of any unauthorised access to or use of your account;
  • Not create multiple accounts to evade sanctions, circumvent restrictions, or manipulate Platform features;
  • Not share your account credentials with any third party.

Account registration is optional. ReadChief permits both registered and anonymous access to the Platform. Where users wish to create an account, ReadChief collects certain registration data as a Data Controller under the NDPA 2023. Your registration data is not publicly displayed and is maintained in confidence, subject to ReadChief’s obligations under applicable law, including any lawful order from a court or competent authority. This data may be disclosed as described in our Privacy Policy or as required by law, including in response to a valid court order compelling identity disclosure in cases involving alleged criminal or tortious conduct.

ReadChief does not collect, store, or process any personal data from Users who access or publish content on the Platform without creating a registered account. Anonymous Users have no profile, no stored credentials, and no personal data held by ReadChief. The data protection provisions in Part VI of these Terms apply solely in respect of Registered Users.

Legal basis for data collection (Registered Users only): Contract performance (Article 2.5(b), NDPA 2023) and legitimate interests (Article 2.5(f), NDPA 2023). ReadChief processes registration data under these grounds to provide the Service and to maintain platform integrity.

6. ANONYMOUS USE — SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS

ReadChief is designed as an anonymous storytelling platform. Users may publish, comment on, and interact with content on the Platform without disclosing their legal identity. The following principles govern anonymous use:

  • ReadChief does not require Users to create an account in order to post content. A User who publishes content anonymously has no profile, no stored login credentials, and no personal data retained by ReadChief in connection with that publication.
  • The absence of stored personal data means ReadChief has no technical ability to independently identify or contact an anonymous publisher. ReadChief’s records for anonymous content are limited to technical metadata (such as IP addresses and timestamps) that may be retained for security, fraud prevention, and legal compliance purposes, to the minimum extent required by applicable law.
  • Anonymous publication does not confer immunity from civil or criminal liability for published content. A User who publishes content in breach of these Terms or applicable law remains legally responsible for such content, and may be subject to civil or criminal proceedings regardless of their anonymity on the Platform.
  • ReadChief may be compelled by a court of competent jurisdiction to disclose any retained technical metadata in connection with content that constitutes a legal violation. See Section 23 (Cooperation with Legal Authorities) and Section 22 (Content Violation Notice Procedure) for further details.
  • Where an anonymous User’s content is the subject of a valid Content Violation Notice under Section 22, ReadChief will act on that notice to the extent of its available remedies, including removal or restriction of the content, notwithstanding the absence of an identifiable account holder.

7. ACCOUNT SUSPENSION AND TERMINATION

Where a User elects to create an account, ReadChief reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to:

  • Suspend or terminate your account immediately and without prior notice if you violate these Terms or any applicable law;
  • Remove, restrict, or decline to publish any User Content that, in ReadChief’s reasonable assessment, violates these Terms, applicable law, or poses a risk of harm to third parties or the Platform;
  • Terminate inactive accounts after twelve (12) consecutive months of inactivity, with reasonable prior notice;
  • Take any other action it deems necessary to protect the Platform, its Users, third parties, or its own legal interests.

Upon termination of your account, your licence to use the Platform ceases immediately, though User Content you have published may remain on the Platform subject to the perpetual licence provisions of Section 9 of these Terms. You may request deletion of your account and associated personal data in accordance with your rights under the NDPA 2023, as described in our Privacy Policy.

PART III — CONTENT GUIDELINES AND CONDUCT

8. NATURE OF THE PLATFORM — FACILITATION, NOT PUBLICATION

ReadChief is a user-generated content platform. We do not author, edit, curate, vet, verify, or endorse User Content. All stories, narratives, posts, and comments published on the Platform are solely the expression and responsibility of the Users who create them.

Consistent with the legal principle of platform facilitation, ReadChief is not the primary publisher of User Content and should not be treated as such. However, in recognition of the evolving Nigerian and international legal landscape — particularly the Lagos High Court ruling in Falana v. Meta (2026), which characterised a technology platform as a "joint data controller" for third-party content and held it liable for failure to maintain accuracy standards — ReadChief has implemented the content moderation, reporting, and takedown mechanisms described herein to fulfil its duty of care obligations.

ReadChief's position is that of an intermediary and facilitator. ReadChief's duty of care to third parties is triggered upon receipt of a valid Content Violation Notice pursuant to Section 22 of these Terms, not by the mere fact of hosting user content. ReadChief disclaims any editorial responsibility for content it has not been specifically notified about.

8.1 AUTOMATED PROCESSING AND AI

To enhance user experience and maintain community safety, ReadChief employs Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automated systems. These systems are used to (a) semantically analyze stories to recommend similar content to readers, and (b) perform preliminary automated content moderation to flag potential violations of our Guidelines (such as hate speech or explicit content). You acknowledge and agree that your User Content will be subject to such automated processing, which operates solely on the content itself without profiling your personal identity.

9. LICENCE GRANTED BY USERS

By uploading or posting any User Content to the Platform, you grant ReadChief a worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive, perpetual, sublicensable, and transferable licence to use, reproduce, store, distribute, display, perform, modify, adapt, translate, create derivative works from, and otherwise leverage your User Content in any medium now known or hereafter developed. This licence specifically includes the right for ReadChief to:

  • Make your content available to other Users and the public;
  • Promote your content on social media or other marketing channels;
  • Use your User Content for the training, testing, and operation of our AI algorithms and recommendation engines;
  • Store and backup your content on our servers.

This licence continues even if you stop using the Platform or delete your account, except as otherwise required by applicable data protection law. You represent and warrant that you hold all necessary rights and consents to grant this licence.

10. USER CONTENT — REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

By submitting any User Content, you represent and warrant to ReadChief that your content:

  • Is your original work or you hold all necessary licences and rights to publish it;
  • Does not defame, malign, libel, slander, or otherwise harm the reputation of any person, company, or institution;
  • Does not infringe the copyright, trademark, trade secret, patent, right of publicity, or any other Intellectual Property Right of any third party;
  • Does not portray any real, identifiable, living person in a false light without their consent;
  • Does not constitute Prohibited Content as defined in Section 11;
  • Does not violate any applicable law, regulation, court order, or third party contractual obligation;
  • Does not contain false or misleading health information or other misinformation about real individuals that could expose them to public ridicule, discrimination, or harm — the exact harm condemned by the court in Falana v. Meta (2026);
  • Does not impersonate any real person, living or dead, in a manner likely to cause confusion or harm;
  • Does not contain the private medical, financial, or personal information of any third party without that party's express consent.

11. PROHIBITED CONTENT

The following categories of content are strictly prohibited on the Platform. You must not upload, post, transmit, or otherwise publish any User Content that:

11.1 Content Violating Persons' Rights

  • Defames, libels, or slanders any identifiable real person, living or dead, through false statements of fact presented as true — whether explicitly or by implication;
  • Portrays any real, identifiable person in a false light — particularly false claims about their health, sexual conduct, criminal activity, professional integrity, or personal character — in violation of Section 37 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and Section 24 of the NDPA 2023;
  • Contains "deepfake" audio, visual, or written content falsely attributing statements, actions, or characteristics to real persons without their consent;
  • Exposes, distributes, or threatens to distribute the private images, communications, or personal data of any person without their consent;
  • Constitutes cyberstalking, cyberbullying, harassment, or intimidation of any real identifiable person, in contravention of Section 24 of the Cybercrimes Act 2015 (as amended);
  • Discloses or implies the private health condition, sexual orientation, financial status, immigration status, or other sensitive personal attribute of any identifiable real person without their consent.

11.2 Content Involving Minors

  • Sexual, romantic, suggestive, or otherwise exploitative content involving persons below the age of eighteen (18) years, in any form, whether explicit, implied, fictional, or artistic;
  • Content that grooms, sexualises, or endangers minors in any way, including content that normalises adult-minor relationships;
  • Content that glorifies, minimises, or facilitates child abuse, trafficking, or exploitation, in contravention of the Child Rights Act 2003 and Sections 22 and 23 of the Cybercrimes Act 2015 (as amended).

11.3 Dangerous, Criminal, or Extremist Content

  • Content that incites, facilitates, or glorifies violence, terrorism, mass harm, or any other criminal act;
  • Content that promotes, glorifies, or recruits for any terrorist or extremist organisation, in contravention of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022;
  • Content that provides instructions or materials for the manufacture or deployment of weapons, explosives, controlled substances, or other dangerous materials;
  • Content designed to facilitate financial fraud, identity theft, phishing, or any other form of economic crime, in contravention of the EFCC (Establishment, etc.) Act 2004 and related legislation.

11.4 Harmful Misinformation

  • Fabricated or materially false factual claims about real, identifiable persons, institutions, or events, particularly where such claims relate to matters of health, safety, or civic life;
  • Disinformation designed to influence electoral processes, incite public disorder, or undermine constitutional institutions;
  • Health misinformation that could endanger the physical or mental wellbeing of readers.

11.5 Intellectual Property Infringement

  • Unauthorised reproduction of copyrighted literary works, including substantial portions of books, articles, scripts, or lyrics;
  • Plagiarism — submission of another person's work as your own;
  • Unauthorised use of registered or unregistered trademarks in a manner likely to cause confusion.

11.6 Other Prohibited Content

  • Hate speech — content that promotes, incites, or glorifies hatred against any person or group on grounds of ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, or other protected characteristic;
  • Obscene, pornographic, or graphic sexual content not flagged under any applicable content classification system, particularly where accessible to unverified audiences;
  • Spam, unsolicited commercial communications, pyramid schemes, or manipulative viral content;
  • Content that misrepresents its source or authorship, including impersonation of ReadChief or its personnel;
  • Any content whose publication would violate a subsisting injunction, court order, or applicable confidentiality obligation.

Regulatory basis for prohibited content: Sections 24 and 27 of the Cybercrimes Act 2015 (as amended 2024); Section 375, Criminal Code Act; Sections 24 and 34, NDPA 2023; Section 37, Constitution of FRN 1999; Child Rights Act 2003; Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022. Violation of these provisions may attract civil liability, criminal prosecution, or both.

PART IV — INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

12. READCHIEF'S INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

The Platform, including its design, software, algorithms, source code, databases, visual elements, branding, logo, trade name, user interface, and all content created by ReadChief ("Platform IP"), is the exclusive intellectual property of ReadChief and is protected under the Copyright Act 2022 of Nigeria, applicable trademark law, and international intellectual property conventions to which Nigeria is a party, including the Berne Convention.

Nothing in these Terms transfers any ownership of Platform IP to you. You are granted a limited, revocable, non-exclusive, non-transferable, personal licence to access and use the Platform solely for lawful personal use in accordance with these Terms. This licence does not include the right to:

  • Copy, modify, distribute, sell, or lease any part of the Platform;
  • Reverse-engineer, decompile, disassemble, or attempt to extract source code;
  • Access the Platform through automated means (bots, scrapers, crawlers) without prior written authorisation;
  • Frame or mirror any portion of the Platform on any other website or application.

13. COPYRIGHT IN USER CONTENT — OWNERSHIP AND RESPONSIBILITIES

You retain copyright in all original User Content you create and publish on the Platform. ReadChief does not claim ownership of your stories. However, by publishing on the Platform, you grant the licence described in Section 9.

You are solely responsible for ensuring that your User Content does not infringe the copyright or other Intellectual Property Rights of any third party. This includes ensuring that:

  • Any characters, settings, or narratives drawn from copyrighted works are used within the bounds of fair use or equivalent doctrine under applicable law;
  • You do not publish verbatim reproductions of third-party copyrighted text without authorisation;
  • "Fan fiction" or derivative works that use characters from copyrighted franchises are clearly marked as such and do not purport to be authorised by or affiliated with the original rights holder.

ReadChief will respond to valid copyright infringement complaints in accordance with the takedown procedure in Section 22 and in compliance with applicable intellectual property law.

PART V — LIABILITY FRAMEWORK AND INDEMNIFICATION

14. READCHIEF'S PLATFORM LIABILITY POSITION

ReadChief operates as a neutral facilitating intermediary. ReadChief does not review, approve, verify, or endorse User Content prior to publication. The following liability principles apply:

14.1 No Pre-Publication Review

ReadChief does not screen, vet, or approve User Content before it is posted. The Platform hosts millions of pieces of content and cannot realistically pre-moderate all content without fundamentally compromising the nature of an open creative platform. This is consistent with the general principle recognised in Nigerian and international jurisprudence that platforms should not be held to an impossible standard of omniscient prior review.

14.2 Post-Notice Liability

ReadChief's liability exposure for User Content is triggered upon receipt of a valid Content Violation Notice as defined in and submitted in accordance with Section 22 of these Terms. Upon receipt of such notice, ReadChief's duty of care requires it to investigate and, where appropriate, remove or restrict access to the impugned content within a reasonable time. The Falana v. Meta (2026) judgment demonstrates that Nigerian courts will assess platform liability in cases where:

  • A platform hosts content containing false personal information about an identifiable individual;
  • The original uploader cannot be identified or is a phantom entity;
  • The platform failed to act promptly upon notification or failed to implement adequate content verification mechanisms;
  • The platform is described as a "joint data controller" for the purposes of the NDPA 2023 and is found to have processed inaccurate personal data without a lawful basis.

ReadChief mitigates these risks through: (a) a robust content reporting mechanism; (b) a clear takedown procedure; (c) retention of User identity data (privately) to enable future identification if required by a court; and (d) enforceable representations and indemnities from all Users.

14.3 No Warranty as to User Content

ReadChief makes no representation, warranty, or guarantee as to the accuracy, completeness, legality, or appropriateness of any User Content. The Platform expressly disclaims any liability for harm resulting from reliance on User Content.

14.4 Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE NIGERIAN LAW, READCHIEF SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR:

  • Any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of or inability to use the Platform;
  • Any loss of data, goodwill, profits, revenue, or business opportunity resulting from your use of the Platform;
  • Any damages arising from User Content published by third parties, where ReadChief has not been given prior valid notice of the harmful nature of such content;
  • Any unauthorised access to or alteration of your data or transmissions;
  • Any harm resulting from technical failures, interruptions, or security breaches beyond ReadChief's reasonable control.

Where liability cannot be excluded under applicable law, ReadChief's total aggregate liability to you shall in no event exceed the total amount, if any, paid by you to ReadChief in the twelve (12) months preceding the event giving rise to the claim, or the sum of ₦50,000 (Fifty Thousand Naira), whichever is lower.

This limitation of liability clause is consistent with and permissible under Section 16 of the Consumer Protection Framework and applicable Nigerian contract law principles. It does not exclude liability for death or personal injury caused by ReadChief's negligence, or for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation.

15. USER INDEMNIFICATION

You agree to fully indemnify, defend, and hold harmless ReadChief, its officers, directors, employees, shareholders, licensors, agents, legal counsel, and successors (collectively, "Indemnified Parties") from and against any and all claims, actions, proceedings, demands, liabilities, losses, damages, costs, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or in connection with:

  • Your use of or access to the Platform;
  • Your User Content, including any allegation that it defames, infringes, invades privacy, or otherwise violates the rights of any person;
  • Your violation of any provision of these Terms;
  • Your violation of any applicable law or regulation, including but not limited to the NDPA 2023, the Cybercrimes Act 2015 (as amended), the Copyright Act 2022, the Defamation Act, or the Criminal Code Act;
  • Any third-party claim arising from your User Content, including claims for breach of privacy, false light, defamation, harassment, data protection violations, or intellectual property infringement;
  • Any claim brought against ReadChief in a Nigerian or foreign court arising from your conduct on the Platform.

This indemnity shall survive termination of these Terms and your cessation of use of the Platform. ReadChief reserves the right to assume sole control of the defence and settlement of any matter subject to indemnification by you, at your cost.

PART VI — DATA PROTECTION AND PRIVACY

16. DATA PROTECTION FRAMEWORK

ReadChief processes personal data as a Data Controller under the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 (NDPA 2023), the General Application and Implementation Directive (GAID) 2025, and all applicable Nigerian data protection regulations. Where Users are located in the European Union or other jurisdictions with applicable data protection laws, ReadChief additionally acknowledges and complies with such laws to the extent required.

ReadChief's comprehensive Privacy Policy governs the collection, use, retention, transfer, and protection of your personal data, and is incorporated into these Terms by reference. The key principles governing our data processing are:

  • Lawfulness, fairness, and transparency — data is processed only on a lawful basis;
  • Purpose limitation — data is collected for specified, explicit, and legitimate purposes;
  • Data minimisation — only data that is adequate, relevant, and necessary is collected;
  • Accuracy — reasonable steps are taken to keep data accurate and up to date;
  • Storage limitation — data is retained only for as long as is necessary for the stated purpose;
  • Integrity and confidentiality — appropriate technical and organisational security measures are implemented.

17. CONSENT, LAWFUL BASIS, AND SENSITIVE DATA

Registration and use of the Platform constitutes your informed consent to the data processing activities described in our Privacy Policy, subject to your right to withdraw consent at any time. ReadChief processes User data on the following lawful bases under the NDPA 2023:

  • Contract performance: Processing necessary to deliver the Services you have requested.
  • Legitimate interests: Processing necessary for platform security, fraud prevention, legal compliance, and improvement of the Platform.
  • Legal obligation: Processing required to comply with a legal or regulatory requirement.
  • Consent: Processing for marketing communications or analytics, where explicitly consented to.

ReadChief does not intentionally collect or process sensitive personal data (including health information, biometric data, religious beliefs, political opinions, or sexual orientation) through the Platform's registration process. If any such information is inadvertently included in User Content, you acknowledge that you have taken responsibility for its lawful disclosure.

Falana v. Meta (2026) relevance: The Lagos High Court found Meta liable in part because it processed sensitive health information (Mr. Falana's purported medical condition) without a lawful basis and without accuracy verification, in breach of Section 24(1)(a) and (e), NDPA 2023. ReadChief addresses this risk by: (1) prohibiting content containing false health claims about real persons (Section 11); (2) implementing a takedown procedure triggered by notice (Section 22); and (3) retaining private user registration data to enable legal accountability.

18. DATA SUBJECT RIGHTS

As a Data Subject under the NDPA 2023, you have the following rights which you may exercise by writing to us at readchieff@gmail.com:

  • Right to Access: You may request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
  • Right to Rectification: You may request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal data.
  • Right to Erasure: You may request deletion of your personal data where we no longer have a lawful basis to process it, subject to overriding legal obligations.
  • Right to Restriction: You may request that we restrict the processing of your personal data in certain circumstances.
  • Right to Data Portability: You may request transfer of your personal data to another platform in a structured, machine-readable format.
  • Right to Object: You may object to processing of your personal data based on legitimate interests or for direct marketing purposes.
  • Right to Withdraw Consent: Where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw consent at any time without affecting the lawfulness of processing prior to withdrawal.

ReadChief will respond to valid data subject requests within 30 days of receipt, which period may be extended by a further 60 days in complex cases, with notice to you. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) if you believe your data rights have been infringed.

19. DATA RETENTION

ReadChief retains your personal data for the period necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, and in accordance with the following minimum retention periods:

  • Account registration data: Three (3) years from the date of last active use of the Platform, consistent with the NDPR Implementation Framework, Section 8.2.
  • User Content metadata: Six (6) years from the date of publication, or such longer period as may be required by applicable law.
  • Legal hold data: Indefinitely, where the data is the subject of actual or threatened litigation, regulatory investigation, or court order.
  • Transaction records: Six (6) years in accordance with applicable financial and commercial recordkeeping obligations.

Upon expiry of applicable retention periods, personal data will be securely deleted or anonymised. You may request earlier deletion subject to the right to erasure provisions in Section 18.

20. CROSS-BORDER DATA TRANSFERS

ReadChief may use third-party service providers (including hosting, analytics, and support services) located outside Nigeria. Where personal data is transferred outside Nigeria, ReadChief shall ensure that adequate safeguards are in place in accordance with Article 43 of the NDPA 2023, including binding corporate rules, standard contractual clauses, or transfer to jurisdictions that the NDPC has determined offer adequate protection.

PART VII — CONTENT VIOLATION NOTICES AND TAKEDOWN PROCEDURE

21. CONTENT MODERATION PHILOSOPHY

ReadChief believes in the freedom of creative expression and the power of anonymous storytelling. However, this freedom is not absolute. ReadChief is committed to maintaining a Platform where creative freedom is exercised responsibly and within the bounds of applicable law. Our content moderation approach is based on the following principles:

  • We do not pre-moderate all content but rely on a robust community reporting system and algorithmic flagging;
  • We act promptly upon receipt of valid Content Violation Notices;
  • We give Users opportunity to respond to notices where appropriate and not legally prohibited;
  • We maintain transparency about the types of content we remove and the legal basis for doing so;
  • We cooperate fully with lawful orders and requests from competent courts and authorities.

22. CONTENT VIOLATION NOTICE PROCEDURE

If you believe that any content on the Platform violates your legal rights — including rights to privacy, defamation, intellectual property, or data protection — you may submit a Content Violation Notice to ReadChief using the following procedure:

22.1 How to Submit a Notice

All Content Violation Notices must be submitted in writing to:

ReadChief Legal & Compliance Department

Email: readchieff@gmail.com

Subject line: "CONTENT VIOLATION NOTICE — [Nature of Claim]"

22.2 Required Information

A valid Content Violation Notice must include all of the following:

  • Your full legal name and contact details (including email address and phone number);
  • A clear description of the content that you allege violates your rights, including the precise URL or location of the content on the Platform;
  • A detailed explanation of the legal right(s) you allege have been violated (e.g., defamation, copyright infringement, breach of privacy, false light);
  • A sworn statement or solemn declaration that the information provided in the notice is accurate and true to the best of your knowledge and belief;
  • A statement that you have a good faith belief that the use of the content in the manner complained of is not authorised by law or the right holder;
  • Copies of any supporting documentation (e.g., identification documents, evidence of ownership, screenshots);
  • Where available, any evidence of prior notifications to ReadChief about the same or related content.

22.3 ReadChief's Response Timeline

Upon receipt of a valid and complete Content Violation Notice, ReadChief shall:

  • Acknowledge receipt within 48 hours;
  • Complete an initial assessment of the notice within 5 business days;
  • Remove, restrict, or geo-block the impugned content within 10 business days of completing its assessment, where the notice is deemed valid;
  • Notify the User who posted the content (where possible and not legally prohibited) of the notice and the action taken;
  • Where a notice is incomplete or lacks sufficient detail, request additional information from the notifier within 5 business days.

These timelines may be extended in cases of particular complexity, legal uncertainty, or where ReadChief reasonably requires legal counsel. ReadChief shall notify the notifier in writing of any extensions.

22.4 Counter-Notice Procedure

A User whose content has been removed pursuant to a Content Violation Notice may submit a counter-notice to readchieff@gmail.com within 10 business days of receiving notice of removal. A valid counter-notice must:

  • Identify the specific content removed and its URL;
  • Explain in detail why the notifier's claim is legally unfounded;
  • Include a sworn statement or solemn declaration that the counter-notice is made in good faith and that the User accepts legal jurisdiction of the relevant Nigerian courts for resolution of the dispute;
  • Include the User's contact information.

ReadChief may restore removed content following a valid counter-notice, unless the original notifier initiates formal legal proceedings and provides ReadChief with notice thereof within 15 business days.

22.5 Abuse of Notice Procedure

Submitting a knowingly false or malicious Content Violation Notice is a serious violation of these Terms and may itself constitute a tortious act or criminal offence under applicable law, including defamation and abuse of process. ReadChief reserves the right to reject notices that it reasonably concludes are submitted in bad faith, to terminate the accounts of Users who persistently file false counter-notices, and to report fraudulent notices to the appropriate authorities.

PART VIII — LAW ENFORCEMENT COOPERATION AND LEGAL COMPLIANCE

23. COOPERATION WITH LEGAL AUTHORITIES

ReadChief is committed to full compliance with applicable Nigerian law and to cooperation with legitimate law enforcement activities. Accordingly:

  • ReadChief shall comply with valid court orders, judicial summonses, warrants, production orders, and any other lawful legal process requiring disclosure of User information or content, including orders issued pursuant to the Cybercrimes Act 2015 (as amended 2024), the NDPA 2023, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment, etc.) Act 2004;
  • ReadChief shall respond to valid requests from the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and other competent regulatory bodies within the prescribed legal timelines;
  • ReadChief shall preserve User data for a reasonable period upon receipt of a lawful preservation request from a competent authority, even before a formal production order is issued;
  • ReadChief shall not proactively disclose User information to third parties except as required by law, expressly permitted by these Terms, or authorised by the affected User.

Users are notified through these Terms that their use of the Platform does not guarantee absolute anonymity, and that User identity information may be compelled to be disclosed by a court of competent jurisdiction. This notice satisfies ReadChief's transparency obligations under the NDPA 2023.

24. EMERGENCY DISCLOSURE

Notwithstanding any other provision of these Terms, ReadChief reserves the right to make emergency disclosures of User information without a court order or formal legal process where ReadChief has a good faith reasonable belief that:

  • There is an imminent risk of death or serious physical harm to a person;
  • A child is in immediate danger;
  • A disclosure is necessary to prevent or investigate a terrorist act or serious organised crime.

Any such emergency disclosure will be made only to the extent necessary to address the emergency and will be logged and reported to the NDPC or other relevant authority as may be required by applicable law.

PART IX — SPECIFIC RISKS AND SPECIAL SITUATIONS

25. REAL PERSONS IN FICTION — LEGAL RISK DISCLOSURE

A core risk unique to an anonymous storytelling platform is the use of real persons — whether public figures, private individuals, or thinly-veiled versions of real people — in User Content. Users are specifically cautioned as follows:

  • Writing fiction about real, identifiable persons without their consent may constitute defamation, invasion of privacy, false light, or misappropriation of identity under Nigerian law, even if the content is labelled as "fiction";
  • The Falana v. Meta judgment (Lagos High Court, 2026) establishes that false health information about a real person, processed and distributed through a digital platform, constitutes "unlawful processing of sensitive personal data" in breach of the NDPA 2023 — even if the original publisher intended it as a commercial parody or fabrication;
  • "Satire" and "parody" are recognised defences under Nigerian law and international standards, but only where the satirical or parodic nature of the content is clearly apparent to a reasonable reader and the content does not make false statements of fact;
  • Public figures (politicians, celebrities, public officials) enjoy reduced privacy protection in respect of their exercise of public functions, but retain full privacy rights in relation to their health, family, private relationships, and other personal matters;
  • Any story that is based on real events or real people must include a clear, prominent disclaimer stating that names, identifying details, characters, places, and incidents are fictionalised and any resemblance to real persons or events is coincidental, if that is in fact the case.

26. HEALTH-RELATED CONTENT

In view of the specific facts of the Falana v. Meta litigation, ReadChief draws particular attention to content involving health information. Users must not:

  • Attribute false medical conditions, diagnoses, or health struggles to any real, identifiable person;
  • Publish fabricated testimonials or confessions involving a real person's health status;
  • Create content that mimics or appropriates a real person's voice, image, or identity to promote or endorse any health product or service without that person's consent;
  • Disseminate health misinformation that could endanger readers.

Such content will be treated as a priority takedown request and may be removed without prior notice upon ReadChief becoming aware of it, regardless of whether a formal Content Violation Notice has been submitted.

27. JURISDICTION-SPECIFIC COMPLIANCE NOTICES

27.1 Nigerian Users

Nigerian Users are subject to the full application of Nigerian law, including the NDPA 2023, the Cybercrimes Act 2015 (as amended 2024), the Criminal Code Act, the Penal Code (for States where applicable), and the constitutional provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). Violations of these laws on the Platform may attract civil and/or criminal consequences independent of any action ReadChief takes under these Terms.

27.2 European Union and EEA Users

Users resident in the European Union or European Economic Area have additional rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (EU) 2016/679. Where GDPR applies, ReadChief processes personal data on the lawful bases of contract performance, legitimate interests, and consent, as applicable. EU/EEA Users have the right to lodge a complaint with their local data protection supervisory authority.

27.3 United Kingdom Users

Users in the United Kingdom have rights under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. ReadChief's processing of UK User data is governed by these instruments in addition to Nigerian law.

27.4 Minors — Global

ReadChief does not permit users under 18 to register or use the Platform. Where ReadChief discovers that a minor has registered, the account will be immediately terminated and data deleted in accordance with applicable child protection laws, including the NDPA 2023, the Child Rights Act 2003, and the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) where applicable.

PART X — PLATFORM DISCLAIMERS

28. SERVICE AVAILABILITY DISCLAIMER

The Platform is provided on an "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" basis without warranties of any kind, express or implied. ReadChief does not warrant that:

  • The Platform will be available, uninterrupted, timely, or error-free;
  • Defects will be corrected;
  • The Platform is free of viruses or other harmful components;
  • The results obtained from using the Platform will be accurate or reliable.

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable Nigerian law, ReadChief expressly disclaims all warranties, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.

29. THIRD-PARTY LINKS AND SERVICES

The Platform may contain links to third-party websites, applications, or services. ReadChief does not endorse, control, or assume any responsibility for the content, privacy practices, or reliability of third-party services. Access to third-party services is at your own risk and subject to the terms and privacy policies of those third parties.

30. FORCE MAJEURE

ReadChief shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performing its obligations under these Terms to the extent such failure or delay results from circumstances beyond ReadChief's reasonable control, including acts of God, natural disasters, power outages, telecommunications failures, governmental actions, civil unrest, pandemics, cyberattacks, or other force majeure events. ReadChief shall notify Users of any significant service interruptions caused by force majeure as soon as reasonably practicable.

PART XI — DISPUTE RESOLUTION

31. INFORMAL RESOLUTION

In the event of any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or your use of the Platform (a "Dispute"), you agree to first contact ReadChief at readchieff@gmail.com and attempt to resolve the Dispute informally. ReadChief shall make reasonable efforts to resolve your concerns within 30 days of receipt of your complaint.

32. MEDIATION

If informal resolution is unsuccessful, the parties agree to refer the Dispute to mediation administered under the Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse (LMDC) Mediation Rules or such other mediation framework as the parties may agree. Mediation shall be conducted in Lagos, Nigeria, in the English language, and shall be confidential.

33. LITIGATION

If mediation fails to resolve the Dispute within 60 days of commencement, either party may institute proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction in Nigeria. By accepting these Terms, you submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of:

  • The High Court of Lagos State, for claims arising under Lagos State law;
  • The Federal High Court of Nigeria, for claims arising under federal legislation (including the NDPA 2023 and the Cybercrimes Act);
  • The National Industrial Court of Nigeria, for employment-related claims.

You waive any objection to the jurisdiction and venue of these courts on grounds of inconvenient forum, provided that ReadChief may seek emergency injunctive relief from any court of competent jurisdiction.

34. LIMITATION PERIOD

Any claim or cause of action arising from these Terms or your use of the Platform must be filed within two (2) years of the date the claim arose, or the date on which you reasonably ought to have known of the circumstances giving rise to the claim, whichever is earlier. This limitation period applies to the maximum extent permitted by applicable Nigerian law.

PART XII — AMENDMENTS, SEVERABILITY AND GENERAL PROVISIONS

35. AMENDMENTS TO THESE TERMS

ReadChief reserves the right to amend these Terms at any time. Where changes are material, ReadChief shall:

  • Provide at least 30 days' prior written notice of the changes via registered email and a prominent notice on the Platform;
  • Identify the sections changed and provide a plain-language summary of the key amendments;
  • Obtain renewed consent from Users where required by applicable law.

Your continued use of the Platform following the effective date of amended Terms constitutes your acceptance of the amended Terms. If you do not agree to the amendments, you must cease using the Platform and may request deletion of your account and personal data as described in our Privacy Policy.

36. SEVERABILITY

If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, that provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, or severed from these Terms if modification is not possible, and the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

37. ENTIRE AGREEMENT

These Terms, together with ReadChief's Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, Content Guidelines, and any other policies incorporated by reference, constitute the entire agreement between you and ReadChief with respect to the Platform and supersede all prior agreements, representations, and understandings.

38. WAIVER

ReadChief's failure to enforce any provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of its right to enforce such provision in the future. No waiver of any provision shall be effective unless in writing and signed by an authorised representative of ReadChief.

39. ASSIGNMENT

You may not assign or transfer your rights or obligations under these Terms without ReadChief's prior written consent. ReadChief may freely assign its rights and obligations under these Terms to any affiliate, successor, or purchaser of all or substantially all of ReadChief's business or assets.

40. NO PARTNERSHIP OR AGENCY

Nothing in these Terms creates or shall be construed as creating a partnership, joint venture, employment relationship, or agency relationship between you and ReadChief.