Privacy Policy — PaperFinder

1. Introduction

PaperFinder ("we", "us", "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains what data we collect, how we use it, and your rights in relation to it. By using the Service you consent to the practices described here.

2. Data We Collect

We collect the following categories of information:

Account data — username, email address, phone number (optional), and password (stored as a cryptographic hash, never in plain text)
Usage data — papers generated, time spent on the platform, leaderboard activity, and feature interactions
Technical data — IP address, device identifiers, browser type, and session tokens
Content data — saved favourites, PaperAI chat history, and feedback or ratings you submit

3. How We Use Your Data

We use collected data to operate and improve the Service, personalise your experience, and — in aggregate and anonymised form — to understand usage patterns that inform decisions about features and content. Usage and behavioural data may also be used to deliver relevant interest-based content and advertising through third-party advertising partners. We do not sell individually identifiable personal data to third parties.

Specifically, your data is used to:

Authenticate your account and maintain secure sessions
Display leaderboard rankings and personal statistics
Store your favourites, chat history, and preferences
Detect and prevent abuse, ban evasion, and fraudulent activity
Send service communications where necessary
Analyse aggregate usage patterns to improve the Service
Serve advertising that may be relevant to your interests and browsing behaviour

4. Data Retention

We retain your account data for as long as your account is active. Usage logs, session data, and analytics are retained for up to 24 months. You may request deletion of your account and associated data at any time by contacting us.

5. Data Sharing

We do not sell your personal data. We may share data with:

Service providers — infrastructure and database providers (e.g. Supabase, Vercel) who process data on our behalf under data processing agreements
Advertising partners — anonymised or aggregated behavioural data may be shared with advertising networks to improve ad relevance
Legal authorities — where required by applicable law or to protect the rights, property, or safety of PaperFinder or its users

6. Cookies & Tracking

We use browser storage (localStorage and sessionStorage) to maintain your session, preferences, and guest access. We do not currently use third-party tracking cookies, though this may change as the Service evolves. Any such changes will be reflected in an updated version of this policy.

7. Your Rights

You have the right to:

Access the personal data we hold about you
Request correction of inaccurate data
Request deletion of your account and associated data
Object to processing of your data for direct marketing purposes

To exercise any of these rights, contact us using the details below.

8. Security

We implement reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your data, including password hashing, session token expiry, IP-based ban enforcement, and device tracking. No method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure; we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. Children

The Service is intended for students aged 13 and over. We do not knowingly collect data from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has registered, please contact us immediately.

10. Contact

For privacy-related enquiries, contact us at [email protected].