Your Privacy Matters: This Privacy Policy explains how STEMists collects, uses, and protects your personal information. We are committed to maintaining your trust and protecting your privacy.
1. Information We Collect
Personal Information
- Account Data: Name, email address, username, password (encrypted)
- Profile Information: Bio, location, professional title, profile picture
- Contact Information: Email preferences and communication settings
Content and Activity
- User Content: Posts, comments, messages, shared files and documents
- Learning Data: Course progress, quiz results, learning preferences
- Social Interactions: Friend connections, group memberships, collaboration history
Technical Information
- Usage Data: Pages visited, features used, time spent on platform
- Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system
- Performance Data: Error logs, loading times, feature usage statistics
2. How We Use Your Information
Service Provision
- Create and maintain your account
- Provide access to learning tools and educational content
- Enable communication and collaboration features
- Process and respond to your requests and inquiries
Personalization and Improvement
- Customize your learning experience and content recommendations
- Analyze usage patterns to improve platform features
- Provide relevant educational resources and opportunities
- Enhance AI assistant responses and accuracy
Communication
- Send important account and security notifications
- Provide updates about new features and educational content
- Respond to support requests and feedback
- Send newsletters and educational resources (with your consent)
3. Information Sharing and Disclosure
We Do Not Sell Your Data: STEMists does not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for commercial purposes.
When We May Share Information
- With Your Consent: When you explicitly authorize sharing
- Service Providers: Trusted partners who help operate the platform (under strict confidentiality agreements)
- Legal Requirements: When required by law or to protect rights and safety
- Business Transfers: In case of merger, acquisition, or sale of assets (with notice to users)
Public Information
- Profile information you choose to make public
- Posts and comments in public groups or forums
- Educational content you share publicly
4. Data Security
- Encryption: All data transmission is encrypted using industry-standard protocols
- Access Controls: Strict access controls limit who can view your information
- Regular Audits: Security practices are regularly reviewed and updated
- Incident Response: Procedures in place to respond to any security incidents
5. Your Privacy Rights
Access and Control
- Access: Request a copy of your personal data
- Correction: Update or correct inaccurate information
- Deletion: Request deletion of your account and associated data
- Portability: Export your data in a machine-readable format
Communication Preferences
- Opt out of marketing communications
- Customize notification settings
- Control email frequency and content types
6. Cookies and Tracking
We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience. See our Cookie Policy for detailed information about:
- Types of cookies we use
- How to manage cookie preferences
- Third-party tracking and analytics
7. Children's Privacy
- STEMists is designed for users 13 years and older
- We do not knowingly collect information from children under 13
- Parents can request deletion of their child's information
- Additional protections apply for users under 18
8. International Data Transfers
- Data may be processed in countries where we operate
- We ensure adequate protection through appropriate safeguards
- EU users have additional rights under GDPR
9. Data Retention
- Account data is retained while your account is active
- Some information may be retained for legal or business purposes
- You can request deletion of specific data types
- Anonymized data may be retained for research and improvement
10. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will:
- Notify you of significant changes via email or platform notification
- Post the updated policy with a new effective date
- Provide a summary of key changes
- Give you time to review before changes take effect
11. Contact Us
For questions about this Privacy Policy or to exercise your privacy rights:
- Email: support@stemists.com
- Data Protection Officer: support@stemists.com
- Address: TEC-Bridge AI, 4445 Corporation Ln, 163, Virginia Beach, VA 23462
- Response Time: We will respond to requests within 30 days
© 2025 TEC-Bridge AI. All rights reserved.