Privacy Policy

Last updated: June 30, 2025

1. Introduction

At TruthOrFake, we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring transparency about how we collect, use, and safeguard your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains our practices regarding data collection and usage when you use our AI-powered fact-checking website and services (the "Service").

By using our Service, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. We encourage you to read this policy carefully and contact us if you have any questions.

2. Information We Collect

We collect several types of information to provide and improve our Service:

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

• Contact Information: Name, email address, and message content when you contact us through our contact form
• Claims and Content: Text of claims you submit for fact-checking, articles you upload for analysis
• Comments and User Content: Any comments or content you may post on our blog posts (when available)
• Feedback and Communications: Any feedback, suggestions, or other communications you send to us

2.2 Information We Collect Automatically

• Usage Data: Information about how you interact with our Service, including pages visited, time spent, and features used
• Device Information: Browser type, operating system, device identifiers, and screen resolution
• IP Address and Location: Your IP address and approximate geographic location for security and analytics purposes
• Cookies and Tracking: Data collected through cookies, web beacons, and similar tracking technologies
• Performance Data: Information about response times, loading speeds, and technical errors

2.3 Information from Third-Party Sources

• Search Results: When fact-checking claims, we collect information from public web sources and search engines
• Reference Materials: Content from reliable sources used to verify claims (publicly available information only)

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

3.1 Service Provision and Improvement

• Processing and responding to fact-checking requests
• Generating AI-powered analysis and verification reports
• Creating and publishing fact-check articles and blog content
• Improving our algorithms and fact-checking accuracy
• Maintaining and optimizing our website performance

3.2 Communication and Support

• Responding to your inquiries and providing customer support
• Sending important updates about our Service
• Notifying you about significant changes to our policies

3.3 Security and Legal Compliance

• Detecting and preventing fraud, abuse, and security threats
• Complying with legal obligations and regulatory requirements
• Protecting our rights, property, and users' safety
• Rate limiting to prevent system abuse

3.4 Analytics and Research

• Analyzing usage patterns to improve user experience
• Conducting research to advance fact-checking capabilities
• Generating anonymized statistics and insights

4. Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR)

For users in the European Union, we process your data based on the following legal grounds:

• Legitimate Interests: Providing fact-checking services, improving our Service, and ensuring security
• Consent: When you voluntarily provide information or agree to specific uses
• Contract: When necessary to provide services you've requested
• Legal Obligation: When required by applicable laws or regulations

5. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share your information only in the following limited circumstances:

5.1 Service Providers

We may share information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our Service, including:

• Cloud hosting and storage providers
• Analytics and monitoring services
• Content delivery networks
• Email communication services

These providers are contractually bound to protect your information and use it only for specified purposes.

5.2 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information when required by law or in good faith belief that such disclosure is necessary to:

• Comply with legal process, court orders, or government requests
• Protect and defend our rights or property
• Prevent fraud or investigate potential violations of our Terms of Service
• Protect the safety of users or the public

5.3 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or asset sale, your information may be transferred to the new entity, subject to the same privacy protections outlined in this policy.

5.4 Aggregated and Anonymized Data

We may share aggregated, anonymized, or de-identified information that cannot reasonably be used to identify you for research, analytics, or other legitimate business purposes.

6. Data Retention

We retain your information for different periods depending on the type of data and purpose:

• Fact-check Requests: Claims and results are retained indefinitely to maintain our database and improve our Service
• Contact Information: Retained for as long as necessary to respond to your inquiry plus 3 years for record-keeping
• Usage Data: Typically retained for 2 years for analytics and improvement purposes
• Security Logs: Retained for 1 year for security and fraud prevention
• Cookies: Duration varies by type, typically 1-24 months

We will delete or anonymize your information when it is no longer needed for the purposes outlined in this policy, unless retention is required by law.

7. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your location and applicable laws, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:

7.1 Access and Portability

• Request access to the personal information we hold about you
• Receive a copy of your data in a structured, machine-readable format

7.2 Correction and Updates

• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Update your contact information by contacting us

7.3 Deletion and Erasure

• Request deletion of your personal information (subject to legal and legitimate business requirements)
• Note: Published fact-check content may remain for public interest and accuracy

7.4 Processing Restrictions

• Object to or restrict certain types of processing
• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent

7.5 How to Exercise Your Rights

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at [email protected]. We will respond to your request within 30 days and may require verification of your identity.

8. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your browsing experience and analyze usage patterns:

8.1 Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential Cookies: Necessary for the website to function properly
• Performance Cookies: Help us understand how visitors interact with our website
• Functional Cookies: Remember your preferences and settings
• Analytics Cookies: Provide insights into website usage and performance

8.2 Cookie Management

You can control cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling certain cookies may limit your ability to use some features of our Service.

9. Data Security

We implement comprehensive security measures to protect your personal information:

• Encryption: Data transmission is protected using industry-standard SSL/TLS encryption
• Access Controls: Strict access controls limit who can view your information
• Regular Monitoring: Continuous monitoring for security threats and vulnerabilities
• Secure Infrastructure: Use of secure cloud hosting with robust security features
• Data Minimization: We collect only the information necessary for our Service
• Regular Updates: Keep our systems and security measures up to date

While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but will notify you of any data breaches as required by law.

10. International Data Transfers

Our Service is operated from the United States. If you are accessing our Service from outside the US, please note that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States, where data protection laws may differ from those in your jurisdiction.

For users in the European Union, we ensure adequate protection through appropriate safeguards such as standard contractual clauses or adequacy decisions when transferring data internationally.

11. Children's Privacy

Our Service is not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 13, we will take immediate steps to delete such information.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately at [email protected].

12. California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

California residents have additional privacy rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

• Right to know what personal information is collected, used, shared, or sold
• Right to delete personal information held by us
• Right to opt-out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell personal information)
• Right to non-discrimination for exercising privacy rights

To exercise these rights, contact us at [email protected].

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of any material changes by:

• Posting the updated policy on this page with a new effective date
• Providing prominent notice on our website
• Sending email notification for significant changes (if we have your email address)

Your continued use of our Service after the effective date of any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

14. Third-Party Links and Services

Our Service may contain links to third-party websites, applications, or services that are not owned or controlled by us. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those third-party services. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party services you visit or use.

15. Contact Information

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

Email: [email protected]
Phone: (623) 939-1401
Address: TruthOrFake Inc.
5142 W Glendale Ave
Glendale, AZ 85301
United States

We are committed to addressing your privacy concerns and will respond to your inquiries promptly.