Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

CSGA AI Research Institute ("we," "us," "our," or "Company") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website csga-ai.vercel.app (the "Site") and use our services.

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our Site. By accessing and using our Site, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by all the provisions of this Privacy Policy.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

• Contact Information: When you contact us through forms or email, we collect your name, email address, organization, and message content.
• Account Information: When you create a researcher account on our dashboard, we collect login credentials, profile information, and research preferences.
• Communication Data: We collect information from any communications you send us, including support requests, feedback, and collaboration inquiries.

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

• Usage Data: We collect information about how you interact with our Site, including pages visited, time spent, links clicked, and referring URLs.
• Device Information: We collect device-specific information such as browser type, operating system, IP address, and device identifiers.
• Cookies and Tracking Technologies: We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to personalize content and analyze site usage patterns.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• To provide, maintain, and improve our Site and services
• To respond to your inquiries and communicate with you about research opportunities
• To process transactions and send related information
• To send promotional communications (with your consent)
• To analyze usage patterns and improve user experience
• To detect and prevent fraudulent activities
• To comply with legal obligations and enforce agreements
• To conduct research and analytics for academic purposes

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies to enhance your experience on our Site. Cookies are small files stored on your device that help us remember your preferences and track your usage. We use:

• Essential Cookies: Required for Site functionality (e.g., authentication)
• Preference Cookies: Remember your language and display preferences
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our Site
• Marketing Cookies: Track your interactions for targeted content

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Declining cookies may affect Site functionality. We also support Do Not Track (DNT) signals where available.

5. Third-Party Services

Our Site may integrate with third-party services for analytics, cloud hosting, and communication. These providers have their own privacy policies governing their data practices:

• Vercel: Hosting platform (see Vercel Privacy Policy)
• Google Analytics: Site analytics (see Google Analytics Privacy)
• Email Services: Communication platforms for newsletters and notifications

We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third parties. We recommend reviewing their privacy policies before providing information.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy, unless a longer retention period is required by law. Specifically:

• Account Information: Retained while your account is active, plus 90 days after deletion
• Contact Information: Retained for 2 years from last interaction
• Cookies and Tracking Data: Typically retained for up to 13 months
• Legal Records: Retained for 7 years to comply with applicable regulations

Upon request, we will securely delete your personal information, subject to legal retention requirements.

7. Data Security

We implement comprehensive security measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These include:

• SSL/TLS encryption for data transmission
• Secure authentication mechanisms for account access
• Regular security audits and updates
• Restricted access to personal data based on legitimate business need
• Employee training on data protection and privacy

While we employ robust security measures, no system is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your information.

8. Your Privacy Rights

8.1 General Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights:

• Right to Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
• Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate information
• Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your personal data
• Right to Restrict Processing: Limit how we use your information
• Right to Data Portability: Receive your data in a portable format
• Right to Object: Opt out of certain processing activities

8.2 GDPR Rights (EU Residents)

If you are an EU resident, you have additional rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). You may also lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

8.3 CCPA Rights (California Residents)

If you are a California resident, you have rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), including the right to know what personal information is collected, the right to delete, and the right to opt-out of sales.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided in Section 10.

9. Children's Privacy

Our Site is not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have collected information from a child under 13, we will take steps to delete such information promptly. Parents or guardians who believe their child has provided information to us should contact us immediately.

10. Contact Information

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your privacy rights, or want to report a privacy concern, please contact us:

We will respond to your inquiry within 30 days of receipt.

11. Policy Updates

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. We will notify you of significant changes by posting the updated policy on our Site with an updated "Last Updated" date. Your continued use of our Site following the posting of changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised Privacy Policy.

12. International Data Transfers

If you are accessing our Site from outside the United States, please note that we may transfer your information to the United States and other countries. By using our Site, you consent to the transfer of your information to countries outside your country of residence, which may have different data protection rules.

13. Links to Third-Party Websites

Our Site may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party websites before providing your personal information.