2.1 Authentication Information

2.2 Platform Activity Data

2.3 Technical Information

3.1 Platform Operations

• Account Verification: Confirming U.S. residency through phone verification
• Authentication: Managing secure login sessions
• Content Management: Displaying ratings, reviews, and political figure information
• Duplicate Prevention: Ensuring one account per person
• Security: Detecting and preventing fraudulent activity

3.2 Anonymity Protection

• Internal Identification: Creating anonymous internal IDs for administrative purposes
• Content Attribution: Linking content to anonymous accounts without revealing identity
• Moderation: Managing content reports and policy violations anonymously

3.3 Platform Improvement

• Analytics: Understanding user engagement and platform usage (in aggregate only)
• Technical Optimization: Improving platform performance and user experience
• Feature Development: Building new functionality based on usage patterns

4.2 Aggregate Data Only

Anonymous Analytics:

• General usage statistics (total users, total ratings, etc.)
• Regional trends (state-level data without individual identification)
• Platform performance metrics
• Public interest research (academic institutions, with anonymized data only)

4.3 Third-Party Services

• OAuth Providers: Google, Facebook, Twitter, Apple manage their own data according to their privacy policies
• Payment Processing: Stripe processes donations according to their privacy policy
• SMS Services: Twilio handles phone verification according to their privacy policy
• Hosting: Vercel provides platform hosting with standard data protection measures

5.1 Technical Safeguards

• Encryption: All data transmitted to and from our platform is encrypted using industry-standard SSL/TLS
• Database Security: User data is stored in encrypted databases with restricted access
• Access Controls: Only authorized administrators can access user data, and only through internal IDs
• Regular Audits: Periodic security reviews and vulnerability assessments

5.2 Anonymity by Design

• Hash Functions: Email addresses are immediately hashed and never stored in readable form
• Internal IDs: Administrative references use anonymous internal identification only
• Content Separation: User content is never directly linked to personal identifying information
• Session Management: Login sessions use secure, anonymous session tokens

5.3 Data Minimization

• Limited Collection: We collect only essential data for platform functionality
• Automatic Deletion: Temporary data (like SMS verification codes) is automatically deleted
• No Tracking: We don't use cookies or tracking pixels for advertising or user profiling
• Anonymous Analytics: All usage analytics are aggregated and anonymized

6.1 Access and Control

• Account Access: View all your ratings and reviews through your anonymous dashboard
• Content Management: Edit or delete your ratings and reviews at any time
• Account Deletion: Permanently delete your account and all associated content
• Data Export: Request a copy of your anonymized account data

6.2 Privacy Choices

• Content Visibility: All content is anonymous by design
• Communication Preferences: No marketing emails (we don't have your email)
• Donation Privacy: Choose anonymous or named donations
• Participation Level: Rate and review as much or as little as you prefer

6.3 California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights:

• Right to Know: Request information about data collection and use
• Right to Delete: Request deletion of personal information
• Right to Opt-Out: Opt out of data sales (we don't sell personal data)
• Non-Discrimination: Equal service regardless of privacy choices

6.4 European Privacy Rights (GDPR)

If you are an EU resident, you have additional rights:

• Right of Access: Obtain confirmation of data processing
• Right to Rectification: Correct inaccurate personal data
• Right to Erasure: Request deletion of personal data
• Right to Portability: Receive your data in a structured format
• Right to Object: Object to certain data processing activities

7.1 Account Data

• Active Accounts: Data retained while account remains active
• Deleted Accounts: Personal identifiers immediately deleted, content may be retained anonymously
• Verification Data: Phone numbers deleted upon account deletion
• Session Data: Login sessions expire after 7 days of inactivity

7.2 Content Data

• Ratings and Reviews: Retained to maintain platform integrity and historical records
• Moderation Records: Administrative actions retained for policy enforcement
• Analytics Data: Aggregated usage data retained indefinitely (no personal identification possible)

Privacy Questions

For questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices:

• Contact Form: politicsrating.com/contact
• Response Time: We aim to respond within 5 business days

Regulatory Complaints

• California Attorney General: For CCPA complaints
• Data Protection Authorities: For GDPR complaints (EU residents)
• FTC: For general privacy complaints

11.1 Policy Updates

• Notice of Changes: Material changes communicated through platform notifications
• Effective Date: Changes take effect 30 days after posting
• Continued Use: Continued platform use constitutes acceptance of updated policy
• Version Tracking: Previous policy versions available upon request

11.2 User Notification

• Significant Changes: Direct notification for substantial privacy practice changes
• Review Opportunity: Time to review changes before they take effect
• Opt-Out Option: Option to delete account if you disagree with changes