Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to RateMySupervisor ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling personal information in a transparent and responsible manner.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect information when you access or use our website and services.

By using RateMySupervisor, you consent to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Personal Information

When you create an account, we may collect the following information:

• Email address (used solely for authentication and account management)
• Password (stored in encrypted form)
• Display name (automatically generated and publicly visible)

We do not require or request your real name.

2.2 User-Generated Content

We collect content you voluntarily submit, including:

• Reviews of academic supervisors
• Interview experiences
• Replies and discussion comments
• Messages sent via our contact forms

User-generated content may be publicly visible under your display name.

2.3 Automatically Collected Information

When you access our website, we may automatically collect certain technical information, such as:

• IP address
• Browser type and version
• Device and operating system information
• Pages visited and time spent on pages
• Referring URLs

This information is used for security, analytics, and service improvement purposes.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use collected information to:

• Provide, operate, and maintain our services
• Authenticate users and manage accounts
• Display user-submitted reviews and replies
• Respond to inquiries and support requests
• Improve website functionality and user experience
• Detect, prevent, and address abuse or security issues
• Comply with legal obligations
• Display advertisements through third-party advertising partners, including Google AdSense

4. Display Names and Anonymity

To protect user privacy, reviews and replies are displayed using automatically generated display names rather than real names or email addresses.

While we strive to protect anonymity, we may disclose user information if required by law, legal process, or valid governmental requests.

5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Maintain login sessions
• Remember user preferences
• Analyze traffic and usage patterns
• Serve relevant and non-intrusive advertisements

You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings. Please note that disabling cookies may limit certain website features.

6. Third-Party Services

6.1 Google AdSense

We use Google AdSense to display advertisements. Google may use cookies, including the DoubleClick cookie, to serve ads based on users' visits to this and other websites.

Users may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings.

6.2 Supabase

We use Supabase for authentication and database services. Supabase processes data on our behalf in accordance with its own privacy policy and applicable data protection laws.

6.3 Analytics Services

We may use analytics providers to better understand user behavior and improve our services. These providers may collect anonymized or aggregated usage data.

7. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell personal information.

We may share information only in the following circumstances:

• Service providers: With trusted vendors who assist in operating the website (e.g., hosting, analytics)
• Legal obligations: When required by law or to protect our rights and safety
• User consent: When you explicitly authorize sharing
• Business transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets

8. Data Security

We implement reasonable technical and organizational safeguards to protect user data, including:

• Encrypted password storage
• Secure HTTPS connections
• Access controls and authentication mechanisms

Despite these measures, no system is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the right to:

• Access your personal data
• Correct inaccurate or incomplete information
• Request deletion of your account and personal data
• Object to certain data processing activities
• Request data portability

To exercise these rights, please contact us at:
📧 ratemysupervisorconact@gmail.com

10. Data Retention

We retain personal information only as long as necessary to provide our services and comply with legal obligations.

User-generated content may remain publicly visible to preserve platform integrity, even if an account is deleted, unless removal is legally required or specifically requested and approved.

11. Children's Privacy

RateMySupervisor is not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

If you believe a child has provided personal data, please contact us so we can take appropriate action.

12. International Users

RateMySupervisor is operated from the United States. If you access the site from outside the U.S., your information may be transferred to and processed in the United States.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Updates will be posted on this page with a revised "Last Updated" date.

Continued use of the website after changes indicates acceptance of the updated policy.