1. Introduction
Welcome to PanelChat ("we," "our," or "us"). We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal data. This privacy policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our AI-powered panel discussion platform.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Information You Provide
- Account Information: Email address, name, and password when you create an account
- Payment Information: Billing details processed securely through Stripe (we never store credit card numbers)
- Content: Questions you ask, panel configurations you create, and backgrounder documents you upload
- Communications: Messages you send to our support team
2.2 Information Automatically Collected
- Usage Data: API calls, features used, token consumption, and usage patterns
- Device Information: Browser type, operating system, IP address
- Cookies: Session cookies for authentication and preferences
3. How We Use Your Information
We use your information to:
- Provide, maintain, and improve PanelChat services
- Process your questions through AI models (Anthropic Claude, OpenAI, etc.)
- Calculate and bill for usage based on your subscription plan
- Send you important updates about your account, billing, and service changes
- Respond to your support requests and provide customer service
- Detect, prevent, and address technical issues and security threats
- Comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms of Service
4. AI Model Processing
Important: When you use PanelChat, your questions and context are sent to third-party AI providers (Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, etc.) for processing. Each provider has their own data policies:
- Anthropic Claude: Does not train on your data. See Anthropic Privacy Policy
- OpenAI: API data not used for training by default. See OpenAI Privacy Policy
- Google: See Google Privacy Policy
We recommend not sharing sensitive personal information, confidential business data, or proprietary information in your questions unless you understand and accept the AI provider's data handling practices.
5. Information Sharing and Disclosure
We share your information only in these circumstances:
- AI Providers: Questions and context sent to Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, etc. for AI processing
- Payment Processors: Billing information shared with Stripe for payment processing
- Service Providers: Infrastructure providers (Vercel, Supabase) who help us operate the service
- Legal Requirements: When required by law, subpoena, or to protect our rights
- Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets
We never sell your personal data to third parties.
6. Data Storage and Security
- Storage: Data stored in Supabase (PostgreSQL) hosted on AWS
- Encryption: Data encrypted in transit (HTTPS) and at rest
- Authentication: Passwords hashed using industry-standard algorithms
- Access Controls: Strict access controls and monitoring
- Backups: Regular automated backups for disaster recovery
7. Your Data Rights
You have the right to:
- Access: Request a copy of your personal data
- Correction: Update or correct inaccurate information
- Deletion: Request deletion of your account and data
- Export: Download your panel configurations and conversation history
- Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from marketing emails (service emails still sent)
- Data Portability: Receive your data in a machine-readable format
To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@panelchat.ai
8. Data Retention
- Active Accounts: Data retained while your account is active
- Deleted Accounts: Data deleted within 30 days of account deletion
- Usage Logs: Retained for 90 days for billing and security purposes
- Legal Holds: Data retained longer if required by law or pending legal matters
9. Children's Privacy
PanelChat is not intended for users under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately.
10. International Data Transfers
Your data may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own, including the United States. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for international transfers, including standard contractual clauses and adherence to data protection frameworks.
11. Cookie Policy
We use cookies for:
- Essential Cookies: Required for authentication and core functionality
- Analytics: Understanding how users interact with PanelChat (if enabled)
- Preferences: Remembering your settings and panel configurations
You can control cookies through your browser settings, but disabling essential cookies may affect functionality.
12. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by email or through a notice in the application. Continued use of PanelChat after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
13. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:
14. GDPR Compliance (EU Users)
If you are in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have additional rights under GDPR:
- Right to be informed about data collection and use
- Right to access your personal data
- Right to rectification of inaccurate data
- Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten")
- Right to restrict processing
- Right to data portability
- Right to object to processing
- Rights related to automated decision-making and profiling
Our legal basis for processing your data includes: contract performance, legal obligations, legitimate interests, and your consent where required.
15. CCPA Compliance (California Users)
If you are a California resident, you have rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):
- Right to know what personal information is collected
- Right to know if personal information is sold or disclosed
- Right to say no to the sale of personal information (we don't sell your data)
- Right to access your personal information
- Right to equal service and price, even if you exercise your privacy rights
