Policy

Our Privacy Policies

Effective Date: July 5, 2025
Last Updated: July 5, 2025

Scynapse (“we”, “our”, or “us”) is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share, store, and safeguard your personal information when you access or use our website (https://www.scynapse.com), mobile applications, and related services (collectively, the “Platform”).

We comply with applicable international privacy laws and standards, including:

  • General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR – EU)
  • California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA – US)
  • UK Data Protection Act (UK GDPR)
  • Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados (LGPD – Brazil)
  • Personal Data Protection Law (Saudi Arabia)
  • Other applicable local privacy laws

1. Scope

This Privacy Policy applies to all users of Scynapse, including researchers, institutions, collaborators, and website visitors. By using our Platform, you consent to the practices described herein.

2. Information We Collect

a. Personal Data You Provide

We collect personal information when you register, create a profile, or communicate with us:

  • Full name
  • Email address
  • Password (encrypted)
  • Academic title, institution, and field of expertise
  • Profile picture (optional)
  • Completed projects, research interests, and proposal history
  • Social media or LinkedIn (if optionally linked)
  • Messages and feedback submitted via our contact forms

b. Automatically Collected Data

When you access the Platform, we collect certain data automatically:

  • Device type and operating system
  • IP address and geolocation
  • Browser type and language
  • Log data (date/time, pages visited, time spent, links clicked)
  • Referral source
  • Session cookies, authentication cookies, and analytics cookies

c. Sensitive Data

Scynapse may host or store academic or scientific project-related content, but we do not intentionally collect sensitive personal data such as:

  • Health status
  • Political opinions
  • Religious beliefs
  • Biometric identifiers

If such data is provided voluntarily, it will be processed with appropriate legal basis and security measures.

3. Legal Bases for Processing (GDPR)

Under the GDPR, we process your personal data based on the following legal bases:

  • Consent: When you register, submit personal details, or opt-in to emails
  • Contractual necessity: To deliver the services you request
  • Legitimate interests: For site improvement, analytics, fraud prevention
  • Legal obligations: When required by law or court orders

4. How We Use Your Data

We use your data for the following purposes:

  • Account creation, authentication, and personalization
  • Research collaboration recommendations
  • Communication regarding proposals, updates, or account activity
  • Internal research and platform optimization
  • Customer support and user engagement
  • Legal and compliance purposes

5. How We Share Your Data

We do not sell personal data. We only share your data with:

  • Service providers (cloud storage, analytics, email delivery) under contractual confidentiality
  • Other users, with your permission (e.g., proposal collaborations)
  • Legal authorities, when required for compliance with applicable law
  • Business partners, in anonymized or aggregate form for platform improvement

6. International Transfers

As we serve users globally, your data may be processed in or transferred to countries outside your region. We ensure adequate protections are in place:

  • EU Users: Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) for data transfers outside the EEA
  • Other Regions: Compliance with local transfer mechanisms and agreements

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal data:

  • As long as your account is active
  • As required for legal, contractual, or operational needs
  • Until you request deletion, in accordance with legal rights

Anonymized or aggregated data may be retained indefinitely.

8. Your Privacy Rights

a. GDPR/UK Users

You have the right to:

  • Access and obtain a copy of your data
  • Request correction or deletion
  • Restrict or object to processing
  • Withdraw consent at any time
  • Lodge a complaint with a Data Protection Authority

b. CCPA (California)

You have the right to:

  • Know what personal data is collected and how it is used
  • Request deletion of your data
  • Opt out of data sale (we do not sell data)
  • Non-discrimination for exercising your rights

To exercise rights: email privacy@scynapse.com with the subject line “Data Request”.

c. LGPD (Brazil)

You may:

  • Confirm processing of your data
  • Access, correct, anonymize, or delete data
  • Revoke consent at any time

9. Data Security

We use industry-standard practices to safeguard data:

  • HTTPS encryption
  • Encrypted storage of passwords and identifiers
  • Firewalls, access controls, and intrusion detection
  • Regular security audits and data protection protocols

Despite best efforts, no online system is 100% secure.

10. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies for:

  • Authentication and session management
  • User preferences and UI customization
  • Analytics (via services like Google Analytics or Matomo)
  • Security and fraud detection

You can manage cookies through your browser settings or opt out of analytics via tools like https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout

11. Third-Party Links

Our site may include links to third-party platforms (e.g., Google Scholar, ResearchGate). We are not responsible for their privacy practices. Please review their policies before engaging.

12. Children’s Privacy

Scynapse is not intended for children under 18. We do not knowingly collect data from minors. If we learn of such data, we will delete it promptly.

13. Automated Decision-Making & Profiling

Scynapse uses algorithmic recommendation systems to match users with relevant proposals or collaborators. These systems do not make legally binding decisions without human intervention.

14. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this policy periodically to reflect changes in law or platform functionality. Updates will be posted here with a revised date. If material changes occur, we will notify users via email or in-platform alerts.

15. Contact Information

For inquiries, requests, or complaints related to this Privacy Policy:

Scynapse Company
📧 Email: info@scynapse.org
🌐 Website: www.scynapse.org