Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Best Asked Questions ("baqs.ai," "we," "us," or "our") operates the baqs.ai website and Q&A platform service. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our service. By using baqs.ai, you consent to the data practices described in this policy.

Service Provider Role

BAQS is a neutral platform tool that can be used for educational settings, corporate events, conferences, and other purposes. We provide the technology; event organizers (faculty, corporate trainers, coordinators, etc.) determine how to use the service and are responsible for compliance with applicable policies and regulations for their specific use case.

2. Information We Collect

Account Information (Event Managers Only)

• Email address and username
• Name and profile information
• Password (encrypted)
• Subscription and billing information

Event Data

• Event titles, descriptions, and settings
• Questions submitted during events
• Voting data and participant interactions
• Session identifiers for participants
• For invite-only events: Email addresses collected for access control and event management

Technical Information

• IP addresses and browser information
• Device type and operating system
• Usage analytics and performance data
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies

Payment Information

Payment data is processed by Stripe, our payment processor. We do not store credit card numbers or sensitive payment information on our servers. Stripe's privacy policy governs their handling of payment data.

AI-Powered Features (Optional)

When enabled by event organizers, we use OpenAI to automatically group and summarize questions. For this feature:

• We send only the question text and vote counts to OpenAI
• We do NOT send participant names, email addresses, or IP addresses to OpenAI
• Important: Users control what they write in their questions. If you include personal information in your question text, it will be sent to OpenAI as part of the question content. Avoid including sensitive information in your questions if you prefer to keep it private.

3. How We Use Your Information

• Service Provision: To operate and maintain the baqs.ai platform
• Account Management: To manage user accounts and subscriptions
• Communication: To send service updates, billing notices, and support
• Analytics: To understand usage patterns and improve our service
• Security: To protect against fraud, abuse, and security threats
• Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws and regulations

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information. We may share information in these limited circumstances:

Third-Party Service Providers

We use the following services to operate our platform:

Legal Requirements

We may disclose information when required by law, court order, or to protect our rights, property, or safety.

5. Data Security

We implement appropriate security measures to protect your information:

• HTTPS encryption for all data transmission
• Secure database storage with access controls
• Regular security audits and updates
• Employee access controls and training

6. Your Rights (California Residents)

Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), you have the right to:

• Know: Request information about personal data we collect and use
• Delete: Request deletion of your personal information
• Opt-Out: Opt-out of the sale of personal information (we don't sell data)
• Non-Discrimination: Equal service regardless of privacy choices

To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@baqs.ai

For Educational Users (EDU and Pro Plans Only)

FERPA Compliance for Educational Settings:

If you are using BAQS in an educational setting (higher education only - not K-12) with invite-only events:

• Institution's Responsibility: Your educational institution and faculty are responsible for FERPA compliance, including documenting BAQS usage in syllabi and institutional policies
• Our Role: We maintain technical safeguards and data processing agreements with our third-party vendors (Railway, SendGrid)
• Data Minimization: We collect only email addresses for invite-only event access. Question submissions are session-based and not automatically linked to educational records
• Third-Party AI: If AI features are enabled, question text (not names or emails) is sent to OpenAI for summarization. Participants control what information they include in their questions
• Your Rights: Educational users have the right to access and request deletion of their data by contacting privacy@baqs.ai

This section applies only to: EDU and Pro plan users conducting events in educational settings with students subject to FERPA protections.

7. Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies for:

• Authentication and session management
• Anonymous participant tracking during events
• Analytics and performance monitoring
• Security and fraud prevention

You can control cookies through your browser settings, but this may affect service functionality.

8. Data Retention

We retain personal information as long as necessary to provide services, comply with legal obligations, and resolve disputes. Account data is deleted within 30 days of account closure. Event data may be retained longer for analytics purposes but is anonymized.

9. International Users

Our services are hosted in the United States. If you access baqs.ai from outside the US, your information will be transferred to and processed in the United States. By using our service, you consent to this transfer.

10. Children's Privacy

Our service is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have collected such information, please contact us immediately.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date. Continued use of the service after changes constitutes acceptance.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us: