Privacy Policy

Last Updated: December 26, 2024

General Consensus ("we", "our", or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you use our voting platform.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Account Information

When you create an account, we collect:

  • Email address
  • Username
  • Password (encrypted and never stored in plain text)

1.2 Demographic Information

To provide personalized voting experiences and statistical insights, we collect:

  • Date of birth - Used for two purposes:
    • Age verification for restricted content (18+ or 21+ depending on region)
    • Demographic analytics (e.g., "Users aged 25-34 prefer X")
  • Gender - Used for demographic analytics and personalized content
  • Country and region - Used for regional filtering and age restrictions
  • Optional biographical information - Additional context you choose to provide

Important: All users, including those who sign in with Google or Facebook, must complete the demographics form. This information is NOT automatically retrieved from OAuth providers.

1.3 OAuth/Social Login

If you sign in with Google or Facebook, we receive:

  • Your name
  • Email address
  • Profile information (as permitted by the OAuth provider)

We do not receive or request your birth date, gender, or other demographic information from OAuth providers. You will be prompted to complete this information separately after signing in.

We do not store your social media passwords. Authentication is handled securely by Google/Facebook.

1.4 Voting Data

We collect and store:

  • Your votes (like, dislike, unsure) on items
  • Timestamps of votes
  • Category preferences and interests
  • Voting history and statistics

1.5 Automatically Collected Information

  • IP address
  • Browser type and version
  • Device information
  • Session data
  • Usage patterns and performance metrics

2. How We Use Your Information

2.1 Core Functionality

  • Provide and maintain the voting platform
  • Create and manage your account
  • Process and record your votes
  • Display personalized content based on your interests
  • Show age-appropriate content based on your age and region

2.2 Statistical Analysis

  • Generate aggregated, anonymized statistics about voting trends
  • Analyze demographic preferences (e.g., "Men aged 25-34 prefer X")
  • Identify popular and unpopular items
  • Provide insights about consensus and disagreement

Note: Individual votes are aggregated and anonymized for public statistics. Your specific voting choices are not publicly visible.

2.3 Service Improvement

  • Improve our algorithms and recommendations
  • Optimize platform performance
  • Develop new features
  • Fix bugs and technical issues

2.4 Communication

  • Send account-related notifications
  • Respond to your inquiries
  • Send platform updates (if you opt in)

3. Data Sharing and Disclosure

3.1 We DO Share (Anonymized)

  • Public Statistics: Aggregated voting trends and demographic insights (no personal identification)
  • Research: Anonymized datasets for academic or social research (with explicit consent)

3.2 We DO NOT Share

  • Your email address
  • Your specific voting history
  • Your password or login credentials
  • Personal information with advertisers or marketers

3.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or government regulation, or to protect our rights and safety.

4. Data Retention

  • Active Accounts: We retain your data while your account is active
  • Deleted Accounts: When you delete your account, we convert it to a "dead account" that preserves voting data for statistical integrity but removes all personal information (email, demographics, etc.)
  • Voting Data: Anonymized voting records are retained indefinitely for historical statistics

5. Your Rights

5.1 GDPR Rights (UK/EU Users)

If you are located in the UK or European Economic Area, you have the right to:

  • Access: Request a copy of your personal data
  • Rectification: Correct inaccurate personal data
  • Erasure: Request deletion of your personal data ("right to be forgotten")
  • Portability: Receive your data in a machine-readable format
  • Object: Object to processing of your personal data
  • Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent at any time

5.2 All Users

  • View Your Data: Access your profile and voting history at any time
  • Update Information: Edit your profile and preferences
  • Delete Account: Request account deletion (converts to anonymous "dead account")
  • Export Data: Request a data export of your information

To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@generalconsensus.org.

6. Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies for:

  • Essential Cookies: Required for login and session management
  • Functionality Cookies: Remember your preferences and settings
  • Performance Cookies: Analyze usage and improve performance

You can control cookies through your browser settings, but disabling essential cookies may limit platform functionality.

7. Data Security

We implement security measures to protect your data:

  • Passwords are encrypted using industry-standard hashing (bcrypt)
  • HTTPS encryption for all data transmission
  • Regular security audits and updates
  • Restricted access to personal data
  • Secure database storage

However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

8. Age Restrictions

  • You must be at least 13 years old to create an account
  • Age-restricted content (18+ or 21+ depending on region) is filtered based on your birth date
  • We do not knowingly collect data from children under 13

9. Third-Party Services

9.1 OAuth Providers

When you sign in with Google or Facebook:

  • You are subject to their respective privacy policies
  • We receive only the information you authorize
  • You can revoke access at any time through your Google/Facebook account settings

9.2 External Links

Our platform may contain links to external websites. We are not responsible for their privacy practices.

10. International Data Transfers

Your data may be transferred to and stored on servers located outside your country. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for international transfers.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by:

  • Posting the new policy with an updated "Last Updated" date
  • Displaying a prominent notice on the platform
  • Sending an email notification (for material changes)

12. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices:

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