Legal Notice

1. What this service is

• REFLIB is a metasearch engine. It runs no crawler, builds no index of its own, and stores or hosts no third-party web content.
• The results you see are supplied in real time by an upstream search provider; we only present and format them.
• We have no editorial control over the sites results point to, and no ability to delete anything on those sites.
• A result appearing here does not mean we endorse, verify or agree with it.

2. Applicable law

The service operates in Hong Kong and is subject to Hong Kong law. Those most relevant to search content include:

• Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Cap. 486) — governs the collection, holding, processing and use of personal data, and creates doxxing offences
• Control of Obscene and Indecent Articles Ordinance (Cap. 390) — regulates the publication of obscene and indecent articles, including electronically published ones
• Prevention of Child Pornography Ordinance (Cap. 579) — prohibits the production, possession and distribution of child pornography
• Copyright Ordinance (Cap. 528) — sections 88B and 88C set out how a service provider is to handle a notice of alleged infringement
• Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (Cap. 1228) and the National Security Law — provide for removal of, or disabling access to, electronic messages endangering national security
• Defamation Ordinance (Cap. 21) — governs civil liability for defamatory statements

3. What we do

• SafeSearch is on by default (moderate). You can turn it off in the footer, and web results you see after doing so are your own responsibility — but image search is always filtered at the strictest level regardless of that switch.
• On receiving a complaint that meets the requirements below, we remove the corresponding links from our results.
• We comply with lawful removal or blocking requirements issued by Hong Kong law enforcement.
• We keep a record of removals for audit.

4. AI answers

An AI answer is not the same thing as a web result. A web result is a link to someone else's site; an AI answer is generated text rendered on our own page. The “we forward, we do not publish” position above does not extend to it.

• Answers are generated in real time by an upstream model from search results. We do not pre-screen them.
• They may be inaccurate, incomplete or out of date. The answer area says so, and you should check the cited sources before relying on one.
• If an answer contains a false or damaging statement about you or your organisation, complain under section 6 and we will address the output for that query.
• We accept no liability for decisions taken in reliance on an AI answer.

5. What we cannot do

These limits follow from how the service works, and are stated plainly so they are not misread:

• We do not pre-screen results. They are generated at the moment you search, with no human review step in between.
• Removal affects only our results. It does not make content disappear from the source site. To remove the content itself, contact that site's operator or report it to the relevant authority.
• We cannot guarantee that no unlawful content will ever appear in results. We act on complaints and enforcement notices case by case.

6. Complaints and removal requests

If you believe a result on this site is unlawful in Hong Kong or infringes your rights, email [email protected].

So that we can act, please include the following. Without it we cannot follow up:

• your name and a means of contacting you;
• the exact search terms you used;
• the full URL of each result you want removed, listed individually;
• the law you say it breaches, or the right you say it infringes;
• a short explanation of why;
• a statement that you believe in good faith that your complaint is accurate.

7. Copyright complaints

Send copyright complaints to the same address, [email protected]. If you intend your complaint to be a notice of alleged infringement under section 88C of the Copyright Ordinance (Cap. 528), it must contain everything that section requires — including substantially identifying the copyright work, identifying where the material is, a statement of your good-faith belief that the use is unauthorised, and a statement that you understand a false statement in the notice may attract liability.

8. Other channels

Some matters are handled directly by government bodies, and can be reported to them:

• Obscene and indecent articles — Office for Film, Newspaper and Article Administration (OFNAA)
• Child pornography — Hong Kong Police Force
• Content endangering national security — National Security Department, Hong Kong Police Force
• Personal data privacy — Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD)

9. Disclaimer

• Results are provided as is. We make no warranty as to their accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or fitness for any purpose.
• We are not responsible for the content, policies or practices of third-party sites. What you do after leaving this site is your own responsibility.
• To the fullest extent permitted by law, we are not liable for any loss arising from use of, or inability to use, this service.

10. Governing law

This notice is governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and disputes arising from the service are subject to the jurisdiction of its courts.