Judge & Reviewer Terms.

These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern your participation as a Judge or Technical Reviewer in Call for Code AI: United Against Trafficking (the "Hackathon"), a global initiative produced by Austin AI Hub, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, in partnership with Call for Code AI and the United Nations Human Rights office.

By checking the acceptance box on the Hackathon website, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, do not check the box and do not participate as a judge or reviewer.

These Terms apply to both roles: Technical Reviewer and Panel Judge (Honorary). Your specific role and responsibilities are outlined in Section 2.

1. Definitions.

"Organizer" means Austin AI Hub, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated under the laws of the State of Texas, serving as the producing entity of the Hackathon.

"Confidential Information" means all non-public information you access through the Hackathon, including:

• Submission contents: source code, algorithms, prototypes, data sets, documentation, pitch decks, and demo videos
• Participant information: names, emails, team rosters, and locations
• Judging materials: scoring rubrics, individual and aggregate scores, and the identities of other judges
• Deliberation content: discussions, feedback, commentary, and rationale exchanged during evaluations
• Organizational information: internal plans, partner communications, sponsor details, and operations of the Organizer, Call for Code AI, or UN Human Rights

"Sensitive Content" means any submission material referencing human trafficking victims, survivors, vulnerable populations, case studies, investigative data, or law enforcement operations.

2. Your role.

You agree to serve voluntarily in the role you selected during registration. No compensation, honorarium, or expense reimbursement is provided unless separately agreed in writing.

No Employment Relationship. Nothing in these Terms creates an employment, independent contractor, agency, partnership, joint venture, or fiduciary relationship between you and the Organizer, Call for Code AI, or UN Human Rights. You participate solely as a volunteer, and you acknowledge that no wages, benefits, workers' compensation, or similar entitlements arise from your participation.

Technical Reviewer

Panel Judge (Honorary)

3. Confidentiality.

3.1 You agree not to disclose, publish, distribute, or make available any Confidential Information to any third party, in any form, without the prior written consent of the Organizer. This applies during and after the Hackathon.

3.2 These confidentiality obligations remain in effect for three (3) years following the conclusion of the Hackathon (defined as July 30, 2026, the date of the Awards Ceremony), regardless of when you accepted these Terms. For trade secrets and Sensitive Content, confidentiality is perpetual.

3.3 These obligations do not apply to information that: (a) you already knew before the Hackathon, with written evidence; (b) becomes public through no fault of yours; (c) you independently develop without reference to Confidential Information; or (d) you are required to disclose by law, provided you give the Organizer prompt written notice.

3.4 When the judging process ends (or upon the Organizer's request), you agree to promptly delete all Confidential Information in your possession, including digital files, notes, screenshots, and downloads.

4. Intellectual property.

4.1 All submissions remain the intellectual property of their creators. Reviewing a submission does not give you any ownership, license, or usage rights over its content, code, data, or ideas.

4.2 You agree not to copy, reproduce, adapt, reverse-engineer, develop, or commercialize any submission or any portion of one. You will not use concepts, methods, or approaches learned from submissions to directly develop competing products or services.

4.3 Nothing prevents you from working independently in the same general subject area, as long as your work does not incorporate or derive from specific Confidential Information or submissions you reviewed.

5. Conflict of interest.

5.1 You agree to disclose any actual or potential conflict of interest that may affect your impartiality, including:

• Employment, advisory, or consulting relationships with any participant or sponsor
• Financial interest in any participant's organization or project
• Personal relationships with any participant
• Prior knowledge of or involvement in any submission

5.2 If a conflict is identified, the Organizer will decide whether you should recuse yourself from the affected submission(s). You agree to follow that decision.

5.3 If a conflict of interest is discovered after scores have been submitted, the Organizer reserves the right to exclude or adjust affected scores at its sole discretion. The Organizer shall document any such adjustment in writing and retain records for the duration of the confidentiality period set forth in Section 3.2.

6. Conduct standards.

6.1 You agree to behave professionally and respectfully in all Hackathon interactions, whether on Discord, email, video, or in person.

6.2 You agree to follow the Hackathon's Code of Conduct, attached as Appendix A and incorporated by reference, which prohibits harassment, discrimination, intimidation, and any behavior that creates a hostile environment.

6.3 You agree to evaluate submissions fairly, using only the criteria provided. Scores and feedback must reflect the merits of the submission, not the identity of the team.

7. Sensitive content and Do No Harm.

This Hackathon addresses human trafficking. Submissions may contain references to survivors, vulnerable populations, and traumatic experiences. You acknowledge the gravity of this subject and agree to the following, consistent with the United Nations Do No Harm principles:

7.1 You will treat all Sensitive Content with dignity, discretion, and care.

7.2 You will not share, screenshot, post, or distribute any Sensitive Content on any platform, for any purpose, including social media, blogs, publications, presentations, or media.

7.3 You will not directly contact, approach, or attempt to identify any individuals (survivors, victims, witnesses, or informants) referenced in any submission. Report any welfare concerns to the Organizer.

7.4 If you provide feedback on submissions involving Sensitive Content, it must be constructive, respectful, and mindful of the impact on participants who may be survivors or advocates.

7.5 Emergency Exception. Nothing in these Terms prevents you from contacting appropriate emergency services (including 911, law enforcement, or recognized trafficking hotlines such as the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888) where there is an immediate risk to life or safety. You agree to notify the Organizer as soon as reasonably possible after making any such contact.

8. Participant contact after the hackathon.

8.1 For six (6) months after the Hackathon, you agree to notify the Organizer in writing before directly approaching, recruiting, hiring, or making investment offers to any participant whose submission you reviewed.

8.2 General networking at public events, responding to unsolicited inquiries from participants, and connections made outside the Hackathon context are not restricted.

9. Your name and likeness.

9.1 You grant the Organizer, Call for Code AI, and UN Human Rights permission to use your name, title, professional affiliation, photo, and bio to promote the Hackathon on the website, social media, press releases, and event materials.

9.2 Public listing of judges is subject to approval by Call for Code AI's founder per the initiative's partnership terms. The Organizer will coordinate this before publishing.

9.3 You will have a reasonable opportunity to review and approve your bio before publication and may request corrections at any time.

10. Withdrawal and removal.

10.1 You may withdraw at any time by notifying the Organizer. Withdrawal does not release you from obligations regarding Confidential Information already received.

10.2 The Organizer may remove you for: (a) material breach of these Terms; (b) violation of the Code of Conduct; or (c) conduct that, in the Organizer's reasonable judgment, poses a risk to the integrity of the judging process, the safety of participants, or the reputation of the initiative. Except where immediate removal is necessary to protect participants or the judging process, you will receive written notice specifying the basis for removal and will have 24 hours to provide a written response before a final decision is made. Removal does not release you from the obligations in Sections 3 (Confidentiality), 4 (IP), 7 (Sensitive Content), and 8 (Post-Hackathon Contact), which survive termination.

11. Remedies.

You acknowledge that breaching the confidentiality, IP, or sensitive content terms may cause irreparable harm to participants, survivors, and the initiative. The Organizer may seek injunctive relief (a court order to stop the activity) in addition to any other available remedies.

12. Governing law.

12.1 These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Texas.

12.2 Disputes will first go to good-faith mediation. If unresolved within 30 days, disputes go to binding arbitration (American Arbitration Association, Travis County, Texas).

13. General.

13.1 These Terms, together with Appendix A (Code of Conduct), are the entire agreement between you and the Organizer regarding your judging participation.

13.2 If any provision is unenforceable, the rest remains in effect.

13.3 The Organizer may update these Terms with reasonable notice. Continued participation after notice constitutes acceptance.

Appendix A — Hackathon Code of Conduct.

(referenced in Section 6.2)

This Code of Conduct (the "Code") establishes the behavioral standards expected of everyone involved in the Call for Code AI: United Against Trafficking Hackathon (the "Hackathon"). It supplements, and does not limit, your obligations under the Terms above. Capitalized terms not defined here have the meanings given in the Terms.

A.1 Scope.

This Code applies to all individuals participating in the Hackathon in any capacity, including participants, team members, Technical Reviewers, Panel Judges, mentors, speakers, sponsors, Organizer staff, volunteers, and guests (collectively, "Participants").

It applies to all Hackathon spaces and activities, in-person and virtual, including Devpost, Discord, email, video calls, Hackathon social media channels, the in-person event at Capital Factory in Austin, TX, the Awards Ceremony on July 30, 2026, and any official side events.

A.2 Our commitment.

The Hackathon addresses human trafficking — a human rights crisis affecting millions of people globally. Consistent with United Nations Human Rights principles and the Do No Harm framework, we are committed to:

• Treating every Participant with dignity and respect, regardless of background or role;
• Honoring the dignity and agency of survivors, victims, and affected communities;
• Creating an environment that is safe, inclusive, and free from harassment; and
• Centering impact and survivor-centered outcomes over personal gain.

A.3 Expected behavior.

All Participants are expected to:

• Be respectful, kind, and considerate in all interactions;
• Welcome diverse perspectives and listen actively, particularly to those with lived experience or subject-matter expertise;
• Use inclusive, survivor-centered language;
• Collaborate in good faith and give credit where credit is due;
• Respect the time, work, and boundaries of fellow Participants;
• Represent qualifications, affiliations, and work accurately;
• Follow the reasonable instructions of the Organizer and venue staff; and
• Report concerns promptly and honestly.

A.4 Prohibited behavior.

The following conduct is strictly prohibited:

• Harassment — unwelcome comments, attention, or contact based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, physical appearance, immigration status, socioeconomic status, or any other protected characteristic;
• Discrimination on the basis of any characteristic listed above;
• Sexual harassment — unwelcome sexual attention, advances, imagery, jokes, or innuendo;
• Intimidation, threats, or stalking, including sustained disruption of sessions, unwanted following, or persistent unwanted contact;
• Verbal or written abuse, including personal attacks, slurs, demeaning language, or deliberate public humiliation;
• Physical contact without consent, including unwelcome touching or physical intimidation;
• Doxxing or disclosure of another person's private information without consent;
• Retaliation against any Participant who reports a concern, participates in an investigation, or supports a reporter;
• Plagiarism, academic dishonesty, or misrepresentation of work, credentials, or identity;
• Use of the Hackathon for unrelated commercial, political, or recruiting purposes without prior authorization from the Organizer; and
• Conduct that brings the Hackathon, Call for Code AI, UN Human Rights, or the Organizer into disrepute.

A.5 Survivor-centered conduct.

Because the Hackathon addresses human trafficking, the following behavioral standards apply in addition to the specific obligations in Section 7 of the Terms:

• Use language that centers the agency, dignity, and recovery of survivors — not pity, shame, or objectification;
• Do not sensationalize, romanticize, or exploit trafficking, victims, or survivors in any content, discussion, presentation, or promotional material produced in connection with the Hackathon;
• Avoid graphic, traumatic, or exploitative imagery;
• Defer to Participants with lived experience on matters related to their experience, and never pressure anyone to disclose personal history.

A.6 Reporting a concern.

If you experience or witness conduct that may violate this Code, report it as soon as possible through any of the following channels:

• Email: team@austinaihub.org (subject line: "Code of Conduct Report")
• In-person (Austin event): any identified Organizer or staff member, or Capital Factory venue staff
• Anonymous form: austinaihub.org/hackathon/report

All reports will be handled promptly, confidentially, and with care for the reporter's wellbeing. Reports involving a potential conflict of interest with an Organizer will be escalated to a neutral reviewer outside the conflict.

A.7 Enforcement.

The Organizer will investigate reports in good faith and may take any action it deems appropriate, including:

• Private warning;
• Public warning;
• Required training or mediation;
• Removal from specific sessions, spaces, or channels;
• Removal from the Hackathon;
• Disqualification of submissions or forfeiture of awards;
• Prohibition from future Call for Code AI or Austin AI Hub events; and
• Referral to law enforcement, where applicable.

Enforcement decisions will be documented in writing and will take into account the severity of the conduct, whether it was intentional or a first occurrence, and the impact on those affected. For Technical Reviewers and Panel Judges, removal proceedings will follow Section 10.2 of the Terms, except where immediate action is required to protect participants or the judging process.

A.8 No retaliation.

Retaliation against any person who reports a Code of Conduct concern, participates in an investigation, or supports a reporter is itself a violation of this Code and will result in enforcement action under Section A.7.

A.9 Acknowledgment.

By checking the acceptance box on the Hackathon website, you confirm you have read, understood, and agree to abide by this Code of Conduct in addition to the Terms.

Questions? team@austinaihub.org