1. Who can use Whisperate

Whisperate can be used by lecturers at educational institutions. Students may use Whisperate in courses where the lecturer has chosen to use the service.

Use of Whisperate requires a valid user account and compliance with these terms. Students are expected to register using a valid student email address unless otherwise specified by the lecturer.

2. Anonymity

Messages in Whisperate are displayed without name or other identifying information to other users.

Anonymity applies in the user interface. To ensure operation, security, and moderation, messages are technically linked to the user's account. This information is not visible to other users.

3. Guidelines for use

To ensure a respectful and inclusive learning environment, the following rules apply:

Show respect. Treat fellow students and lecturers with courtesy
No harassment. Bullying, hateful speech, or abusive behavior is not tolerated
No spam or irrelevant messages. Keep content relevant to the course
Do not share sensitive or private information about yourself or others

4. Moderation and consequences

The lecturer is responsible for moderating activity within their own course sessions and may remove inappropriate or rule-breaking content.

In case of violations of these guidelines, users may be temporarily or permanently removed from Whisperate based on reports from the lecturer or institution. Serious or unlawful behavior may be reported to the institution for further follow-up.

To ensure a safe learning environment, lecturers are encouraged to remove users who appear to use invalid or non-student email addresses. Since Whisperate relies on account information to identify users in the event of rule violations, the use of false email addresses may limit the ability to follow up such cases.

When students are invited via a course access code with limited validity (e.g. 7 days), lecturers are advised to perform a brief review of the participant list after the code expires.

5. Availability and responsibility

Whisperate is provided as a service and is generally available. Short periods of downtime may occur due to maintenance or technical issues.

Whisperate is not responsible for content posted by users but may intervene in cases of violations of these terms following notification from the lecturer or institution.