> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://international.open.gov.sg/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://international.open.gov.sg/self-hosting/askgov/legal-and-compliance.md).

# Legal and Compliance

This document covers legal and compliance requirements you must follow when deploying AskGov. Review these requirements as you progress through this guide.

#### 🚫 Remove Singapore Government Branding :flag\_sg:

AskGov is open source, but **you must not use the official Singapore Government branding** in deployments outside authorized Singapore Government contexts.

**Branding Removal Checklist**

**Frontend Components:**

* [ ] **Government Logos**: Remove all .gov.sg logos from `/public/icons/`
* [ ] **App Metadata**: Update site title and description in `app/root.jsx`
* [ ] **Footer Links**: Remove Singapore-specific links and references
* [ ] **Agency References**: Replace with your own agency list

**Environment Variables:**

* [ ] **App name —** Change from "AskGov" to your organization name
* [ ] **App url —** Use your organization's domain
* [ ] **Mail from —** Use your organization's email domain

**Singapore-Specific Services:**

* [ ] **Postman**: Replace with your email/SMS service
* [ ] **Government Integration**: Remove any Singapore government API references

**Verification Script:**

```bash
# Check for Singapore references
grep -r -i "singapore\|gov\.sg\|ogp" \
    app/ public/ \
    --exclude-dir={node_modules,dist,build} \
    --exclude="*.{test,spec}.{ts,tsx,js,jsx}"
```

#### Open Source License Compliance

**MIT License Requirements**

AskGov is licensed under the **MIT License**, which means:

✅ **You CAN**: Use commercially, modify, distribute, use privately

❌ **You MUST**: Include original license, maintain copyright notices

⚠️ **You CANNOT**: Use AskGov trademark without permission

**Third-Party Dependencies**

**Dependency License Review:**

* [ ] Review all dependency licenses
* [ ] Document any GPL/copyleft requirements
* [ ] Check for commercial license conflicts

**License Audit Script:**

```bash
npx license-checker --summary --out licenses.txt
```

#### Data Protection Considerations

Review your local requirements for:

* [ ] **Privacy Notice** - What data you collect and why
* [ ] **Data Retention** - How long you keep citizen data
* [ ] **Data Localization** - Where data must be stored
* [ ] **User Rights** - Access, correction, deletion procedures

#### Disclaimer and Liability

**AskGov Project Disclaimer**

AskGov is provided "AS IS" under the MIT License. The original developers:

* Provide no warranty or guarantee of fitness for purpose
* Are not liable for damages from your use of the software
* Do not provide commercial support or SLA guarantees

**Your Deployment Responsibility**

As the deploying organization, you are responsible for:

* **Security** - Proper configuration and hardening
* **Compliance** - Meeting all applicable laws and regulations
* **Support** - Helping your users and maintaining documentation
* **Operations** - Keeping the system running and updated

#### Pre-Deployment Legal Checklist

Before going to production, confirm:

* [ ] All Singapore branding removed (run verification script)
* [ ] Your privacy policy covers Q\&A data collection
* [ ] Terms of service clearly state service limitations
* [ ] Data protection requirements addressed
* [ ] Records management policy in place
* [ ] Incident response procedures documented

***

{% hint style="warning" %}
**⚖️ Legal Principle**: You are responsible for ensuring your AskGov deployment complies with applicable laws, regulations, and organizational policies in your jurisdiction. Consult with your legal team for specific requirements.
{% endhint %}


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://international.open.gov.sg/self-hosting/askgov/legal-and-compliance.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.