Privacy Statement
Effective Date: November 22, 2024
1. Who We Are
Bluntly AI is a platform that leverages artificial intelligence to deliver honest, actionable feedback on academic assignments and career documents, such as CVs and job applications. We empower users—students, job seekers, and professionals—to align their work with real-world industry standards. Bluntly AI is operated by Bluntly, headquartered at 142 Collingwood Court, Washington, NE37 3EF, Newcastle upon Tyne, with registration number [Insert Registration Number]. For privacy-related concerns, you may contact our Data Protection Officer (DPO) at support@bluntlyai.com. We process your data to provide tailored AI feedback and ensure platform functionality.
2. Data We Collect
We collect and process various types of data to provide our services effectively. We only collect the minimum amount of personal data required to deliver and improve our services.
2.1. Data You Provide to Us
- Account Information: Your name, email address, subscription tier (Basic, Lite, Pro), and payment details
- Uploaded Content: Files you submit for feedback analysis, including academic assignments, CVs, or job descriptions.
- Payment Data: Billing information securely processed by third-party payment providers (e.g., Stripe, PayPal).
2.2. Data We Automatically Collect
- Usage Data: Information about how you interact with our platform, such as the features you use and the actions you take.
- Device Information: Details about the device you use to access our platform, including IP address, browser type, and operating system.
- Cookies and Tracking Technologies: We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience and analyze platform performance.
2.3. Special Categories of Data
2.4. Children's Data Verification
3. How We Use Your Data
We use your data to provide and improve our services.
3.1. To Provide Our Services
- Analyze uploaded files and deliver tailored feedback.
- Process subscriptions, payments, and optional top-up purchases.
- Ensure smooth functionality and improve platform performance.
3.2. To Train Our AI Models
- We may use anonymized and aggregated data to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of our AI algorithms. This data cannot be linked to you. You may opt out of this by contacting support@bluntlyai.com.
- Any data used for AI training is stripped of identifiable details, ensuring it cannot be traced back to individual users.
3.3. To Communicate with You
- Send service-related updates, such as account notifications or subscription reminders.
- Share promotional offers or newsletters, if you opt in to receive them.
3.4. For Legal and Compliance Purposes
- Retain records for tax, auditing, and regulatory requirements.
- Respond to legal requests, disputes, or investigations.
4. Legal Basis for Processing
Bluntly AI processes your personal data under the following legal bases:
1. Contractual Necessity: To fulfill our obligations under your subscription.
2. Legitimate Interests: To improve our platform, ensure security, and prevent fraud. For example, we analyze usage trends to identify and resolve platform performance issues.
3. Consent: For marketing communications and non-essential data processing, where you have provided explicit consent.
4. Legal Obligations: To comply with applicable laws.
5. Automated Decision-Making and Profiling
Bluntly AI uses automated systems to analyze your documents and generate feedback. These processes are designed to improve your academic or professional outcomes. If you believe the AI has provided inaccurate results, you may request a manual review by contacting support@bluntlyai.com. We continuously monitor and refine our AI systems to complement, not replace, human advice. Users should critically evaluate AI recommendations and consult additional resources as needed.
6. Sharing Your Data
We do not sell or rent your data. However, we may share it under the following circumstances:
1. Service Providers: Third-party providers (e.g., Stripe, PayPal, AWS) that assist with secure payments, hosting, and platform functionality.
2. Legal and Compliance Obligations: Disclosure to regulatory authorities if required by law.
3. Anonymized Data: Aggregated data may be used for research, analytics, or AI model improvement.
Your data will never be shared with advertisers or used for third-party marketing purposes without your explicit consent.
Bluntly AI uses cookies to:
- Maintain session functionality.
- Track user behavior for platform improvement.
- Remember user preferences for a better experience.
7. Data Retention
1. Uploaded Content: Deleted automatically 30 days after analysis unless requested otherwise.
2. Account Data: Retained while your account is active or as required by law.
3. Payment Records: Retained by third-party processors for legal compliance.
Users may request earlier deletion of their data by contacting support@bluntlyai.com.
8. International Data Transfers
Some data may be processed outside the UK/EEA by our service providers. To ensure compliance, we use:
1. Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the UK ICO.
2. Encryption and Access Controls to protect your information.
9. Data Security
We implement robust security measures, including:
1. Encryption: All data is encrypted during transmission (SSL/TLS) and at rest.
2. Access Controls: Restricted access to personal data.
3. Incident Testing: We conduct regular breach simulations to test and improve response capabilities.
4. Security Certifications: Bluntly AI leverages cloud providers certified with ISO/IEC 27001, SOC 2, and PCI DSS standards to ensure data protection. We are actively working towards Cyber Essentials certification to further strengthen our security practices.
10. Your Rights Under UK GDPR
As a user, you have the following rights:
1. Right to Access: Request a copy of the data we hold.
2. Right to Rectification: Correct inaccuracies in your data.
3. Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your data.
4. Right to Restrict Processing: Limit how your data is used.
5. Right to Data Portability: Receive your data in a structured format.
6. Right to Object: Opt out of processing for legitimate interests or marketing.
7. Right to Withdraw Consent: Revoke consent for non-essential processing.
To exercise these rights, email support@bluntlyai.com.
11. Data Breach Notification
In the event of a data breach:
1. We will notify the ICO within 72 hours if required.
2. Affected users will be informed promptly, within 72 hours, if there is a high risk to their personal data.
12. Cookies and Tracking
Bluntly AI uses cookies to:
1. Maintain session functionality.
2. Track user behavior for platform improvement.
3. Remember user preferences for a better experience.
You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings.
13. Right to Complain to the ICO
If you believe we have mishandled your data, you may lodge a complaint with the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO):
1. Website: https://ico.org.uk
2. Phone: 0303 123 1113
3. Address: Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF
We encourage you to contact us first at support@bluntlyai.com so we can address your concerns promptly.
14. Changes to This Privacy Statement
We may update this Privacy Statement periodically to reflect changes in laws or our s ervices. Updates will be communicated via email or prominently displayed on our website. Significant changes to this Privacy Statement will be communicated to all users via email.
For questions or concerns about your privacy, contact us at support@bluntlyai.com.