This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult an attorney for specific legal questions about terms of service.
- Terms of Service can change without meaningful notice, and old versions typically disappear
- Proving what the previous terms said is your responsibility in a dispute
- Archiving ToS pages periodically with Kiroku lets you compare before-and-after versions
- AI summaries help you quickly spot key changes in lengthy legal documents
Terms of Service can be changed unilaterally by service providers, and previous versions are typically no longer accessible. This guide explains how to periodically archive ToS pages using Kiroku to track and document changes over time.
One day you discover that a service you rely on has quietly changed its refund policy, expanded how it uses your data, or added new fees — and the previous terms are nowhere to be found. Most people ignore ToS update emails, but when changes are unfavorable, proving what the old terms said becomes nearly impossible.
This guide explains how to regularly archive terms of service pages for SaaS, social media, and e-commerce platforms, so you can track changes and have evidence of previous versions when you need it.
A captured example: inspect the changed wording
We edited a fictional service’s cancellation deadline from 30 to 45 days before renewal. We captured each version at the same local URL in a browser and ran Kiroku’s existing comparison code. It extracted one changed line.
This controlled test was run on September 8, 2026 (UTC). An unchanged pair did not qualify for an alert. The example includes saved files and a generated email text preview; it does not test production scheduling, email delivery or external timestamps.
Set up one URL and verify the first save
Use a page accessible without signing in. Private archive storage does not bypass a source site’s login or access restrictions.
Use the invitation or sign-in link sent to the email address used for payment.
In Monitoring, check the URL and select “Start monitoring this URL”. Payment alone does not activate a monitor.
Check that the saved page contains the wording you need. Review errors; later checks run about every six hours.
A saved version records what was successfully captured. It cannot recover text removed before the first capture, guarantee the last version before deletion, or determine the legal effect of a change. A request failure alone does not establish that the publisher deleted a page.
Keep the previous wording when a page changes
Pro checks public URLs about every six hours. Review saved versions and text differences, and keep your archive records private when needed.
- Inspect the first saved version after setup
- Review detected changes and any capture errors
- Private archives, saved versions and evidence-pack exports
Why Tracking ToS Changes Matters
Service providers can modify their terms of service at any time, often with nothing more than an email notification that most users never read. When a dispute arises — whether about refund eligibility, data usage, or pricing — the burden of proving what the previous terms said falls on the user. Without a saved copy of the old terms, you have no basis for comparison or complaint.
- Refund policies silently removed or restricted
- Data usage terms expanded to include AI training
- Free features moved behind a paywall
- Liability disclaimers broadened to exclude service outages
- Cancellation penalties added or increased
Many services include clauses stating that continued use after a terms update constitutes acceptance. Without a record of the previous terms, challenging unfavorable changes becomes extremely difficult.
Which Pages to Archive
Beyond the main Terms of Service page, several related policy pages are worth archiving regularly. Changes to any of these can affect your rights and obligations as a user.
- Terms of Service / Terms of Use
- Privacy Policy
- Pricing page
- Refund and cancellation policy
- Data Processing Agreement (DPA)
- Service Level Agreement (SLA)
SaaS pricing pages are updated frequently. A saved copy can prove what you were originally paying or what was included in your plan before a price increase.
Choose ongoing monitoring or occasional manual saves
For an important terms page, start a URL monitor in Pro and inspect its first saved version. Then review the roughly six-hour checks and compare saved versions when a change is detected.
Manual saves can be enough for occasional reviews. Free Guest saves are public; use Pro’s private archive option when you need private management of the captured record.
Treat an AI summary as a reading aid. Check important wording in the saved HTML or screenshot, and retain the notice and effective date separately.
Tips for Staying on Top of Changes
Building a simple routine for archiving key policy pages can save you significant trouble when a dispute arises. Here are practical tips for monitoring ToS changes.
- Keep a list of the terms, pricing and change-notice URLs for important services
- In Pro, review the roughly six-hour checks and any capture errors
- Set your own reminder for pages you choose to review manually
- After an alert, compare the previously saved version with the new capture
- A new capture cannot restore earlier wording if no earlier version was saved
- Verify important wording in the saved HTML or screenshot rather than relying only on a summary
Summary
Terms of Service can be changed unilaterally by service providers, and previous versions are typically no longer accessible. This guide explains how to periodically archive ToS pages using Kiroku to track and document changes over time.
FAQ
Can archived ToS pages be used as evidence in court?
Having a timestamped record of previous terms can support your claims in a dispute. However, the legal admissibility of such records depends on your jurisdiction and circumstances. Consult a lawyer for specific guidance.
How often should I archive terms pages?
For critical services, once a month is a good baseline. When you receive a terms update notification, save the page immediately — both before and after the change takes effect if possible.
Can Kiroku archive terms pages in any language?
Yes. Kiroku can archive any publicly accessible URL regardless of language. The AI summary feature works with English and other languages.
What if the terms page is very long?
Kiroku's AI summary extracts the key points from lengthy documents, so you can quickly understand the main provisions without reading the entire text. The full HTML is always preserved for detailed review.
Sources
- FTC — Unfair or Deceptive Acts or Practiceshttps://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/statutes/federal-trade-commission-act
- EFF — Terms of (Ab)usehttps://www.eff.org/issues/terms-of-abuse
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureauhttps://www.consumerfinance.gov/
Monitor the next version of this page
Review the captured examples and six-hour check interval, then start one public URL from your Pro dashboard.
Guest saves are free and public. Pro adds private management, ongoing monitoring and evidence-pack exports.