Ethical Guidelines Explained

At Bright Data, our mission is to empower businesses with the data they need while upholding the highest standards of ethical and legal practices. This commitment is reflected in our Acceptable Use Policy, designed to clarify how our network should and should not be used.

Our network is built to support a variety of verified and legitimate activities that drive business growth and innovation. Here’s a look at some approved use cases:

• Website Testing: Ensuring websites run smoothly and efficiently.
• Price Comparison: Helping consumers find the best deals.
• Travel Data Aggregation: Assisting in planning and comparing travel options.
• Brand Protection: Safeguarding businesses from counterfeits or unauthorized use.
• Business Intelligence: Facilitating informed strategic decisions.

These activities not only respect the integrity of the web but also contribute positively to market dynamics and consumer welfare.

We maintain a zero-tolerance policy for specific activities to ensure our network remains safe, ethical, and compliant. Such prohibited uses include:

• Cyber Attacks: Like DDoS attacks which harm websites and their users.
• Spamming: This clutters the web and diminishes the user experience.
• Ad and Click Fraud: Undermining the integrity of digital advertising.
• Illegal Activities: Such as fake account creation, fraud, or illegal content distribution.
• Unauthorized Data Collection: In compliance with legal standards for user privacy and data security, the collection of data from behind login or sign-in barriers is strictly forbidden.
• SEO Manipulation: To ensure fairness in search engine results.

These restrictions are in place not just to adhere to laws but to foster a trustworthy digital environment.

Content Blocking and Service Limitations
To further protect the integrity of our network, we proactively block certain types of web content, such as adult content or harmful domains. These decisions, made at our discretion, are continually reviewed and adapted. We may limit usage to prevent any harm or service disruption, ensuring the safety of all involved parties.

Your Role in Maintaining Network Integrity
We welcome and encourage our users to report any misuse or suspicious activities through our dedicated channels. This collective vigilance helps maintain a secure and ethical data environment.

By understanding and adhering to our Acceptable Use Policy, outlined in our Master Service Agreement, users of Bright Data can confidently leverage our services, knowing they are part of a network committed to ethical data collection and use.

Our policy is more than a set of rules; it's a reflection of our commitment to ethical data use and the trust our clients place in us.

Building on our commitment to ethical and responsible use of our network, as mentioned in our Acceptable Use Policy, it's crucial to highlight the specific activities that fall outside the bounds of acceptable use. Our zero-tolerance policy against non-compliant traffic and unauthorized network activities is designed to maintain the integrity and security of our services, ensuring they are used in ways that are both legal and ethical. Below is a detailed list of activities that are strictly prohibited on our network:

• Cybersecurity Threats: Such as DDoS attacks, which can cripple websites and harm users.
• Spamming Activities: Including mass postings on email, message boards, IRC, and comment sections.
• Fraudulent Advertising: Such as ad fraud or click fraud, which undermines the digital advertising ecosystem.
• Impersonation and Spoofing: Used for fraudulent purposes or to deceive users.
• Creating Fake Accounts or Content: This can lead to misinformation and trust issues.
• Automated Ticket Purchasing: Through the use of ticket-bots, which can disrupt fair ticket distribution.
• Illegal Betting and Gambling: Including raffles, lotteries, or any form of unauthorized gambling.
• Fake Social Media Engagement: Such as likes, comments, and shares, which can falsely inflate popularity.
• Unauthorized Data Collection: Especially collecting nonpublic information behind login screens.
• Gaming and Trading Violations: Including in-game items or currency trading without proper authorization.
• Unauthorized Reselling of Proxies: Without Bright Data's written consent.
• Streaming-Related Domain Use: Involving videos, music, or images without proper rights.
• Crypto and NFT Trading: This can be highly speculative and risky.
• SEO Manipulation: Such is generating fake clicks in search engine results.
• Posting on Classified Sites: Like Craigslist, for any unauthorized commercial purpose.
• Survey Completion for Incentives: Where responses are incentivized or manipulated.
• Legal and Rights Violations: Any activity that contravenes laws and regulations or infringes on third-party rights.

This comprehensive list reflects our proactive stance in ensuring that Bright Data's services are not used for harmful or illegal activities. By adhering to these guidelines, we can collectively foster a secure, trustworthy, and ethical digital environment.

We encourage users to report any misuse or suspicious activity in our network through our dedicated email ([email protected])
or our reporting channel (https://brightdata.com/report-abuse).