# Privacy policy _Effective Date: 26 April 2026_ --- ## 1. Who we are 7Scholar.ai is a service developed and operated by **Kopilo Oy**, a company registered in Finland. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information across all of our services, including our website (https://www.7scholar.com), desktop and mobile applications, browser extensions, and integrations (e.g., the Microsoft Word add-in). We are committed to protecting your privacy and complying with all applicable data protection laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for our users in the European Economic Area (EEA). --- ## 2. What this policy covers This Privacy Policy applies to all data collected through your use of our Services. It does not apply to third-party websites or services that may be linked through our platform. We encourage you to review their privacy policies independently. --- ## 3. Information we collect We collect two types of information: - **Information you provide**: This includes account registration data (name, email, password), uploaded files, citations, feedback, and customer service messages. - **Information we collect automatically**: This includes device type, browser, IP address, time zone, operating system, usage behavior, and logs generated while you use our services. In some cases, we may receive information about you from third parties—for example, from reference databases or identity providers if you log in via OAuth. --- ## 4. How we use your information We process personal information for purposes such as: - Creating and managing your account - Delivering our core services (reference management, citation generation, AI features) - Sending transactional or support communications - Improving our platform through analytics and user research - Preventing abuse and ensuring platform security - Complying with legal obligations We only collect and use your personal data where we have a lawful basis to do so—typically your consent, the performance of a contract, our legitimate interest in operating the service, or a legal obligation. --- ## 5. Use of AI model providers Our platform integrates large language model and related AI services to provide AI features. Model inference is provided through **Google** and **Microsoft** (including OpenAI-compatible models hosted on Microsoft Azure), and through **OpenRouter**, a model-routing service that may direct requests to providers including **xAI**. We also use **LangSmith** for AI observability and **Qdrant** for vector search over your content. Only the minimum necessary data—such as selected text, citations, or prompts—is sent to these providers, and only to fulfill the specific feature you invoke. These providers are contractually bound to limit their use of data and to maintain confidentiality. --- ## 6. Storage and data location 7Scholar uses **DigitalOcean** for infrastructure and **Supabase** for database and authentication management. Our infrastructure is configured to keep **user data storage within the European Economic Area (EEA)**. For users based in the European Union, **personal data is stored within the EEA in accordance with the GDPR**. AI processing runs through the providers named in Section 5 above, which may process data outside the EEA under appropriate legal safeguards, described below. We do not transfer EU/EEA user data outside the EEA unless necessary and only with appropriate legal safeguards (such as Standard Contractual Clauses or adequacy decisions). --- ## 7. Data retention We retain your personal data only as long as necessary for: - Operating the Services you’ve requested - Legal, accounting, or tax obligations - Internal reporting and analytics (in anonymized or aggregated form, where possible) If you delete your account, your account and document data will be purged within 30 days. AI providers we use for processing may retain data under their own contractual terms — for example, Google's terms allow up to roughly 7 months for a deletion instruction to complete. --- ## 8. Your rights If you reside in the EEA or other jurisdictions with specific data protection laws, you have the right to: - Access the personal data we hold about you - Correct inaccuracies - Delete your data (right to erasure) - Restrict or object to processing - Receive a portable copy of your data - Withdraw your consent at any time To exercise these rights, please contact us at **[kasra@7scholar.com](mailto:kasra@7scholar.com)**. --- ## 9. Children’s privacy 7Scholar is not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal data from anyone under this age. If you believe that a child has provided us with personal data, please contact us and we will delete it. --- ## 10. Cookies and similar technologies On the marketing website, we use a small number of cookies and browser storage mechanisms. We do **not** enable non-essential analytics cookies by default for visitors in the EU/EEA. They are only activated after you click **Accept** in the cookie banner. Embedded YouTube videos are handled separately: they load only after you explicitly choose to play or load the video, and they are not tied to your analytics cookie choice. You can change your choice at any time through **Cookie preferences** in the website footer. ### 10.1 Categories we use on the marketing website | Category | Technology / name | Purpose | Essential? | When it is used | Typical duration | | ----------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------- | | Consent record | `website_cookie_consent` | Remembers whether you accepted or rejected non-essential cookies so we can respect your choice on future visits. | Yes | Set after you make a cookie-banner choice. | 180 days | | Theme preference | `theme` (local storage) | Remembers your light/dark theme choice if you actively change the theme. | Yes, when you request the preference | Only after you use the theme toggle. | Until you change or clear it | | Analytics | Google Analytics 4 cookies such as `_ga` and `_ga_` | Measures aggregate website usage, such as page views and session activity, so we can improve the website. | No | Only after you click **Accept**. If you later reject non-essential cookies, we disable Analytics and remove the GA cookies we can control from the browser. | Up to 2 years by default | | Third-party media | YouTube embedded video storage and requests | Plays hosted video content when you choose to watch an embedded YouTube video. | No | Only after you choose to play or load the embedded video, regardless of whether you accepted or rejected non-essential analytics cookies. | Governed by YouTube | ### 10.2 What happens if you reject non-essential cookies If you reject non-essential cookies: - Google Analytics does not run on the marketing website. - Google Analytics cookies are not set. - Embedded YouTube videos remain available, but they load only after you choose to play or load them. - Aside from any storage or network requests YouTube may use after you choose to play an embedded video, only the storage needed to remember your consent choice and any preference you explicitly request (such as a theme selection) remains in use. ### 10.3 Third-party providers When you accept non-essential cookies, Google Analytics 4 is provided by **Google**. Embedded videos may be provided by **YouTube** whenever you choose to play or load them. Their use of data is governed by their own terms and privacy information in addition to this policy. --- ## 11. Business transfers If Kopilo Oy is ever involved in a merger, acquisition, bankruptcy, or sale of assets, your data may be transferred as part of that transaction. Any such transfer will be done in compliance with applicable data protection laws, and the successor will be bound by this Privacy Policy or a policy that offers equivalent protections. --- ## 12. Changes to this policy We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal obligations. If changes are material, we will notify you via email or an in-app message. The latest version will always be accessible at **https://www.7scholar.com/resources/privacy-policy**. --- ## 13. Contact us For privacy-related questions or concerns, please reach out to: **Kopilo Oy** Email: **[kasra@7scholar.com](mailto:kasra@7scholar.com)** --- Your continued use of 7Scholar.ai means that you have read and agreed to the terms of this Privacy Policy.