Terms of Use

Welcome to SomaliScan ("the Site," "we," "us," or "our"). By accessing or using this website, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Use. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use this Site.

1. Nature of the Site

SomaliScan is a public interest research tool that aggregates publicly available government data related to childcare providers, healthcare facilities, government loans, political donations, and related fraud cases. Our mission is to promote government transparency and enable citizens to understand how public funds are spent.

The Site is operated as a journalism and public accountability project. We compile, organize, and present data that is already part of the public record.

2. No Accusation of Wrongdoing

This Site aggregates public data from government sources. Many entities appear on this Site simply because they have received government funding, hold licenses, or are otherwise part of public records. Being listed on this Site carries no negative connotation.

Where we display information about fraud cases or legal proceedings, we are reporting matters of public record. Individuals charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Terms such as "fraud-prone," "flagged," or "suspicious" used on this Site refer to statistical indicators or pattern analysis based on public data. They do not represent conclusions of fact, legal determinations, or accusations of wrongdoing.

3. Data Sources and Accuracy

Data displayed on this Site is sourced from publicly available government databases, including but not limited to:

• State childcare licensing databases
• Small Business Administration (SBA) loan data
• Federal Election Commission (FEC) contribution records
• Department of Justice press releases and court records
• USAspending.gov and other federal spending databases
• State transparency portals and FOIA responses
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) data

4. Not Legal, Financial, or Professional Advice

Nothing on this Site constitutes legal advice, financial advice, or any other form of professional advice. The Site is for informational and educational purposes only.

The FOIA Request Generator and District Court Complaint Generator are template tools designed to assist with public records requests and promote government transparency. They do not create an attorney-client relationship and should not be used as substitutes for professional legal counsel.

Before taking any legal action, filing any documents with courts or agencies, making financial decisions, or relying on information from this Site, you should consult with appropriately licensed professionals.

5. Limitation of Liability

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE SITE, ITS OPERATORS, CONTRIBUTORS, AND AFFILIATES SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING FROM:

• Your use of or inability to use the Site
• Any errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in the data presented
• Any decisions made or actions taken based on information from this Site
• Any reputational harm arising from the display of public records
• Use of the FOIA or lawsuit template generators
• Third-party actions based on information obtained from this Site

This limitation applies regardless of the theory of liability (contract, tort, negligence, strict liability, or otherwise) and even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages.

6. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Site and its operators from any claims, damages, losses, costs, or expenses (including reasonable attorney fees) arising from your use of the Site, your violation of these Terms, or your violation of any rights of another party.

7. Corrections and Removal Requests

We strive for accuracy and will consider requests to correct factual errors. If you believe information about you or your organization is inaccurate, please contact us at corrections@somaliscan.com with:

• The specific information you believe is inaccurate
• Documentation supporting the correction
• Your contact information for follow-up

We will review requests in good faith. However, we are under no obligation to remove accurate public record information, and we reserve the right to decline requests that we determine are not supported by evidence or are inconsistent with our public interest mission.

For information derived from government sources, corrections should generally be sought from the original source agency.

8. Intellectual Property

The Site's design, code, and original content are protected by copyright. However, the underlying government data is public information and is not subject to our copyright.

You may use data from this Site for journalistic, research, or personal purposes with appropriate attribution. Commercial use of our aggregated datasets requires prior written permission.

9. User-Submitted Content

If you submit tips, corrections, or other content to the Site, you represent that the information is truthful to the best of your knowledge. You grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, investigate, and publish such information in connection with our public interest mission.

We do not guarantee that tips will be investigated or published. We reserve the right to decline or remove any user-submitted content at our discretion.

10. Third-Party Links

This Site may contain links to third-party websites, including government databases and news sources. These links are provided for convenience and do not constitute endorsement. We are not responsible for the content, accuracy, or practices of third-party sites.

11. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Minnesota, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of the Site shall be resolved in the state or federal courts located in Hennepin County, Minnesota.

12. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be effective immediately upon posting to the Site. Your continued use of the Site after any changes constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms. We encourage you to review these Terms periodically.

13. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

14. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms or to report concerns, please contact: