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Terms of Service

ARI – Your Augmented Reality

Last Updated: March 6, 2026

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the ARI mobile application and related services (collectively, the "Service"), operated by SmartID Inc., a Delaware corporation ("SmartID," "Company," "we," "us," or "our"). Our address is 611 South DuPont Highway Suite 102, Dover, DE 19901. Contact: ari@theariapp.com.

By downloading, installing, accessing, or using the Service, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Service.

1. Eligibility

You must be at least 13 years old, or the minimum age of digital consent in your jurisdiction (if higher), to use the Service. The Service is not directed to children under 13.

By using the Service, you represent and warrant that: (a) you meet the applicable minimum age requirement; (b) you have the legal capacity to enter into these Terms; and (c) you will comply with applicable laws.

2. The Service

ARI is a privacy-first, real-world social platform that enables in-person identity discovery and linking using decentralized identity technologies (e.g., W3C DIDs and Verifiable Credentials), on-device face processing, encrypted backups, and AI-powered image transformations (e.g., disguises and photobooth outputs).

The Service is currently offered free of charge. We may add or change features at any time, including introducing paid features, subject to applicable law and notice as required.

3. Accounts and Authentication

Certain features require an account. Accounts may be identified by a randomized identifier (e.g., GUID) and device credentials; the current implementation does not require email/password at signup.

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality and security of your device, any authentication factors (including any optional TOTP), and your backup passphrase. You agree to notify us promptly of any suspected unauthorized access to the Service.

4. Local Discovery and Name Label Visibility

When you use ARI's in-person discovery features, the informal display name/label you choose (sometimes described as a "Starbucks name") may be visible to nearby devices actively participating in ARI local discovery. This label is user-chosen, may be non-unique, and is not required to reflect your real identity. The Service does not require you to provide a legal name, email address, or phone number to use discovery.

5. Privacy-First Architecture; Non-Trackability

ARI is designed to minimize centralized data collection. Except for minimal account metadata and encrypted backup storage (if enabled), the Service does not maintain a public directory, public feed, or centralized social graph.

Non-Trackability: The Service is designed so that users cannot be tracked or identified through ARI by individuals who are not explicitly linked to them. Unless you mutually link with another user, they cannot use ARI to identify, monitor, or track you through a centralized directory or feed.

6. Biometric Processing Disclosure (On-Device Only)

The Service uses on-device facial detection and facial embedding technology to enable identity features. All biometric processing occurs exclusively on your device.

  • No server transmission: Facial images, facial embeddings, and biometric templates are not transmitted to our servers for biometric purposes.
  • Encrypted local storage: Profile images and biometrics for you and people you have mutually linked with may be stored locally in encrypted storage on your device.
  • Temporary caching: Biometrics generated during camera usage may be temporarily cached for performance and are discarded within minutes after detection.
  • Cryptographic cross-device matching: If identity matching occurs between devices, it is performed using cryptographic protections designed to prevent disclosure of your images or biometric data to the other device in whole or in part.

Device-level biometric authentication (e.g., fingerprint/face unlock) is handled by your operating system and is not stored by the Service. By using identity features, you consent to on-device biometric processing as described in these Terms and our Privacy Policy.

7. AI Features; Generated Content

The Service may provide AI-powered features that generate or transform content (e.g., disguise descriptions or altered images). AI outputs are provided for creative/entertainment purposes and may be inaccurate, incomplete, or undesirable. We do not guarantee the accuracy, quality, or suitability of AI outputs.

You agree not to use AI features to impersonate others, deceive, harass, defame, or violate any law or third-party rights. We may restrict or disable AI functionality for misuse.

8. Your Content and Your Responsibilities

You retain ownership of content you create or upload ("User Content"). You are solely responsible for your User Content and any consequences of sharing or saving it. You represent and warrant that you have all rights and permissions necessary to use and submit your User Content, including consent from individuals depicted where required by law.

You grant SmartID a limited, non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to process your User Content solely to operate and provide the Service (e.g., to create disguises or produce photobooth outputs). We do not use your User Content to train our models, and we require service providers to process data only to provide requested functionality.

9. Prohibited Conduct

You may not:

  • Use the Service for illegal activity or to violate any rights of others.
  • Impersonate, stalk, harass, or threaten others, including using AI features for deception or harm.
  • Attempt to access, probe, disrupt, or interfere with the Service, networks, or security features.
  • Reverse engineer, decompile, or attempt to extract source code, except to the extent such restriction is prohibited by law.
  • Use automated means to access or abuse the Service (scraping, bots, bulk requests, etc.).
  • Upload content that infringes IP rights, is unlawful, or is harmful (e.g., malware).
  • Use the Service commercially without our written consent.

10. Child Safety

ARI and SmartID are committed to the safety of children and do not permit content or behavior that constitutes child sexual abuse or exploitation (CSAE). Child sexual abuse material (CSAM) is strictly prohibited on the Service.

If we obtain actual knowledge of CSAM or conduct that sexually exploits, abuses, or endangers children, we will remove such content and take appropriate action, including reporting to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or other appropriate authorities as required by applicable law.

If you become aware of content or behavior on the Service that you believe may constitute CSAE or CSAM, please report it to us immediately at ari@theariapp.com or via the in-app Contact Us option (Menu → Contact Us). We take all such reports seriously and will act in accordance with our policies and applicable law.

11. Intellectual Property

The Service, including its software, design, text, graphics, interfaces, and trademarks (including "ARI," "ARI – Your Augmented Reality," and "theARIapp"), is owned by SmartID or its licensors and is protected by law. The Service is licensed, not sold. Except as expressly permitted, you may not copy, modify, distribute, or create derivative works.

12. Copyright and DMCA

If you believe content associated with the Service infringes your copyright, you may send a notice to: ari@theariapp.com with subject "DMCA Notice". Include sufficient information to identify the work and the allegedly infringing material and a statement under penalty of perjury that you are authorized to act.

13. Termination

You may stop using the Service at any time and may delete your account using in-app controls (if available). Account deletion deletes encrypted backups stored on our servers (if any) and purges local app data, but does not delete photos saved to your device's general photo gallery.

We may suspend or terminate access to the Service if we reasonably believe you violated these Terms, abused the Service, or posed risk to others or the Service. We may also modify or discontinue the Service at any time.

14. Disclaimers

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE." TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, SMARTID DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, AND AVAILABILITY.

We do not guarantee that the Service will be uninterrupted, error-free, or secure, or that AI outputs or identity matching will be accurate. Face detection/matching may produce false positives or negatives.

15. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, SMARTID WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF DATA, PROFITS, OR GOODWILL, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO YOUR USE OF THE SERVICE.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, SMARTID'S TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ALL CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE SERVICE WILL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT YOU PAID TO USE THE SERVICE IN THE 12 MONTHS BEFORE THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO LIABILITY. BECAUSE THE SERVICE IS CURRENTLY FREE, THIS AMOUNT WILL GENERALLY BE $0.

16. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless SmartID and its officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to: (a) your use of the Service; (b) your User Content; (c) your violation of these Terms or law; or (d) your infringement of any rights of another.

17. Export Controls and Sanctions

You may not use the Service if you are located in, under the control of, or a national or resident of any country where use is prohibited by U.S. export controls or sanctions, or if you are on any U.S. government restricted-party list.

18. App Store Terms

If you download the App from Google Play or any other app store, you acknowledge that the store is not a party to these Terms. Your use of the App must also comply with the store's applicable terms and policies.

19. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of law rules.

20. Arbitration Agreement and Class Action Waiver

Please read this section carefully. It affects your legal rights.

Except for disputes that qualify for small claims court, you and SmartID agree that any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Service will be resolved by binding arbitration on an individual basis, and not in court.

No class actions: You and SmartID agree that each may bring claims against the other only in your or its individual capacity, and not as a plaintiff or class member in any purported class or representative proceeding.

Administrator / rules: Arbitration will be administered by the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") under its Consumer Arbitration Rules, as applicable. The arbitration will take place in Delaware, unless the parties agree otherwise or applicable AAA rules provide otherwise.

Opt-out: You may opt out of arbitration within 30 days of first accepting these Terms by emailing ari@theariapp.com with subject "Arbitration Opt-Out" and providing your ARI identifier and a clear statement that you want to opt out. Opting out will not affect any other part of these Terms.

Severability: If the class action waiver is found unenforceable, then the arbitration agreement will be null and void only as to the class action waiver.

21. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will update the "Last Updated" date above and may provide additional notice in-app. Your continued use of the Service after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

22. Contact

SmartID Inc.
611 South DuPont Highway Suite 102
Dover, DE 19901
Email: ari@theariapp.com

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