Privacy Policy

Last updated: January 2025

Acknowledgment: This privacy policy was inspired by the excellent work of the Zooniverse project, a leader in citizen science and data privacy practices.

Overview

The Transient Recommender platform is committed to protecting your privacy and being transparent about how we collect, use, and share your data. This policy explains our practices regarding personal information and astronomical data.

Information We Collect

Account Information

Username and email address (required for account creation)
Password (stored securely using industry-standard hashing)
Science interests and preferences
Data sharing consent preferences

Usage Data

Astronomical object classifications and votes
Search queries and filter preferences
Target object selections and follow-up requests
System interaction logs (for performance and debugging)

How We Use Your Information

Platform Operation

Providing personalized recommendations based on your preferences
Maintaining your account and target lists
Improving our machine learning algorithms
System maintenance and security

Research Purposes

With your explicit consent (indicated during registration), we may use your classification data for astronomical research, including:

Training and improving transient detection algorithms
Academic research on astronomical phenomena
Statistical analysis of classification patterns

Data Sharing

We only share your data in the following circumstances:

With your consent: When you've opted in to data sharing for research purposes
Anonymized data: Aggregated, non-identifiable statistics may be shared with the research community
Legal requirements: When required by law or to protect our rights

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your data:

Secure password hashing using bcrypt
HTTPS encryption for all data transmission
Regular security updates and monitoring
Limited access to personal data on a need-to-know basis

Your Rights

You have the right to:

Access your personal data
Correct inaccurate information
Delete your account and associated data
Withdraw consent for data sharing at any time
Export your classification data

Data Retention

We retain your personal data for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account:

Personal identifiers are removed within 30 days
Classification data may be retained in anonymized form for research purposes
System logs are automatically purged after 12 months

Third-Party Services

Our platform integrates with external astronomical databases and services:

Antares: For accessing astronomical alert data
Bootstrap/CDN services: For user interface components
Font services: For typography

These services may have their own privacy policies, which we encourage you to review.

Children's Privacy

Please note that it is the parents'/guardians' responsibility to explain the user agreement and privacy policy in simple terms to their child if signing up under 16s. There is no minimum age for signing up children as Transient Recommender would like to encourage public engagement with research for all ages, though the platform may be more suitable for older children. Parents and guardians must supervise children if they are contributing to any message boards.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. We will notify users of significant changes via email or through the platform. Your continued use of the service after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this privacy policy or your data, please contact us:

Email: transientrecommender@gmail.com