Privacy Policy

Last updated: April 16, 2026

Information We Collect

As an AI-powered academic citation service, we collect and process the following types of information:

Account Information: When you create an account via Google Sign-In, we collect your name and email address provided by Google to give you access to our services.

Usage Data: We process the queries and citations you submit in order to generate responses. We do not store the content of your queries or AI-generated results after your session ends.

Credit Usage: We track your credit balance and usage to manage your account.

Payment Information: Payments are processed entirely by Stripe. We never see or store your credit card details — only Stripe handles that data.

We are committed to not collecting information without your authorization, ensuring that your privacy rights are always respected.

How We Use Your Information

We use the information collected strictly for the following purposes:

Service Delivery: Your account information is used to provide access to CiteGenie, manage your credit balance, and process payments.

AI Processing: Queries you submit are sent to AI and academic database APIs (such as CrossRef, PubMed, arXiv, and OpenAlex) in real time to generate responses. This data is not retained after your session.

Support and Communication: We use your contact information only to respond to support requests, send transactional emails (account notifications and billing receipts), and communicate important service updates.

We will not use your information for marketing purposes, and we will not share your data with third parties except as necessary to operate the service.

Data Security

Protecting your academic work and research data is our top priority. We have implemented comprehensive security measures to safeguard your information:

Secure Processing: Queries are processed through secure channels and are not retained after the session completes.

Access Controls: Your account is accessible only through authenticated sessions. Staff cannot access your account without explicit authorization for support purposes.

Third-Party API Security: When querying external academic databases (CrossRef, PubMed, etc.), we transmit only the bibliographic information necessary to fulfill your request and do not share your identity or account details.

Third-Party Services

To provide accurate citation verification, we query trusted academic databases and sources including:

Academic Databases: CrossRef, PubMed, arXiv, OpenAlex, and other scholarly databases. We share only bibliographic metadata (titles, DOIs, ISBNs) necessary for verification purposes.

Stripe (Payment Processing): All payments are handled directly by Stripe. Your card details are entered on Stripe's secure interface and are never transmitted to or stored on our servers.

These third-party services have their own privacy policies and security measures. We carefully select partners who maintain high standards of data protection.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use minimal cookies and tracking technologies, strictly for the following purposes:

Authentication Cookies: To keep you logged in and maintain your session security.

We do not use tracking cookies for advertising or behavioral analysis. You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings, though disabling essential cookies may affect your ability to use certain features of our service.

Your Rights

Your rights include:

To exercise these rights, please access your account settings or contact us through our support email. We will respond to your request within a reasonable time frame and ensure your rights are protected.

Academic Integrity and Confidentiality

We understand the sensitivity of academic research and maintain strict confidentiality:

No Data Sharing: Your citation verification queries, results, and any research materials you submit are never shared with other users, researchers, or third parties for commercial purposes.

No Plagiarism Detection Databases: We do not add your submitted citations or verification data to any plagiarism detection databases or similar services.

Research Confidentiality: If you are verifying citations for unpublished research, we treat all information as confidential and do not disclose any details about your work.

Children's Privacy

Our academic verification services are intended for researchers, students, and professionals. We do not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under the age of 13. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such information, please contact us immediately.

Policy Updates

We may update this privacy policy to reflect changes in our verification services, legal requirements, or data protection practices. When we make updates:

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this privacy policy, how we handle your academic citations and verification data, or wish to exercise your privacy rights, please contact us:

Email: contact@citegenie.app

We are committed to addressing your privacy concerns and protecting the confidentiality of your academic work.