Editing Acceptable use policy (section)

==Common elements of AUP statements==
[[Acceptable use policy|Acceptable use policies]] (AUPs) typically include a core set of provisions that address [[Compliance (law)|legal compliance]], [[Responsibility|user responsibility]], and institutional safeguards. According to guidance from the [[Virginia Department of Education]], an effective AUP should align with applicable [[Telecommunication|telecommunications]] laws and reflect broader regulatory expectations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Acceptable Internet Use Policy {{!}} Virginia Department of Education |url=https://www.doe.virginia.gov/programs-services/school-operations-support-services/safety-crisis-management/internet-safety/acceptable-internet-use-policy |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250202003427/https://www.doe.virginia.gov/programs-services/school-operations-support-services/safety-crisis-management/internet-safety/acceptable-internet-use-policy |archive-date=2025-02-02 |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=www.doe.virginia.gov |language=en}}</ref> This includes reference to national legislation such as the [[Children's Internet Protection Act|Children’s Internet Protection Act]] (CIPA) in the [[United States]], which mandates certain [[internet safety]] measures in [[School|schools]] and [[Library|libraries]] receiving federal funding.<ref>{{Cite web |title=47 U.S. Code § 254 - Universal service |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/47/254 |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=LII / Legal Information Institute |language=en}}</ref>

AUPs also commonly include statements aimed at protecting [[Information privacy|user privacy]] and personal safety in digital environments. These provisions encourage secure and ethical behavior, discourage the disclosure of [[Personal data|personally identifiable information]], and often reference privacy-focused legislation, such as the [[Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act]] (FERPA) in the educational context.<ref>{{Cite web |title=FERPA {{!}} Protecting Student Privacy |url=https://studentprivacy.ed.gov/ferpa |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=studentprivacy.ed.gov}}</ref> More generally, these clauses are designed to prevent misuse of institutional systems that could expose individuals to harm or [[Data breach|data compromise]].

Another essential element is the emphasis on respecting [[copyright]] and [[intellectual property]] laws. AUPs typically prohibit unauthorized reproduction or distribution of protected materials and may include brief explanations of [[fair use]] principles, especially in contexts where users engage with instructional or research-based digital content.<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED244642 |title=Reproduction of Copyrighted Works by Educators and Librarians. Circular R21 |date=1978 |publisher=Superintendent of Documents, U |language=en}}</ref>

Many policies extend beyond these foundational areas to enumerate specific forms of [[Misconduct|prohibited conduct]]. These can include [[unauthorized access]] to restricted systems, installation of unapproved software, intentional distribution of [[Malware|malicious code]], or the use of institutional platforms for [[harassment]] or [[Discrimination|discriminatory behavior]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Information Security Policy Templates {{!}} SANS Institute |url=https://www.sans.org/information-security-policy/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=www.sans.org}}</ref> AUPs often outline institutional rights to [[Computer and network surveillance|monitoring]] digital activity and enforce penalties for violations, which may range from temporary account suspension to formal [[Discipline (academia)|disciplinary]] or [[Lawsuit|legal action]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Technology Acceptable use {{!}} Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences |url=https://seas.harvard.edu/office-human-resources/policies/technology-acceptable-use |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=seas.harvard.edu}}</ref> In some cases, policies also reserve the right to revise their terms unilaterally, allowing administrators to update acceptable use conditions without individualized notice to users.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Satariano |first=Adam |last2=McCabe |first2=David |date=2024-03-04 |title=Forced to Change: Tech Giants Bow to Global Onslaught of Rules |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/04/technology/europe-apple-meta-google-microsoft.html |access-date=2025-04-30 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>