Terms of service: why every site should link one

This is part of our series explaining every check in the ClauseReport model. It is general information, not legal advice.

What ClauseReport checks

This is an automated, deterministic check in the Completeness category. ClauseReport looks for whether terms of service link is addressed on the site or in its published policy.

Why it matters

Clear, accurate disclosures build trust with visitors and make the rest of your compliance work easier. The point isn’t to render a legal verdict — it’s to surface a factual gap you (or your counsel) can act on.

What a clean result looks like

A ‘Terms of Service’ (or ‘Terms of Use’) link, typically alongside the privacy policy in the footer.

The common gap

Sites that ship a privacy policy but forget terms entirely, leaving liability, acceptable-use, and dispute terms undefined.

How sites commonly address it

Add a ‘Terms of Service’ link in the footer.

ClauseReport scans any website’s privacy policy and terms of service and reports findings like this one — factual observations, never legal conclusions. Run a free scan to see how your site does on this check.