Terms of Service for the Matrix Server matrix.mtrx4itd.at

Valid from: September 29, 2026

Important Legal Notice / Wichtiger rechtlicher Hinweis

This document is a convenience translation provided solely for informational purposes and better understanding. It is not legally binding.

In the event of any conflict, inconsistency, or legal dispute, exclusively the German original text shall prevail and be legally binding.

1. Scope and Operator

This Matrix homeserver is operated by the ÖH FH Salzburg (Student Union at FH Salzburg), operationally managed by the STV Information Technologies and Digitalization. The use of this service is subject to the following terms. By registering and using the service, you agree to these terms.

2. Access and Registration

• The service is primarily aimed at students and other members of the Department Information Technologies and Digitalization at FH Salzburg.
• Registration requires a valid email address from FH Salzburg (ending in @fh-salzburg.ac.at).
• There is no legal entitlement to the creation or permanent maintenance of an account. The operators reserve the right to close or restrict registration at any time.
• The account is personal and may not be transferred to third parties.

3. Technical Features: Matrix, Federation, and Encryption

Matrix is a decentralized communication network. This entails specific technical characteristics that you accept upon use:

• Federation (Whitelist Approach): Our Matrix server is prepared for limited federation. This means it does not communicate uncontrolled with the entire Matrix network, but exclusively with external servers explicitly approved by us (whitelist). As soon as you communicate with users on such approved external servers, your messages, profile picture, and display name will be transmitted to and stored on these external servers. We have no control over data processing on external servers and cannot enforce the deletion of your data there.
• End-to-End Encryption (E2EE): In encrypted rooms, the administrators of this server cannot read the content of the messages. Important: You are solely responsible for securing your encryption keys (Security Phrase / Key). If you forget your password or lose your keys, your previous messages are irrevocably lost. Administrators cannot restore encrypted messages.
• Immutability (Append-only): Due to the system architecture (the DAG protocol of Matrix), messages in chat rooms often cannot be physically deleted from all participating servers, but are merely marked as "deleted" (tombstoning).

4. Code of Conduct

We value a respectful and safe environment. The following actions are strictly prohibited on this server:

• Distribution of content that violates applicable Austrian law (e.g., hate speech, Nazi revivalism, child pornography).
• Harassment, threats, doxing, or systematic bullying of other users.
• Unsolicited sending of advertising or spam.
• Attacks on the server infrastructure (e.g., intentional overloading, exploiting security vulnerabilities).

5. Moderation and Sanctions

The operators do not proactively monitor encrypted rooms. However, if we become aware of violations of these Terms of Service (e.g., through reports from other users) in unencrypted rooms or through metadata, we reserve the right to take the following measures:

• Warning the affected users.
• Temporary or permanent suspension (deactivation) of the account without prior notice.
• Deletion of illegal content (if technically possible for us).
• Severing the federation connection (removal from the whitelist) to external servers if systematic spam or illegal content originates from them.

6. Availability and Disclaimer of Liability

• The server is operated as a free service ("as is") within the framework of a sponsorship. We strive for trouble-free operation but cannot guarantee 100% availability (uptime).
• Maintenance work, outages, or discontinuation of operation are possible at any time.
• The ÖH FH Salzburg is not liable for data loss, lost information, or damages resulting from the use or failure of this service, especially not for lost encryption keys. This does not apply to intentional or grossly negligent behavior on the part of the operators.

7. Termination of Use

• You can deactivate your account at any time in the settings of your Matrix client (Deactivate Account).
• Please note that in federated rooms, your previously sent messages are not automatically deleted on all external servers upon account deactivation; instead, your account is merely anonymized.

8. Changes to the Terms of Service

We reserve the right to adapt these terms in the event of technical or legal changes. Changes will be displayed to you upon logging into your Matrix client via the consent module. Further use of the server is only possible after active consent to the new terms.