Privacy Policy

Last Updated: 1/29/2026

At Starting Place AI (“we,” “us,” or “our”), we respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share, and protect information when you use our website and forum at startingplace.ai (the “Site”).

1. Information We Collect

Information You Provide Directly

When you use our Site, you may voluntarily provide us with certain information, including:

Account Information: Username, email address, and password when you create a forum account
Profile Information: Optional profile details such as bio, location, or interests
Forum Content: Posts, comments, replies, and messages you submit to our forum
Contact Information: Name and email address when you contact us through our contact form

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our Site, we automatically collect certain technical information, including:

Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, and device identifiers
Usage Information: Pages visited, time spent on pages, links clicked, and navigation patterns
Cookies and Similar Technologies: We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience (see our Cookie Policy below)

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

Provide and Maintain Services: To operate our forum, enable you to participate in discussions, and deliver the features you request
Improve User Experience: To understand how users interact with our Site and make improvements
Communication: To respond to your inquiries, send important updates about the Site, and notify you of changes to our policies
Safety and Security: To detect and prevent spam, fraud, abuse, and other harmful activity
Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes

3. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information in the following limited circumstances:

Public Forum Content: Any content you post to our public forum (posts, comments, replies) is visible to other users and the general public
Service Providers: We may share information with third-party service providers who help us operate our Site (such as hosting providers, analytics services, and security services). These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the purposes we specify
Legal Requirements: We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or government request, or to protect our rights, safety, or property
Business Transfers: If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to improve your experience on our Site. Cookies are small data files stored on your device that help us:

Remember your login information and preferences
Understand how you use our Site through analytics
Provide relevant content and features

You can control cookie settings through your browser preferences. Note that disabling certain cookies may limit your ability to use some features of our Site.

Analytics: We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use our Site. Google Analytics uses cookies to collect information such as how often users visit the Site, what pages they visit, and what other sites they used prior to coming to our Site. We use this information to improve our Site and services. Google’s ability to use and share information collected by Google Analytics is restricted by the Google Analytics Terms of Service and Google Privacy Policy.

5. Data Security

We implement reasonable technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction. These measures include:

Secure Socket Layer (SSL/TLS) encryption for data transmitted between your browser and our servers
Regular security assessments and updates
Restricted access to personal information on a need-to-know basis

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

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. Specifically:

Account Information: Retained as long as your account is active, or as needed to provide you services
Forum Content: Posts and comments may remain publicly visible even after account deletion, unless you request their removal
Usage Data: Typically retained for up to 24 months for analytics purposes

When we no longer need your information, we will securely delete or anonymize it.

7. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information, including:

Access and Portability: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
Correction: Request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete information
Deletion: Request that we delete your personal information (subject to certain legal exceptions)
Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from marketing communications by following the unsubscribe link in our emails
Account Deletion: Request to delete your forum account and associated data

To exercise these rights, please contact us at [INSERT EMAIL ADDRESS].

8. Third-Party Links

Our Site may contain links to third-party websites, services, or resources. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those third-party sites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of other websites, and we encourage you to review their privacy policies.

9. Children’s Privacy

Our Site is not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under 13, we will promptly delete that information. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.

10. International Users

Our Site is operated in the United States. If you are accessing our Site 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 and our central database is operated. By using our Site, you consent to the transfer of your information to the United States.

11. California Privacy Rights

If you are a California resident, you may have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), including:

The right to know what personal information we collect, use, and share
The right to request deletion of your personal information
The right to opt-out of the sale of personal information (note: we do not sell personal information)
The right to non-discrimination for exercising your privacy rights

To exercise these rights, please contact us by email support@startingplace.ai.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make material changes, we will:

Update the “Last Updated” date at the top of this policy
Post a notice on our homepage or forum
Notify you via email (if you have provided an email address)

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information. Your continued use of the Site after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us at:

Email: support@startingplace.ai
Website: https://startingplace.ai/contact-us/

This Privacy Policy is effective as of 1/28/2026 and applies to all information collected by Starting Place AI.