Privacy Policy

IEEE Impact++ - Last updated: June 27, 2025

Introduction

IEEE Impact++ ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our research profile management platform.

By using IEEE Impact++, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

Information We Collect

Personal Information

Account Information: Email address, full name, and authentication details when you register or use OAuth services (Google, LinkedIn)
Profile Information: Professional details, affiliations, research interests, and impact metrics
Working Email: Professional email addresses for verification and communication
Authentication Data: OAuth tokens and session information for secure login

Usage Information

Search Queries: Search terms and filters used to find professional profiles
Profile Interactions: Views, edits, and management activities on profiles
System Logs: IP addresses, browser information, and access timestamps
Analytics Data: Usage patterns and platform performance metrics

Third-Party Data

LinkedIn Data: Public profile information obtained through LinkedIn API
Research Databases: Academic and professional information from external sources
AI Services: Data processed through ChatGPT and other AI services for profile enhancement

How We Use Your Information

Account Management

• User authentication and authorization
• Account creation and profile management
• Email verification and communication
• Password reset and security features

Platform Services

• Profile search and discovery
• Impact score calculation
• Professional network analysis
• Research collaboration features

Data Enhancement

• AI-powered profile enrichment
• Research impact assessment
• Professional recommendation generation
• Academic collaboration suggestions

Platform Improvement

• Service optimization and debugging
• User experience enhancement
• Feature development and testing
• Performance monitoring and analytics

Data Sharing and Disclosure

We Do Not Sell Your Data

IEEE Impact++ does not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

Limited Sharing

Service Providers: Trusted third-party services for hosting, analytics, and AI processing
Legal Requirements: When required by law or to protect our rights and safety
Academic Research: Aggregated, anonymized data for research purposes (with your consent)
Platform Features: Public profile information visible to other users as intended

Data Security

Security Measures

Encrypted data transmission (HTTPS/TLS)
Secure password hashing and storage
OAuth 2.0 authentication protocols
Regular security audits and updates

Access Controls

Role-based access permissions
Admin approval for profile claims
Session management and timeout
Audit logging for data access

Your Rights and Choices

Access and Control

• View and update your profile information
• Download your data in standard formats
• Request deletion of your account
• Opt-out of non-essential communications

Privacy Settings

• Control profile visibility settings
• Manage email notification preferences
• Configure search result privacy
• Set data retention preferences

Cookies and Tracking

Essential Cookies

We use essential cookies for authentication, session management, and basic platform functionality. These cookies are necessary for the platform to work properly.

Analytics Cookies

Optional analytics cookies help us understand how users interact with our platform to improve the user experience.

You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings.

Third-Party Services

OAuth Providers

We use Google and LinkedIn OAuth for secure authentication. These services have their own privacy policies:

Google Privacy Policy LinkedIn Privacy Policy

AI Services

We use ChatGPT and other AI services to enhance profile information. Data shared with these services is processed according to their respective privacy policies.

Data Retention

Account Data: Retained while your account is active, deleted within 30 days of account deletion
Profile Information: Retained for platform functionality, can be updated or removed by users
Usage Analytics: Aggregated data retained for up to 2 years for platform improvement
Security Logs: Retained for up to 1 year for security monitoring and incident response

Children's Privacy

IEEE Impact++ is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.

International Users

IEEE Impact++ is operated from the United States. If you are accessing our platform from outside the United States, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States where our servers are located.

We comply with applicable data protection laws and regulations. For users in the European Union, we process your data in accordance with GDPR requirements and provide appropriate safeguards for international data transfers.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes.

Contact Us

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

Email

privacy@ieee-impact.us

Data Protection Officer

For GDPR-related inquiries and data subject requests

Response Time: We aim to respond to privacy inquiries within 30 days.