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Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

We collect the following types of data:

A. Information You Provide Directly

When you register or interact with the platform, we collect:

  • Personal Information: First name, last name, email, username, password (encrypted).

  • Profile Information: Languages spoken, affiliation, areas of expertise.

  • Contributor Submissions: Course materials, case studies, and teaching resources, which may or may not be directly related to OpenCC’s brand. These are collected with contributor consent.

  • Communication Data: Messages sent through the platform and feedback submissions.

    B. Information Collected from AI Chatbots

  • User Discussions: AI-powered chatbots store discussions related to syllabus creation, topic searches, and material recommendations.

  • AI Processing: Conversations are used to improve responses but are not used for training external AI models.

    C. Information Collected Automatically

  • Usage Data: Pages visited, actions taken, time spent on the platform.

  • Device & Browser Information: IP address, device type, operating system, browser type.

● Bot Protection & Security Measures:

  • reCAPTCHA is used to prevent automated abuse and protect user accounts.

  • Advanced bot protection mechanisms detect and block suspicious activity.

    D. Information from External Databases & AI Processing

  • Contributor Submissions & AI Enhancements:

    • Course materials, case studies, and teaching resources may be stored in external vector databases like Pinecone for AI-powered contextual enhancements.

    • These databases enable AI models to retrieve relevant information for improved content recommendations.

    • Contributor Consent: All contributor materials are stored and used with the explicit consent of the contributor when they agree to the Terms and Services.

  • Third-Party AI & Search Services:

    • Tavily Web Search:

      • When performing web searches through Tavily, we only send plain text queries.

      • We never transmit institutional IP addresses or other identifiable metadata.

    • ○  OpenAI Assistants API:

■ AI-generated responses may leverage Tavily search results but exclude non-relevant personal data.

E. Information Processed for Slide Generation

  • Plain Text Processing:

    • When users request a slide presentation, we only send structured plain text

      arrays (bullet points, headings, and key content).

    • No user credentials, IPs, or personal data are sent with the request.

  • API Hosting & Output:

    • The SlideSpeak API processes the request and returns a URL where the generated presentation is hosted on their servers.

    • OpenCC does not store, modify, or control the hosted slides after generation.

  • ●  Customization Options:

    • Users can specify the number of slides, template, language, tone, verbosity, inclusion of images, and branding preferences.

    • A slide-by-slide mode allows defining content per slide before submission to the API.

2. How We Use Your Information

We collect and process data to:

  • Provide and personalize your experience on OpenCC.

  • Enable AI-powered syllabus creation, material recommendations, and contextual enhancements.

  • Generate slide presentations via the SlideSpeak API using only plain text arrays.

  • Enhance security, prevent fraud, and block automated bots.

  • Improve platform functionality based on user behavior and feedback.

  • Store contributor submissions in external vector databases (e.g., Pinecone) to enhance AI retrieval capabilities.

  • Ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.

    3. How We Protect Your Data
    We implement strict security measures to protect your data:

  • Password Encryption: All passwords are securely encrypted and never stored in plain text.

  • End-to-End Security: Data transmissions are protected by SSL/TLS encryption.

  • Access Controls: Only authorized personnel can access critical system data.

  • Bot Protection & reCAPTCHA: Prevents malicious bots from accessing the platform.

  • External Database Security: Data stored in Pinecone is encrypted and access-restricted for AI contextual retrieval only.

  • Secure Slide Generation: Plain text data sent to the SlideSpeak API does not include

    personal or identifiable user information.

  • Despite these measures, no online system is 100% secure. Users are encouraged to use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication (if available).

    4. Data Sharing & Third-Party Services
    We do not sell or rent your personal data. However, we may share information in specific situations:

    With Other Users (Limited Profile Data):

  • Your name, affiliation, languages spoken, and areas of expertise may be visible to other registered users including individual members of Columbia University.

  • If you contribute materials, your name is linked to your submissions.

    With AI & Search Services (Without Personal Data):

  • Tavily Web Search: We only send plain text queries and never transmit IP addresses from institutions or other identifiable metadata.

  • OpenAI Assistants API: AI-generated responses may reference Tavily search results, but personally identifiable information is never included.

    With Slide Generation API Services (Strictly Controlled):

  • We only send structured plain text content to the API (titles, bullet points).

  • The API returns a URL where the generated slides are hosted on their servers.

  • No personal data, IPs, or user credentials are transmitted during this process.

    For Legal & Security Purposes:

● If required by law or necessary to protect platform integrity, we may share data with law enforcement or regulatory bodies.

With Service Providers (Under Strict Agreements):

● We use third-party analytics or cloud hosting services that comply with strict data protection standards.

5. Your Rights & Choices

You have control over your data and can:
Access & Update Your Information: Edit your profile details anytime from your dashboard.

Delete Your Account: Request account deletion, and we will erase associated personal data (except where required for legal compliance).

Opt-Out of AI Processing: You can disable AI-assisted features in your settings if you do not wish for your discussions to be processed by AI.

Control Cookies: Modify browser settings to limit cookie tracking (may affect platform functionality).

For any data access, correction, or deletion requests, please contact Aleksey Przhevalskiy at ap4395@gsb.columbia.edu

6. Data Retention & Deletion

  • We retain personal information only as long as necessary to provide platform services.

  • If an account is inactive for 24 months, it may be automatically deleted.

  • Contributor-submitted materials may remain on the platform for educational purposes, unless the contributor requests removal.

    7. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

  • Essential Cookies: Required for authentication and security.

  • Analytics Cookies: Help us understand user behavior (can be disabled).

  • Third-Party Cookies: Used by embedded services like AI tools (subject to third-party privacy policies).
    You can modify cookie settings in your browser.

    8. Children’s Privacy

  • OpenCC is intended for educators and professionals.

  • We do not knowingly collect data from users under 16. If you believe a minor has provided personal data, please contact us for removal.

    9. Policy Updates & Notifications

  • We may update this policy to reflect changes in technology, legal requirements, or platform features.

  • Users will be notified of significant updates via email or platform alerts.

  • Continued use of OpenCC after policy updates indicates acceptance of the revised terms.

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