Privacy Policy

Let’s Compare Notes ("we", "us", "our") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal data. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website, use our services, or interact with our platform.

1. Information We Collect

A. Information You Provide

• Account information: username, email address, and a sign-in key your browser makes from your password (stored hashed). Your password itself is never sent to us.
• The notes you approve in a Cycle, in the words you approved
• Your Vault — your journal, the subjects you have asked to hear about, your notebooks, and any copies of your conversations you keep there — sealed in your browser before it is sent. We store it, and we cannot open it.
• Any additional emails you add to your account

B. Automatically Collected Information

• Authentication token (stored in HTTP-only cookie)
• A random identifier (anonymousId) kept in your browser, used to keep your conversations on your own device
• Technical data: IP address, browser type, device information, pages visited, time/date of access (server logs)

C. Cookies and Similar Technologies

See our separate Cookie Policy for details.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Provide, maintain, and improve our services
• Authenticate users and maintain secure sessions
• Keep your Vault for you, sealed, so it can follow you to another device
• Send important notifications and service emails (verification, password reset)
• Compare the notes you approve with other people's notes in the same Cycle, and write that Cycle's Final Landscape Report, on the terms declared at the Cycle's door
• Comply with legal obligations

3. Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR)

• Contract – processing necessary to provide our services
• Legitimate interests – site security, fraud prevention, service improvement
• Consent – for any optional analytics cookies (if implemented in future)

4. Sharing Your Information

We do not sell your personal data.

A note you approve is shared within its Cycle, and with the Cycle's Host (the organisation or person that opened it), on the terms that Cycle declared at its door — with your name or without it, as those terms say. You can take any note back at any time; copies of anything already published and sent out can't be recalled.

Your conversations, your drafts and your Vault are not shared with anyone.

A person may read your conversation for quality. If you report a problem and choose to include your last few messages, the platform team reads them to look into your report.

Your personal data may be shared with:

• Service providers (hosting, email delivery)
• Legal authorities if required by law

5. Data Retention

• Account data: retained while your account is active + 12 months after deletion request
• Conversations: kept in your own browser, and in your Vault if you choose; not kept by us in a form we can read
• Notes you approve: kept with their Cycle's record. You can take any note back at any time. [DRAFT — the retention period for notes is an open item pending counsel; it will be stated here once it is decided.]
• Logs: retained for up to 12 months for security purposes

6. Your Rights (GDPR / CCPA / Other Laws)

You have the right to:

• Access, correct, or delete your personal data
• Object to or restrict processing
• Withdraw consent (where applicable)
• Data portability
• Lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority

To exercise your rights, contact us at: notifications@letscomparenotes.org

7. Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your data (HTTPS, hashed passwords, limited access).

8. International Transfers

Your data may be processed in the United States or other countries. We use appropriate safeguards for such transfers.

9. Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed to children under 16. We do not knowingly collect data from children.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this policy. Changes will be posted here with an updated effective date.

11. Contact Us

For any privacy questions:

Email: notifications@letscomparenotes.org