On July 23rd, 2025, The Forge revised its Terms of Service with an important update. This update affects users in specific regions where we can no longer provide service. This policy change affects The Forge. The following position represents The Forge, and does not concern or represent associated partners or services.
What’s Changing
As of July 23rd 2025, Israel was added to the list of sanctioned jurisdictions where use of The Forge is prohibited. For existing users, the change will become effective on September 20th 2025. Our platform has always included restrictions on access from certain countries and territories due to international law and compliance obligations. With this update, the list will explicitly include:
- Israel
- North Korea
- Iran
- Cuba
- Venezuela
- Crimea
- Syria
Accounts found to be operating from within these jurisdictions will be terminated, and active subscriptions canceled with prorated refunds where applicable.
Why We’re Making This Change
At The Forge, we are committed to aligning our operations with international law, human rights standards, and our own compliance policies. Israel’s well-documented violations of international law and continued Genocide on the Palestinian people have led us to extend our service restrictions to include it as a sanctioned jurisdiction.
This decision ensures that our platform remains consistent with our ethical standards and that we avoid complicity in activities that contradict international human rights obligations.
We recognize that changes like this can impact users, but the policy is non-negotiable and applies uniformly.
What This Means for Users in Israel
If you are a user located in Israel, you will no longer be able to access or use The Forge after September 20, 2025. Here are your options:
- Cancel your subscription and close your account voluntarily
You can contact us at any time before September 20 to request early closure of your account - Export your data
If you wish to keep any data, assets, or content you’ve purchased on the platform, please export it before your account is closed. - Get a prorated refund
If you have an active subscription, you will receive a refund for any unused portion of your subscription. Refunds will be processed automatically for accounts that are canceled after the deadline, but you may also request early cancellation and refund by contacting support. - Automatic account termination
If you take no action, your account will be automatically terminated after September 20, 2025. Any applicable refunds will be processed at that time.
Your Rights
As a consumer in Quebec (and in other jurisdictions with similar laws), you have the right to:
- Cancel your subscription at any time.
- Receive a refund for any unused portion of prepaid services if your subscription is canceled.
- Close your account if you do not agree to the updated Terms of Service.
If you reject the changes, you should cancel your subscription and close your account before September 20, 2025.
Next Steps
Impacted users in Israel will receive a direct email with detailed instructions and timelines.
All other users are encouraged to review the updated Terms of Service in full here.
Continued use of the service after September 20, 2025 will be considered acceptance of the revised Terms of Service.
Questions?
If you need assistance with account closure, refunds, or data export, our support team is here to help. Please reach out at [email protected].
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What if I am only temporarily in Israel (e.g., traveling)?
A: If your account is detected as being used from within a sanctioned jurisdiction, it will be flagged and may be terminated. If you are not a resident of Israel and believe your account was flagged incorrectly, please contact support with documentation of your billing address and primary place of residence.
Q: What if I use a VPN to access the service?
A: Circumventing regional restrictions using a VPN or similar technology is a violation of our Terms of Service. Accounts found to be doing so are subject to immediate termination without refund.
Q: I am in Israel and I prepaid for a yearly subscription. Will I lose my money?
A: No. Any unused portion of your subscription will be refunded on a prorated basis once your account is canceled.
Q: If I am in Israel, can I choose to keep my account open even if I disagree with the policy?
A: No. The policy applies uniformly to all users located in sanctioned jurisdictions. Accounts in Israel will not be permitted to remain open after September 20, 2025.
Q: Can I request an immediate cancellation and refund before September 20, 2025?
A: Yes. If you are located in Israel, or if you reject the revised Terms of Service, you may request early cancellation and a prorated refund by contacting support.
Q: What happens if I don’t do anything?
A: If you take no action, your account will be automatically terminated after September 20, 2025. Any applicable prorated refunds will be processed at that time.
