Privacy Policy and Terms of Use

Dubawa AI Chatbot

Last updated: 10th of February 2026

Overview

The Dubawa AI Chatbot is a public-interest tool developed by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) to support access to verified information, fact-checking resources, and media literacy content. This page explains how we collect, use, and protect data, and the terms under which the chatbot may be used.

Privacy Policy

What information we collect

When you use the Dubawa AI Chatbot, we may collect:

Messages and queries you voluntarily submit to the chatbot
Basic technical information such as timestamps, device type, and interaction logs
Platform-level metadata required to deliver the service (for example, via WhatsApp or web interfaces)

We do not require users to provide names, phone numbers, or personal identifiers beyond what is automatically provided by the messaging platform being used.

How we use your information

We use collected information to:

Respond to user queries and deliver chatbot functionality
Improve the accuracy, relevance, and performance of the chatbot
Monitor misuse, abuse, or technical issues
Support research, evaluation, and reporting on misinformation trends in aggregated and anonymised form

We do not use chatbot conversations for advertising or commercial profiling.

Data storage and retention

Chatbot interactions may be stored securely for quality assurance, research, and system improvement
Data is retained only for as long as necessary to fulfil these purposes
Where possible, data is anonymised or aggregated before analysis

Sharing of information

We do not sell or rent user data.
Information may be shared only:

With trusted technical service providers required to operate the chatbot
Where required by law or to prevent harm
In anonymised, non-identifiable form for research or public-interest reporting

Security

We apply reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect data against unauthorised access, loss, or misuse. However, no system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

Children’s privacy

The Dubawa AI Chatbot is not designed for use by children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children.

Terms of Use

Acceptable use

By using the Dubawa AI Chatbot, you agree to:

Use the service for lawful and non-harmful purposes
Avoid submitting abusive, hateful, or malicious content
Avoid attempting to manipulate, reverse-engineer, or misuse the system

CJID reserves the right to restrict access where misuse is detected.

Nature of responses

The chatbot provides:

Information based on available data sources, verified content, and automated systems
Guidance to fact-checks, explainers, and media literacy resources

The chatbot does not replace professional judgment and should not be treated as legal, medical, or financial advice.

Accuracy and limitations

While we strive for accuracy:

Responses may be incomplete, outdated, or subject to interpretation
Users are encouraged to verify critical information independently

CJID is not liable for decisions made solely on the basis of chatbot responses.

Intellectual property

All chatbot content, system design, and underlying technology remain the property of CJID or its partners, unless otherwise stated. Users may quote or share responses for non-commercial, public-interest purposes with appropriate attribution.

Service availability

The chatbot is provided “as is” and may be updated, modified, or suspended without prior notice to improve performance or address technical issues.

Ethical commitment

Dubawa AI Chatbot is guided by CJID’s commitment to:

Public-interest journalism
Transparency and accountability
Responsible and ethical use of artificial intelligence

We actively work to minimise bias, avoid harm, and ensure the chatbot supports informed public discourse.

Contact

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or Terms of Use, or wish to report an issue, please contact:Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID)
Email: info@thecjid.org