Clear boundaries help trust travel further.
Lantern is being developed to support safer, more considered support pathways. These terms explain the conditions for using the platform while that work continues to take shape.
If you have questions about these terms, contact privacy@lanternapp.co.za.
Section 1
Purpose of the Platform
Lantern is being developed as a support-facilitating platform that helps people reach trusted organisations, preserve continuity, and manage sensitive follow-through with greater care.
These terms explain the rules for using the Lantern website, account surfaces, and related platform features.
Lantern is not a public emergency hotline, law-enforcement service, or replacement for urgent medical or safety intervention.
Section 2
Acceptance of These Terms
By creating an account or using Lantern, you agree to these Terms of Use.
If you do not agree with these terms, do not create an account or continue using the platform.
Section 3
Who Lantern Is For
Lantern may be used by individuals seeking safer access to support, and by approved organisations or personnel participating in that support ecosystem.
Some parts of the platform may remain limited while the service is still under development or pilot rollout.
Certain services may be used by minors where permitted by law or where necessary to protect their safety and wellbeing. Additional safeguards may apply where Lantern is used by children or other vulnerable persons.
Section 4
Account Responsibilities
If you create an account, you are responsible for keeping your login details reasonably secure and for using the platform in a lawful and good-faith manner.
You must not impersonate another person, misrepresent your relationship to a partner organisation, or knowingly provide false information in ways that could place others at risk.
Users remain responsible for the accuracy and legality of information they provide through Lantern.
- Keep your sign-in details private
- Use an email address you are allowed to access
- Notify Lantern where you believe your account has been compromised
Section 5
Professional Services and Advice
Lantern connects people to support pathways and may facilitate communication, continuity, and organisational follow-through.
Information provided through Lantern does not constitute legal, medical, psychological, counselling, social work, or other professional advice unless it is expressly provided by a qualified and authorised professional acting in that capacity.
Users should exercise independent judgment and, where appropriate, seek direct help from qualified professionals or emergency services.
Section 6
Acceptable Use
Lantern must not be used to harm, harass, intimidate, surveil, or fraudulently manipulate others.
You may not use the platform to test security weaknesses, scrape protected data, or interfere with the safety or availability of the service.
- No abusive, threatening, or retaliatory use
- No unauthorised access attempts
- No misuse of partner or survivor information
- No unlawful content or unlawful requests
Section 7
Support Boundaries and Availability
Lantern aims to support clearer and safer coordination, but it does not guarantee that a partner will always be immediately available.
Response windows, staffing, escalation pathways, and partner actions may vary according to operational realities and legal duties.
If there is immediate danger and it is safe to do so, contact local emergency services directly.
Section 8
Partner Participation
Partner organisations and partner personnel remain responsible for their own professional judgment, safeguarding obligations, and legal duties.
Partner organisations operate independently and remain responsible for their own services, decisions, professional conduct, and legal obligations.
Lantern may suspend, limit, or remove partner access where trust, safety, or compliance concerns arise.
Section 9
Platform Changes and Interruptions
Lantern may change, pause, expand, or remove features as the platform evolves.
Because the service is still developing, parts of the experience may change without long notice in order to improve safety, reliability, or legal compliance.
Lantern is not responsible for service interruptions caused by events beyond its reasonable control.
Section 10
Suspension or Termination
Lantern may suspend or terminate access where this is reasonably necessary to protect users, partners, staff, systems, or legal compliance.
This includes misuse, security concerns, unlawful conduct, or material breaches of these terms.
Certain records may be retained after account closure where required for legal compliance, safeguarding, security, audit, or accountability purposes.
Section 11
Ownership of the Platform
The Lantern platform, website, branding, and associated materials remain the property of Lantern or its licensors.
These terms do not transfer ownership of Lantern intellectual property to users, partner organisations, or partner personnel.
Section 12
Liability and Service Positioning
Lantern is provided as a support-facilitating platform. While care is taken in its design and operation, Lantern cannot guarantee uninterrupted access, guaranteed outcomes, or the conduct of independent third parties.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Lantern's liability is limited to losses that arise directly from its own proven unlawful conduct or gross negligence.
Section 13
Governing Law
These terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa.
Section 14
Changes to These Terms
These Terms of Use may be updated from time to time.
The latest version will be published on the Lantern website and will apply from the date of publication unless the law requires a different approach.
Section 15
Contact
Questions about these terms may be sent to: