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Privacy Policy

Last updated: April 4, 2026

Your privacy is fundamental to our nonprofit mission. We collect minimal data, never sell your information, and design every system with privacy by default.

Our commitment: Intellect Archive is a nonprofit educational library. We do not display ads, do not sell user data, and do not require accounts to access most content. Your learning journey is your own.

1. Information We Collect

Intellect Archive collects very little personal information. Because our primary service is free and does not require login, most users can access all educational content without providing any personal data.

Information you actively provide:

  • Contact forms: When you message us via our contact form, we receive your name, email address, and message content. We use this only to respond to your inquiry.
  • Newsletter sign-ups: If you choose to subscribe to our newsletter, we collect your email address. You may unsubscribe at any time.
  • Volunteer applications: When you apply to volunteer, we collect contact information and relevant background details to evaluate your application.
  • Donations: If you donate via our secure payment processor, we receive your name and contact information for tax receipt purposes. Payment details are handled directly by our PCI-compliant payment partner and are never stored on our servers.

Information automatically collected:

  • Basic server logs: Like most websites, our servers record anonymized information such as IP address, browser type, referring page, and timestamp. We use this only for security monitoring and to understand aggregate traffic patterns. Logs are deleted after 30 days.
  • Cookies: We use only essential cookies for functionality (e.g., dark mode preference). We do not use tracking cookies, analytics cookies, or advertising cookies. You can disable all cookies in your browser settings without affecting core functionality.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the limited information we collect only for:

  • Responding to your inquiries and support requests
  • Sending newsletters you have explicitly subscribed to (with clear unsubscribe links)
  • Processing donations and providing tax receipts
  • Improving our website's performance and security
  • Complying with legal obligations

We never: sell, rent, trade, or share your personal information with third parties for marketing or advertising purposes. We never use your data for any form of behavioral targeting or profiling.

3. Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR & Similar Laws)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), the United Kingdom, or other regions with data protection laws, our legal basis for collecting and using your personal information depends on the context:

  • Consent: When you subscribe to our newsletter or submit a contact form, you consent to us using that information for that specific purpose.
  • Legitimate interests: We process server logs and essential cookies based on our legitimate interest in maintaining website security and functionality.
  • Contractual necessity: When you donate, we process your information to complete the transaction and provide receipts.

4. Data Retention

We retain personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected:

  • Contact form inquiries: 2 years after last communication
  • Newsletter email addresses: until you unsubscribe
  • Donation records: 7 years (for tax and accounting compliance)
  • Server logs: 30 days

You may request deletion of your personal data at any time (see Section 8).

5. Third-Party Services

Intellect Archive uses minimal third-party services, all of which are privacy-respecting:

  • Email service provider (newsletter): We use a GDPR-compliant email platform. We never share subscriber lists with any other entity.
  • Payment processor (donations): We use Stripe or PayPal for donation processing. These services are PCI-compliant and handle payment data directly. We do not store credit card information.
  • Hosting provider: Our website is hosted on servers located in the United States. We select providers with strong security and privacy practices.

We do not use Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, or any other tracking or advertising technologies.

6. Children's Privacy

Intellect Archive serves learners of all ages, but we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 (or under 16 in certain jurisdictions). Our educational content is available without requiring any personal data. If a parent or guardian believes their child has provided us with personal information, please contact us, and we will delete it promptly.

7. Security

We take reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your information from unauthorized access, loss, or alteration. These include encryption (TLS/SSL for all data transmission), restricted access to databases, regular security audits, and employee training. However, no internet transmission is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

8. Your Rights & Choices

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

  • Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
  • Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data
  • Deletion: Request deletion of your personal data
  • Restriction: Request that we limit processing of your data
  • Portability: Request a machine-readable copy of your data
  • Objection: Object to processing based on legitimate interests
  • Withdraw consent: Withdraw any previously given consent

To exercise these rights, please contact us at privacy@intellectarchive.org. We will respond within 30 days. We never charge a fee for exercising your rights.

9. International Data Transfers

Intellect Archive is based in the United States. If you access our website from outside the US, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the US. US data protection laws may differ from those in your country. By using our website, you consent to this transfer. We take steps to ensure adequate protection for your data, including using standard contractual clauses where required.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy occasionally to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will post the updated policy on this page with a new "Last updated" date. For material changes, we may provide additional notice (such as a banner on our homepage). We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

11. Contact Us

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

Email: privacy@intellectarchive.org
Mail: Privacy Officer, Intellect Archive, 123 Open Access Way, Suite 400, Wilmington, DE 19801, USA

If you are in the European Union, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection supervisory authority.

Summary: Intellect Archive collects almost no personal data by default. We never sell or share your information. You can use our library without logging in, without cookies, and without being tracked. That's our promise.

This Privacy Policy is provided under a Creative Commons Attribution license. We encourage other nonprofits to adapt it for their own use.

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