Callisto's mission is to use technology to empower survivors of sexual violence. Survivors face overwhelming barriers when seeking support, and Callisto Vault was built with that reality in mind. It is a secure, private, survivor-controlled space where survivors can document their experiences, connect with confidential advocates, and access tools that enable coordinated action. For Callisto to succeed, these tools must be used as intended.
These Terms of Service outline the rules that keep our platform safe for users, Callisto, and third parties. They also define the responsibilities and rights of both you and Callisto. These rules exist to ensure our platform functions as designed and continues to give survivors control over their own experiences.
Binding Agreement: By using projectcallisto.org or creating an account, you agree to follow these Terms. If you do not agree, we advise against using any of our services.
If you are accessing our website and Callisto Vault as an advocate, these Terms do not apply to you.
1. Creating Your Account
Callisto Vault is open to all U.S. colleges
You will need a Callisto Vault account to enter into our Matching System or create an Incident Log. To create an account, you must have an active .edu email address from a U.S. higher education institution, as verified by Callisto. This ensures our services remain accessible to college students, staff, and faculty.
Callisto Vault is for individuals only
You must be an individual person to use Callisto Vault. You may not create or use an account on behalf of a company, organization, government, or other legal entity.
Callisto Vault is offered only in the U.S. and its territories
Our platform and services are designed exclusively for people living in the United States and its territories, regardless of your immigration status. If you live in the United States or its territories and have a .edu email address you qualify for use of Callisto.
Minimum age to use Callisto Vault
You must be at least 18 years old to create an account.
Account information must be accurate
For your protection and that of other survivors, accuracy matters. When creating an account, Incident Log, or entering into our Matching System, you are required to provide accurate and complete information. This means you may not impersonate anyone, act on behalf of another person, or use a false name or fraudulent contact information. Do not purposely enter inaccurate information into the Matching System as it can directly harm other survivors.
2. Use of the Website, Callisto Vault, and Services
Entries must be made by survivors
Even if you consider yourself a supporter or ally of a survivor of sexual assault, do not create a matching entry on behalf of someone else. It is important that every entry is created and submitted by the survivor themselves so that survivors fully agree to enter into the Matching System, directly receive the support of an advocate, and are fully empowered to make decisions about coming forward. If we discover that an entry has been made by a person who was not the survivor of the reported assault, that entry will not be eligible for connection with an advocate or other survivors.
No fraudulent accounts or activities
We believe survivors, and we expect that all entries created by our users are truthful. We also know, however, that certain offenders use fraud and deception to access information about their victims, and that certain people would seek to discredit our mission. We have included many safeguards to prevent an offender who fraudulently uses our system from connecting to a survivor. If you create an account or entry fraudulently, or use our platform in a way that is not aligned with our mission to protect and support survivors, you are exposing yourself to legal action and liability.
3. User Entries and Links to Resources
No responsibility for the content or actions of our users
Callisto Vault enables anyone with a U.S. college or university .edu email address to create an Incident Log or enter into our Matching System to document their sexual assault or coercion and/or to identify the perpetrator. Matching entries enable survivors to access the support of confidential advocates and to potentially coordinate their actions to seek justice with survivors who have also named the same offender.
We do not investigate claims or accusations made by our users. Incident Logs are private, encrypted records that only the survivor can access. We do not have access to the details of matching entries submitted by survivors. When a match occurs, the appropriate advocate will then reach out to the matched survivor(s). We are not in a position, nor do we have access to, monitor, or determine the veracity or accuracy of Incident Logs or matching entries. As such, we are not responsible for the reliability, validity, accuracy, or truthfulness of any Incident Log or matching entry. We make no representation or promise that a survivor with whom you have been matched has a valid claim.
Links to third party resources
When you use our website or Callisto Vault, you will encounter links to third party websites and publications curated as resources for survivors. We do not own or control these sites and therefore are not responsible for the content or any other aspect of these third party sites, including their collection of information about you. We strongly advise that you review their terms and conditions and privacy policies before use.
4. Advocates
Callisto’s confidential advocate program for matched survivors
Callisto partners with Ampersands Advocacy Resources to provide vetted, trauma-informed confidential advocates who support matched users of Callisto Vault. If you enter into our Matching System and are matched with another survivor who named the same offender, an advocate will reach out to you using the preferred means of communication you indicated in your entry. The advocate will help you navigate your options, and their pros and cons, to help you decide what is the right course of action for you.
Throughout the process, you will remain in control of your choices and options. You will never be obligated to accept the support of the advocate or follow through with their suggestions. Our goal is to empower you with information so that you retain agency in deciding if and how you come forward.
Engaging with your advocate
Connecting with an advocate is free. As part of our partnership with Ampersands Advocacy Resources, you will never be charged fees for advocate services.
Survivor advocates are not attorneys and do not carry attorney-client privilege. However, all advocates are bound by confidentiality obligations. They cannot share your identifying information with anyone unless you explicitly authorize them to do so in writing or if required through a legal process such as a subpoena or court order. Your advocate can walk you through the specific confidentiality protections available.
Your advocate can help facilitate coordination between you and the survivors you have matched with. This only occurs when both matched survivors have independently and explicitly consented to being connected.
Your advocate may also work with the advocate of other survivors who designated the same offender that you designated. This facilitates the coordination of actions between you and the other survivor(s), based on your respective desired outcomes. If, after being supported by your respective advocates, both you and the other survivor agree, you can share your identities and meet and communicate via your respective advocates. This may have an impact on the confidentiality of your counseling communications and your survivor advocate will help you navigate these choices.
Your advocate will help you understand all aspects of the various options you may have to come forward and seek justice, and is there to support and empower you, not to make decisions for you. If, after connecting with your advocate, you wish to pursue a legal action, your advocate can refer you to a relevant attorney or resource.
Independent Advocates
We take our partnership with Ampersands Advocacy Resources seriously and are selective in ensuring we work with advocates who understand how to support survivors and align with our survivor-centered mission. That said, advocates remain independent professionals provided through Ampersands Advocacy Resources. This means you will have a direct relationship with your advocate, and if you are not satisfied with their services, your recourse will be against the advocate or Ampersands Advocacy Resources and not against Callisto. Callisto makes no representation, guarantee, or warranty as to the competence or quality of support provided by any advocate and does not sanction any advice given, statements made, or work product delivered to you by any advocate.
Callisto does not offer any legal advice, recommendations, mediation, or counseling through the Callisto platform. Content available on our website and through posted resources is for information only and does not constitute legal advice.
Interacting with your Advocate
Your advocate is there to support you, and we expect that support to be delivered in a trauma-informed manner. If you are unsatisfied with your advocate or the way they are interacting with you, please contact us at support@projectcallisto.org. Please note that any email sent to Callisto may be discoverable in a court proceeding. Do not include any information about the assault, coercion, or perpetrator in your email.
We understand that connecting with an advocate can be very challenging for survivors. We, however, request that interactions remain cordial. Disrespectful, offensive, rude, aggressive, or threatening behavior toward an advocate will result in termination of services, with no replacement advocate provided by Callisto.
5. Callisto’s Rights and Licenses
Our rights to our platform and services
All rights, title, and interest in and to the Callisto website and Callisto Vault, including our future applications, databases, and content provided by our employees or partners through our website, web applications, and services, are and will remain the exclusive property of Callisto and its licensors. Our website, Callisto Vault, and services are protected by copyright, trademark, and other laws of the United States. Nothing grants you any right to use the Callisto name or any of the Callisto trademarks, logos, domain names, or other distinctive brand features.
You may not, while accessing or using the Callisto website, Callisto Vault, and associated services:
Access, tamper with, or use non-public areas of the website or Callisto Vault, Callisto's computer systems, or the technical delivery systems of Callisto's service providers, or access our APIs by any means other than through the intended use of the Callisto website and Callisto Vault.
Disable, interfere with, or attempt to circumvent any security features of the website or Callisto Vault, or probe, scan, or test the vulnerability of any of our systems.
Copy, modify, create a derivative work of, reverse engineer, reverse assemble, or otherwise attempt to discover any infrastructure, server configuration, or private keys of Callisto Vault, its users, or its advocates.
Access or search Callisto Vault by any means, automated or otherwise, including scraping, spidering, using a robot, or any other automated means.
In any way, use the Callisto website or Callisto Vault to send altered, deceptive, or false source-identifying information, including email communications falsely appearing to originate from Callisto, or interfere with or disrupt the access of any user, host, or network, including sending a virus, overloading, flooding, spamming, or mail-bombing the platform or services, or otherwise creating an undue burden on the services.
Your license to Callisto for your content
When you post comments, questions, or reviews, or submit ideas and suggestions for new features or improvements, you authorize Callisto to use, share, distribute, and promote that content on any platform and in any media, and to make modifications or edits as we see fit. This includes the use of your testimonials to promote our services. You also agree to all such uses of your content with no compensation paid to you. That being said, we promise that we will never post any sensitive information that identifies you without your consent. See our website Privacy Policy and Callisto Vault Privacy Policy for more details.
6. Legal Protection of Callisto
No guarantee of continued service
Callisto reserves the right to discontinue the Callisto website, Callisto Vault, or any associated services, in whole or in part, at any time and for any reason. Should this occur, we will make every effort to notify users through the Callisto website, social media, and partnering campuses, giving you the opportunity to retrieve any information stored in Callisto Vault. Callisto and its affiliates, suppliers, partners, and agents will not be held liable for any damages resulting from the unavailability of our services.
Callisto will not be liable for any delay or failure to perform any obligation under these Terms where such delay or failure results from events beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to strikes, blockades, wars, acts of terrorism, riots, natural disasters, failure or diminishment of power or telecommunications or data networks or services, or the refusal of approval or a license by a government agency.
In the event that Callisto merges with or is acquired by another organization, your information may be transferred to that organization. We will notify you of any such transfer and you will be able to delete your account prior to the information being transferred. In the event that Callisto ceases operation and there is no successor, we will securely delete any collected information.
As is service
Your use of the Callisto website, Callisto Vault, and associated services is entirely at your own risk. All services and content are provided on an "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" basis. Callisto and its affiliates, suppliers, partners, and agents expressly disclaim all warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of title, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.
No warranty
Callisto and its affiliates, suppliers, partners, and agents make no warranty that (i) the Callisto website, Callisto Vault, or any services provided will meet your requirements; (ii) the website, Callisto Vault, or services will be uninterrupted, timely, secure, or error-free, or that Callisto will fix any errors; (iii) you will obtain any specific results from use of the website, Callisto Vault, or services; or (iv) any content on the website, Callisto Vault, or services is accurate, complete, reliable, current, or error-free. Any content obtained through use of the website, Callisto Vault, or services is obtained at your own discretion and risk, and Callisto shall not be responsible for any damage caused to your computer or data, or for any bugs, viruses, Trojan horses, or other destructive code resulting from use of the website, Callisto Vault, or services. Some states do not allow the exclusion of implied warranties, so the above exclusion may not apply to you. You may also have other legal rights, which vary from state to state.
No waiver
A delay in exercising our rights or a failure to exercise a right in any particular instance does not constitute a waiver of our rights under these Terms, and we reserve the right to enforce them in the future. A decision to waive any of our rights in a particular instance does not constitute a waiver of those rights generally or in the future.
No assignment
These Terms, and any rights and licenses granted to you under these Terms, may not be transferred or assigned by you, but may be assigned by Callisto to another organization, company, or person without restriction.
Limitation of liability
To the fullest extent permitted under law, Callisto and its affiliates, suppliers, partners, and agents have no obligation or liability (whether arising in contract, warranty, tort (including negligence), product liability, or otherwise) for any indirect, incidental, special, punitive, or consequential damages or liabilities (including, but not limited to, any loss of data or content, revenue or profit, or personal injury or death) arising from or related to your use of the website, platform, or services, or any content provided, even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages in advance. This limitation applies to damages arising from (i) your use or inability to use the website or Callisto Vault and access the services; (ii) cost of procurement of substitute products or services; (iii) unauthorized access to or alteration or distribution of content you submit through the platforms; (iv) third party content made available to you through the platform or services; or (v) any other matter relating to any aspect of the website, platform, or services, including any future applications, email communications, and Callisto content on third party sites. Some countries and states do not allow the limitation or exclusion of incidental, consequential, or other types of damages, so some of the above limitations may not apply to you. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Callisto's liability and the liability of each of its affiliates, suppliers, partners, and agents to you or any third parties under any circumstance is limited to the greater of one hundred dollars ($100).
Indemnity
You agree to indemnify, defend (if we so request), and hold harmless Callisto and its affiliates, suppliers, partners, and agents from and against any claims, demands, losses, damages, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from the information you post or submit, your use of and connection to the Callisto website, Callisto Vault, or services, your violation of these Terms, or your violation of any rights of any third party. Your indemnification obligation will survive the termination of these Terms and your use of the website, platform, and services.
Termination and survival
These Terms are in force and applicable to you for as long as you continue to use Callisto and as long as you have a Callisto Vault account. Sections 3 through 7 shall survive the expiration or termination of these Terms.
7. Dispute Resolution
Callisto is a California-based organization and these Terms are governed by laws of the State of California and the United States of America, without regard to their conflict of law principles. If a court having proper authority decides that any portion of these terms, policies, and guidelines are invalid, only the part that is invalid will not apply and the rest will still be in effect.
In the event of any dispute between you and us arising from or relating to these Terms or your use of Callisto Vault, website or service, we shall use our respective best efforts to settle the dispute. If a dispute arises, the complaining party shall provide written notice to the other party in a document specifically entitled “Notice of Dispute,” specifically setting forth the precise nature of the dispute. Please send any Notice of Dispute to us via email at support@projectcallisto.org. Following Callisto’s receipt of the Notice of Dispute, the parties shall consult and negotiate with each other in good faith and, recognizing their mutual interest, attempt to reach a just and equitable solution of the dispute that is satisfactory to both parties.
If the parties are unable to reach a resolution of the dispute through this dispute resolution mechanism within 90 days of the receipt of the Initial Notice of Dispute, then any subsequent claim, legal proceedings, or litigation arising in connection with the Callisto services will be brought solely in the federal or state courts located in San Francisco County, California, United States, and you consent to the jurisdiction of and venue in such courts and waive any objection as to inconvenient forum.
8. Updating These Terms
From time to time, we may update these Terms to clarify our practices or to reflect new or different practices (such as when we add new features), and Callisto reserves the right in its sole discretion to modify and/or make changes to these Terms at any time. If we make any material change, we will notify you using prominent means, such as by posting a notice through our website. Modifications will become effective on the day they are posted unless stated otherwise.
Your continued use of our website, platform, or services after changes become effective shall mean that you accept those changes. Any revised Terms shall supersede all previous Terms.
9. How to Contact Us
We would love to hear your questions, concerns, and feedback about these Terms and our website, platform, and services. If you have any questions or suggestions for us, or need help, please feel free to contact our support team at support@projectcallisto.org.
Because email communications are not always secure, please do not include sensitive information in your messages to us.