Privacy Policy

Last Updated: January 2025

This Privacy Policy describes how the Cold Case Investigation Platform ('we', 'us', or 'Platform') collects, uses, and protects your personal information.

1. Information We Collect

We collect the following types of information:

Account Information

  • •Email address (required for account creation)
  • •Username or investigator alias
  • •Profile information (bio, experience, skillsets)
  • •Authentication data managed by our third-party provider (Clerk)

User-Generated Content

  • •Theories, comments, and discussions you post
  • •Evidence submissions and source citations
  • •Investigation space participation
  • •Voting and interaction history

Usage Data

  • •IP address and device information
  • •Browser type and version
  • •Pages visited and time spent on the Platform
  • •Interaction patterns and feature usage
  • •Error logs and performance data

2. How We Use Your Information

We use collected information for the following purposes:

  • ✓To provide and maintain the Platform
  • ✓To authenticate users and manage accounts
  • ✓To enable collaboration and community features
  • ✓To moderate content and enforce Community Guidelines
  • ✓To improve Platform functionality and user experience
  • ✓To communicate with you about your account or the Platform
  • ✓To detect and prevent fraud, abuse, or security issues
  • ✓To comply with legal obligations

3. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell your personal information. We may share information in the following circumstances:

Publicly Visible Information

Your username/alias, profile information, and user-generated content (theories, comments) are publicly visible to all Platform users.

Service Providers

We use third-party services to operate the Platform, including authentication (Clerk), database hosting (PostgreSQL), and translation services (LibreTranslate). These providers have access to your information only to perform specific tasks on our behalf.

Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law, legal process, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of the Platform, our users, or others.

Law Enforcement Cooperation

We may cooperate with law enforcement investigations and provide information when legally compelled or when we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary.

4. Data Retention

We retain your account information for as long as your account is active. User-generated content is retained indefinitely to preserve the investigative record. Deleted content is soft-deleted (marked as deleted but not permanently removed) to maintain audit trails. You may request account deletion by contacting us.

5. Data Security

We implement reasonable security measures to protect your information, including:

  • 🔒Encrypted database connections
  • 🔒Secure authentication via JWT tokens
  • 🔒Role-based access controls
  • 🔒Regular security audits and updates
  • 🔒Automated content moderation for PII detection

However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your information.

6. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the following rights:

  • ►Access: Request a copy of your personal information
  • ►Correction: Request correction of inaccurate information
  • ►Deletion: Request deletion of your account and associated data
  • ►Portability: Request transfer of your data in a machine-readable format
  • ►Objection: Object to certain processing of your information
  • ►Withdrawal: Withdraw consent for optional data processing

To exercise these rights, please contact us at privacy@coldcase.local.

7. Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies to maintain user sessions, remember preferences (such as language settings), and analyze Platform usage. You can control cookie settings through your browser, but disabling cookies may affect Platform functionality.

8. Children's Privacy

The Platform is not intended for users under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that a user is under 18, we will take steps to delete their account and information.

9. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. By using the Platform, you consent to the transfer of your information to countries that may have different data protection laws.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify users of significant changes by posting a notice on the Platform or sending an email. Continued use of the Platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

11. Contact Us

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

Email: privacy@coldcase.local

Mail: [Physical Address]