Privacy Policy

Groundery ("we," "our," or "us") operates the Groundery platform at groundery.com. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our service. Please read this policy carefully. By using Groundery, you consent to the practices described herein.

1. Information We Collect

Account Information

When you create an account, we collect your name, email address, and profile image through our authentication provider. This information is necessary to provide you with access to the platform.

Content You Provide

We collect and process audio files, video files, and text transcripts that you upload to the platform. This content is processed to extract factual claims and verify them against external sources. Uploaded content is stored securely and associated with your account.

Usage Information

We automatically collect information about how you interact with the platform, including pages visited, features used, session duration, and actions taken within the application.

Log Data

Our servers automatically record information when you access the platform, including your IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URLs, and timestamps. This data helps us maintain the security and performance of our service.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide, operate, and maintain the Groundery platform, including transcription, claim extraction, and fact verification.
• Process and analyze your uploaded content to deliver fact-checking results.
• Manage your account, including authentication, billing, and quota tracking.
• Communicate with you about your account, service updates, and support requests.
• Monitor and improve the performance, reliability, and security of the platform.
• Comply with legal obligations and enforce our terms of service.

3. Service Providers

We share your information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating the platform. These providers are bound by contractual obligations to protect your data and use it only for the purposes we specify:

• Deepgram — Processes audio content for transcription. Audio data is sent to Deepgram's API for speech-to-text conversion.
• OpenAI — Processes transcript text for claim extraction. Text content is sent to OpenAI's API to identify factual statements.
• Vercel — Hosts the application and provides blob storage for uploaded media files.
• Clerk — Handles user authentication, session management, and account security.
• Neon — Provides the managed PostgreSQL database where your account data, transcripts, and claims are stored.

4. Data Retention

We retain your account information for as long as your account is active. Uploaded content and associated fact-checking results are retained until you delete them or close your account. When you delete content or your account, we will remove the associated data from our systems within a reasonable timeframe, subject to any legal retention requirements. Backup copies may persist for up to 30 days after deletion.

5. Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information, including encryption in transit (TLS/SSL), encrypted storage, secure authentication, and access controls. However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. We encourage you to use strong passwords and protect your account credentials.

6. Your Rights

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

• Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
• Correction: Request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Deletion: Request that we delete your personal information, subject to legal retention obligations.
• Portability: Request a machine-readable copy of your data.
• Objection: Object to certain processing of your data.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at support@groundery.com. We will respond within 30 days.

7. Cookies

Groundery uses essential cookies and similar technologies to maintain your authentication session and remember your preferences. We do not use third-party advertising or tracking cookies. Our authentication provider (Clerk) may set additional cookies necessary for secure sign-in. By using the platform, you consent to the use of these essential cookies.

8. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence, including the United States, where our service providers operate. These countries may have data protection laws that differ from those in your jurisdiction. By using Groundery, you consent to the transfer of your information to these countries. We take appropriate safeguards to ensure your data remains protected in accordance with this policy.

9. Children's Privacy

Groundery is not intended for use by individuals under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 16, we will take steps to delete that information promptly. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us at support@groundery.com.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. If we make material changes, we will notify you by email or through a notice on the platform. Your continued use of Groundery after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:

support@groundery.com