1. Definition of Parties

This policy distinguishes between two distinct classes of individuals:

• Users: Individuals or entities who create an account to conduct research studies via PublicPreference™.
• Participants: Individuals recruited to complete studies created by Users. Participants do not create accounts and are pseudonymous at the point of collection.

2. Data Collection & The "Wall of Separation"

PublicPreference™ maintains a strict architectural Wall of Separation between Participant research data and User account data.

3. Access & Transparency

Users have access to Participant selections and associated demographic metadata (Gender, Age, and Country). Participants do not have access to study data beyond the images and prompts provided by Users. While participants may be associated with platform-specific alphanumeric strings for fulfillment purposes, these identifiers are not linked to PII within the PublicPreference™ infrastructure.

4. Image Collection & Biometric Clarification

PublicPreference™ collects and stores images uploaded by Users to facilitate research studies. While these images may depict human subjects, PublicPreference™ does not perform any processing to identify individuals through biological or behavioral characteristics.

No Biometric Processing or Identification Functionality: PublicPreference™ is not designed or intended to be used for biometric identification or verification. We do not intentionally process uploaded images to extract facial geometry, facial landmarks, or other measurable features, nor do we generate or store biometric templates, embeddings, or identifiers that could enable the recognition or identification of individuals.

PublicPreference™ strictly prohibits the use of its platform for identity recognition, biometric identification, or biometric modeling. Any imagery is stored solely as a visual prompt for Participant research and is retained only for the duration specified in our retention policy.

5. Mandatory User Representations

Users conducting studies represent and warrant that:

• Legal Ownership: They hold all legal rights to the uploaded content/images and have obtained explicit, informed consent from any identifiable individuals depicted.
• Age Restriction: No images depict individuals under the age of 18.
• Prohibited Content: Users may not upload images that depict illegal acts or criminal activity; extreme violence, bodily harm, self-harm, or dangerous activities; sexually explicit or exploitative content; individuals under the age of 18; personally identifying information (e.g., names, contact details, locations); content that infringes on intellectual property, privacy, or publicity rights; content intended for or that could reasonably enable identification of individuals (including facial recognition); sensitive personal data (e.g., health, religion, political beliefs); or content that is defamatory, misleading, harassing, or promotes hate or discrimination.
• No Identifiers: No images depict "Special Category Data" (e.g., medical status, religious affiliation) or Biometric Data as defined by applicable law.
• No Biometric Uploads: Users represent and warrant that uploaded content is not intended for biometric identification and does not require the extraction of facial geometry, landmarks, or identifiers.
• Public Exposure: They understand that study prompts and images will be displayed to the Participant pool for research purposes.

6. Research Prompts & Survey Content

PublicPreference™ is a tool for objective preference research. While we encourage diverse research questions, all research prompts are subject to the following standards:

• Non-Identification: Prompts may not be used to solicit Personally Identifying Information (PII) from Participants, or reveal the PII of individuals depicted in images (such as names, contact details, social media handles, or specific residential locations).
• Neutrality & Integrity: Prompts should not be used to promote hate speech, harassment, or the disparagement of the individuals depicted in the images.
• Public Visibility: Users acknowledge that prompts are not private; they are visible to the Participants and are stored as part of the research record.
• No Deception: Prompts must not be used for phishing, social engineering, or deceptive data collection practices.

7. Infrastructure & Data Residency

PublicPreference™ utilizes industry-standard encrypted server-side architectures to safeguard User and Participant data. We utilize Google Firebase as our primary data sub-processor for hosting and database management. All data is stored and processed on secure servers located within the United States.

We may utilize other third-party sub-processors for essential infrastructure (e.g., email delivery or cloud hosting) who are bound by similar confidentiality and security obligations. By using the service, Users and Participants acknowledge and consent to the transfer, storage, and processing of their information in the United States.

8. Cookies & Local Storage

PublicPreference™ utilizes only Essential Technical Cookies and local storage to facilitate account authentication for Users and session integrity for Participants. We do not utilize third-party tracking, advertising, or marketing cookies.

9. Data Retention & Deletion

Users may request account deletion at any time. Upon deletion, Personally Identifying Information (PII) associated with the account is removed. Aggregated, non-attributable research results may be retained for analytical purposes and cannot be re-linked to an individual. We do not attempt to re-identify de-identified data.

10. Consumer Rights & Privacy Standards

PublicPreference™ provides applicable rights under relevant data protection laws (including GDPR and CCPA). By using this service, you acknowledge that your data will be transferred to and processed in the United States, utilizing Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) where applicable to ensure data protection.

To exercise your rights of access, rectification, or erasure, you can delete your data from the history page. To do this, first archive the data, and then delete the archived data. This is an irreversible process, which permanently deletes the data off our servers. If you would like additional assistance with this, please contact privacy@publicpreference.com.