Privacy Policy

Last updated: January 13, 2025

Introduction

CiteFinder (“we,” “our,” or “us”) is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you use our browser extension and related services.

Information We Collect

Personal Information

When you create an account or sign in, we collect:

  • Email address (for account creation and authentication)
  • Name and profile information (if you sign in with Google OAuth)

Authentication Data

We store authentication tokens securely in your browser's local storage to maintain your login session. These tokens are not shared with third parties.

Usage Data

To provide and improve our service, we collect:

  • Search queries you submit to find academic citations
  • Number of searches performed (for subscription limits)
  • Citation format preferences

Information We Do NOT Collect

CiteFinder does not collect or access:

  • Your browsing history or web activity outside of CiteFinder
  • Content from websites you visit
  • Personal communications (emails, messages)
  • Payment card details (handled securely by Stripe, our payment processor)
  • Location data
  • Health or financial information

How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information to:

  • Provide the citation search and formatting service
  • Authenticate your account and maintain your session
  • Process subscription payments (via Stripe)
  • Track usage for subscription limits
  • Improve the accuracy and relevance of search results
  • Send important service-related communications

Third-Party Services

CiteFinder integrates with the following third-party services:

  • Supabase: For authentication and database services
  • OpenAI: To interpret natural language search queries (your queries are processed but not stored by OpenAI for training)
  • OpenAlex: To search academic paper metadata (an open scholarly database)
  • Stripe: For secure payment processing (we never see your full card details)
  • Google OAuth: For optional sign-in with Google

Data Storage

Your data is stored securely using Supabase's infrastructure, which employs industry-standard encryption and security practices. Authentication tokens are stored locally in your browser's secure storage.

Data Retention

We retain your account information and usage data for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account, we will remove your personal information within 30 days, except where we are required to retain it for legal or legitimate business purposes.

Your Rights

You have the right to:

  • Access the personal information we hold about you
  • Request correction of inaccurate information
  • Request deletion of your account and data
  • Export your data in a portable format
  • Withdraw consent for data processing

To exercise these rights, contact us at contact@citefinder.app.

Children's Privacy

CiteFinder is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the “Last updated” date. Your continued use of CiteFinder after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:

contact@citefinder.app