Account information: Email address, timezone, and plan selection when you create an account
YouTube data: Publicly available video metadata (titles, descriptions, view counts, thumbnails) that you authorize us to analyze
Usage data: How you interact with the Service, including pages visited and features used
Analytics: We use Plausible Analytics, a privacy-friendly analytics tool that does not use cookies or track personal data
2. How We Use Your Information
To provide citation analysis and optimization recommendations
To train and improve our machine learning models using aggregated, anonymized data
To send transactional emails related to your account and subscription
To monitor and improve Service performance and reliability
3. Data Storage and Security
Your data is stored on Google Cloud Platform infrastructure in the United States. We use encryption in transit (TLS) and at rest. Database access is restricted via Cloud SQL Auth Proxy with IAM authentication.
4. Third-Party Services
We use the following third-party services to operate VisCite:
Google Cloud Platform: Infrastructure and database hosting
Vercel: Frontend hosting and deployment
Stripe: Payment processing (we never store your card details)
AI APIs (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google): Citation analysis and AI assistant features
5. Data Sharing
We do not sell your personal data. We only share data with the third-party services listed above as necessary to operate the Service. We may disclose information if required by law.
6. Data Retention
We retain your account data for as long as your account is active. Video analysis data is retained for the purpose of trend tracking and historical comparisons. You may request deletion of your data at any time by contacting us.
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 data
Export your data in a machine-readable format
Withdraw consent for data processing at any time
8. Cookies
We use only essential cookies required for authentication (session tokens). We do not use tracking cookies or third-party advertising cookies. Plausible Analytics operates without cookies.
9. Children's Privacy
The Service is not intended for use by anyone under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.
10. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by posting the updated policy and changing the “Last updated” date.