Terms of Service

Agreement to These Terms

By creating an account and using Needinput's services, you agree to these Terms of Service. I operate a legal business and expect all users to conduct themselves lawfully. If you do not agree to these terms, do not use this service.

What You Can Expect From Me

I provide unmanaged virtual private servers with privacy-first infrastructure. You get:

  • Full control over your VM via root access
  • Encrypted storage, with the option of customer-controlled passphrases
  • Minimal data collection (name, email, billing info only)
  • No monitoring of your activity or content
  • No voluntary sharing of your data with third parties
  • Protection of your privacy even against legal requests, except where proper legal process is followed

What I Expect From You

Your use of this service must comply with applicable US law. I prohibit the following conduct:

  • Harassment, doxing, and coordinated attacks: Any activity designed to harass, intimidate, or expose individuals without consent
  • Unauthorized access and malware: Black-hat hacking, malware distribution, DDoS attacks, or unauthorized access to systems you do not own
  • Terrorism and violent extremism: Activities intended to promote, organize, or facilitate terrorism or violent extremism
  • Child exploitation: Any content or activity related to child sexual abuse material or the exploitation of minors
  • Spam and mass unsolicited communications: Bulk email, SMS, or other communications designed for commercial advertising or scams
  • Imminent threat of harm: Activity that poses an imminent threat of harm to persons or public safety

These prohibitions are the core limitations. I do not attempt to enumerate every possible illegal activity—the standard is simple: don't use this service to break US law or directly harm people.

What I Actively Support

I want to be clear about what I encourage and support:

  • Legitimate security research: White-hat hacking, penetration testing, and security research are not only allowed but encouraged. The internet is safer because of your work.
  • Lawful activism and advocacy: Political speech, activism, journalism, and advocacy—regardless of viewpoint—are protected. I do not judge you based on your political beliefs or causes.
  • Pseudonymous and anonymous speech: You can use a pseudonym or remain anonymous. I don't require real-world identity verification. This is intentional.
  • Privacy-enhancing technologies and practices: VPNs, encryption tools, Tor, and other privacy technologies are welcome. I support your right to protect your own data and communications.
  • Lawful activities in jurisdictions where they are legal: If something is legal where you are, I will not judge you based on its legal status in other countries.

You Are Responsible for Your Actions

Your VM is yours. What you do on it is your responsibility, not mine. I am not liable for:

  • How you use the service or what data you store
  • Damages, data loss, or harm resulting from your actions
  • Third-party claims about your conduct
  • Service interruptions, data corruption, or other technical failures (though I work to prevent these)

You agree to indemnify and hold me harmless from any claims arising from your use of this service.

Legal Requests and Your Privacy

If I receive a legal request for your data (subpoena, warrant, law enforcement request), I will:

  1. Review the request to ensure it meets a clear legal standard: documented criminal activity or an imminent threat to safety
  2. Comply only with valid, properly documented requests
  3. Notify you if legally permitted to do so
  4. Defend against overreach, even if it requires legal fees

I will not provide data in response to vague, overbroad, or legally questionable requests. If I believe a request is improper, I will resist it, and you will be notified.

Service Availability and Changes

I provide this service on an "as-is" basis. I do not guarantee:

  • Specific uptime percentages
  • That the service will never be interrupted
  • That bugs or vulnerabilities won't occur

I work diligently to maintain service quality and security. If service is interrupted for maintenance or emergency reasons, I will communicate this to you. I reserve the right to modify service terms with reasonable notice.

Termination

I reserve the right to terminate your account if:

  • You violate these Terms of Service (particularly the prohibited conduct section)
  • Your activity poses a direct threat to my infrastructure, other users, or public safety
  • You are unresponsive to attempts to address a serious violation

Termination will include a notice explaining the reason. In cases of imminent harm, I may terminate immediately and explain afterward. Upon termination, I will provide you reasonable time to retrieve your data, subject to the constraints of any legal hold.

Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, I am not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages, including lost profits or data loss, even if I've been advised of the possibility of such damages. My total liability is limited to the amount you've paid me in the past 12 months.

Dispute Resolution

These terms are governed by the laws of the United States. Any disputes will be resolved through binding arbitration rather than court proceedings, except where a court has exclusive jurisdiction. Arbitration is faster and less expensive for both of us.

Changes to These Terms

I may modify these terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated to you via email. Your continued use of the service after changes means you accept the new terms.

Contact

If you have questions about these terms, or if you believe I've violated them, please reach out directly.
support@needinput.host