Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to Just Debate Me ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and being transparent about how we collect, use, and share information about you.

This Privacy Policy explains our practices regarding the personal information we collect when you use our audio debate platform located at justdebate.me (the "Service"). By using the Service, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, do not use our Service.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

When you use our Service, we collect information that you provide directly to us:

• Account Information: When you sign in using Google OAuth, we receive your email address and a unique user identifier from Google. We do not receive or store your Google password.
• Profile Information: You may create a public handle (username) of up to 23 characters that will be displayed alongside your content.
• Audio Recordings: When you create or respond to debates, you record audio files (maximum 1 minute per recording) that are stored on our servers.
• Comments: Any text comments you post on debate entries (limited to 240 characters).
• Debate Content: The titles and topics of debates you create.

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you access or use our Service, we automatically collect certain information:

• Usage Data: Information about how you interact with the Service, including debates viewed, likes/dislikes, and engagement patterns.
• Device Information: Information about the device and browser you use to access the Service, including device type, operating system, and browser type (used for audio recording compatibility).
• Local Storage Data: Preferences such as autoplay settings, selected microphone device, and session state information stored locally in your browser.
• Rate Limiting Data: We track the number of audio uploads per user within time windows to prevent abuse.

2.3 Information from Third Parties

We receive information from Google when you authenticate using Google Sign-In, specifically your email address and unique identifier. We do not access your Google contacts, calendar, or other Google services.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• Provide the Service: To enable you to create debates, record and upload audio, post comments, and engage with other users' content.
• Communication: To send you email notifications when it's your turn to respond in a debate you're participating in.
• Service Improvement: To understand how users interact with the Service and to improve functionality and user experience.
• Safety and Security: To enforce rate limits, prevent abuse, detect fraudulent activity, and maintain the security of the Service.
• Legal Compliance: To comply with legal obligations and respond to lawful requests from authorities.

4. Public Nature of Content

When you use our Service, please be aware that:

• Audio recordings you create are publicly accessible to anyone who has the debate link.
• Comments you post are visible to all viewers of the debate.
• Your handle (username) is displayed publicly alongside your audio recordings and comments.
• Your email address is NOT publicly displayed and is only used for account identification and notifications.
• Content may be indexed by search engines and appear in search results.
• Other users may share links to debates containing your content.

5. Information Sharing and Disclosure

5.1 Public Content

As described above, your audio recordings, debate titles, comments, and handle are publicly visible to anyone who accesses the debate.

5.2 Service Providers

We share information with third-party service providers who perform services on our behalf (see Section 6: Third-Party Services).

5.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., a court or government agency), including to:

• Comply with legal obligations
• Protect and defend our rights or property
• Prevent or investigate possible wrongdoing in connection with the Service
• Protect the personal safety of users of the Service or the public

5.4 Business Transfers

If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will provide notice before your information becomes subject to a different privacy policy.

5.5 What We Do NOT Do

• We do NOT sell your personal information to third parties.
• We do NOT share your email address publicly.
• We do NOT use your information for targeted advertising.

6. Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services to operate our platform:

6.1 Google Firebase

We use Google Firebase for:

• Authentication: Google Sign-In to verify your identity
• Database: Cloud Firestore to store debate data, user profiles, comments, and metadata
• Storage: Firebase Storage to host audio recordings
• Functions: Cloud Functions to process server-side operations

Google's privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy

6.2 Resend

We use Resend to send email notifications when it's your turn to respond in a debate. Your email address is shared with Resend solely for this purpose.

Resend's privacy policy: https://resend.com/legal/privacy-policy

6.3 Content Delivery Networks

We use CDNs to deliver frontend assets (Bootstrap, jQuery, Font Awesome). These services may collect anonymous usage data.

7. Data Storage and Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information:

• All data is stored on Google Cloud infrastructure with enterprise-grade security.
• Data is transmitted using HTTPS encryption.
• Authentication is handled through Google's secure OAuth 2.0 protocol.
• Audio uploads are processed through secure Cloud Functions with rate limiting.
• Firestore security rules restrict unauthorized access to data.

However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

8. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you the Service:

• Account Information: Retained until you request account deletion.
• Audio Recordings: Retained indefinitely as part of the public debate record, unless the debate creator ends the debate or content is removed for policy violations.
• Comments: Retained indefinitely unless deleted by the user or removed for policy violations.
• Rate Limiting Data: Retained for up to 1 hour after the rate limit window expires.
• Local Storage: Stored on your device until you clear your browser data.

We may retain certain information as required by law or for legitimate business purposes after you delete your account.

9. Your Rights and Choices

9.1 Access and Portability

You have the right to request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.

9.2 Correction

You can update your handle at any time through your profile settings in the Service.

9.3 Deletion

You may request deletion of your account and associated personal information by contacting us. Please note:

• Audio recordings that are part of public debates may be retained as part of the debate record.
• We may retain certain information as required by law.

9.4 Email Communications

Turn notification emails are essential to the Service functionality. If you do not wish to receive these emails, you may stop participating in active debates.

9.5 California Residents (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), including the right to know what personal information we collect, request deletion, and opt-out of the sale of personal information. We do not sell personal information.

9.6 European Users (GDPR)

If you are located in the European Economic Area, you have additional rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), including the right to access, rectify, port, and erase your data, as well as the right to restrict and object to certain processing of your data.

10. Cookies and Local Storage

We use browser local storage (not cookies) to store:

• Session State: Information about your current session and authentication status.
• User Preferences: Settings such as autoplay on/off and selected audio input device.
• Playback Progress: Which debate entries you have listened to.
• View Counts: How many times you've viewed specific debates (to manage the autoplay prompt).

This data is stored only on your device and is not transmitted to our servers unless necessary for Service functionality.

11. Children's Privacy

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under 18, we will take steps to delete that information as soon as possible. If you believe we might have any information from a child under 18, please contact us.

12. International Data Transfers

Our Service is operated in the United States. If you are located outside of the United States, please be aware that information we collect will be transferred to and processed in the United States and other countries where our service providers operate.

By using the Service, you consent to the transfer of your information to the United States and other jurisdictions, which may have different data protection laws than your country of residence.

13. 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 at the top.

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Changes to this Privacy Policy are effective when they are posted on this page.

Your continued use of the Service after any changes indicates your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

14. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, your personal information, or would like to exercise your rights, please contact us: