2. Data We Collect
Last Updated: November 15, 2025
At Aevum Encyclopedia, transparency is foundational to our platform. This section outlines the specific types of personal and non-personal data we collect, how it is gathered, and the legal basis for processing it. We collect only what is necessary to deliver a safe, personalized, and research-grade experience.
2.1 Directly Provided Data
We collect information you voluntarily provide when interacting with our platform:
- Account Registration: Username, email address, password (hashed), and optional profile details (name, institutional affiliation, research interests).
- Contributions & Edits: Article revisions, citations, media uploads, comments, and peer-review submissions linked to your account.
- Search & Queries: Search terms, saved searches, and bookmarked articles stored locally and optionally synced across devices.
- Communications: Messages sent through support tickets, community forums, or direct contact forms.
- Payments (if applicable): Billing details and transaction history for premium features or institutional subscriptions. We never store full credit card numbers; payments are processed via PCI-compliant third parties.
2.2 Automatically Collected Data
Certain data is collected automatically to ensure platform security, performance, and usability:
| Data Type | Collection Method | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| IP Address & Device Info | Server logs, browser fingerprinting | Security, fraud prevention, performance optimization |
| Browsing Behavior | Page views, scroll depth, time-on-page | Content recommendation, UI/UX improvement |
| Approximate Location | IP geolocation, optional device GPS | Regional content relevance, compliance with local laws |
| Error & Crash Reports | Automatic diagnostic tools | Platform stability, bug tracking, developer insights |
| AI Interaction Logs | Query-response pairs (anonymized) | Model training, fact-verification accuracy improvement |
Transparency Note: AI interaction logs are automatically stripped of personally identifiable information within 24 hours and used solely for improving our knowledge verification algorithms.
2.3 Third-Party Sources
We may receive data from trusted partners to enhance functionality and verify content:
- Social Authentication: Name, email, and profile image if you log in via Google, Apple, or ORCID.
- Academic & Institutional Providers: Verification of educational credentials or institutional affiliations via secure APIs.
- Analytics Partners: Aggregated, anonymized usage metrics from services like Plausible or Fathom (privacy-first, cookie-less).
- Public Directories: Open-access academic publications or author profiles used to enrich contributor profiles (with opt-out available).
2.4 Cookies & Tracking Technologies
We use cookies and similar technologies to maintain sessions, remember preferences, and analyze traffic. Categories include:
- Essential: Required for authentication, security tokens, and cart/subscription functionality.
- Functional: Remember language preferences, theme settings, and bookmark sync.
- Analytics: First-party only. No cross-site tracking. Used to measure page performance and feature adoption.
- Marketing: Only with explicit consent. Used to display relevant educational content partnerships.
You can manage or withdraw consent at any time via our Cookie Preferences Center.
2.5 Sensitive Information
Aevum Encyclopedia does not intentionally collect sensitive personal data (e.g., racial/ethnic origin, political opinions, religious beliefs, health information, or biometric data). If such information is voluntarily shared in article content or community discussions, it is treated under strict confidentiality guidelines and may be moderated or redacted per our Community Standards.
2.6 Purpose & Retention
All collected data is processed for specific, legitimate purposes:
- Delivering and improving encyclopedia content
- Verifying contributor expertise and preventing vandalism
- Ensuring platform security and compliance with GDPR, CCPA, and global data protection standards
- Providing personalized reading and research recommendations
Data is retained only as long as necessary to fulfill these purposes or comply with legal obligations. Account data is automatically anonymized after 24 months of inactivity unless you opt for permanent archival.