# How Terac Uses Your Data (https://terac.com/docs/experts/policies/data-usage) What data we collect, how it's used, and your privacy rights. This page summarizes what data Terac collects, how we use it, and your privacy rights. Our [Privacy Policy](https://terac.com/legal/privacy-policy) is the complete version, and it governs if anything here reads differently. ## What Data We Collect [#what-data-we-collect] ### Profile Information [#profile-information] When you create an account and complete onboarding, we collect: * **Identity:** Name, email, phone number * **Professional background:** Work experience, education, skills, and your preferred hourly rate * **Resume:** If you choose to upload one * **Connected accounts:** LinkedIn, Facebook, or the other accounts you sign in with * **Availability:** Your Google Calendar free times and booking link, if you connect them * **Verification data:** Your identity check, run by our verification partner ### Participation Data [#participation-data] When you take part in studies, we collect: * **Screening responses:** Answers to qualification questions * **Task submissions:** Survey responses and uploaded files * **Interview recordings:** Video of your camera and shared screen, audio, and transcripts from AI interviews * **Time tracking:** On hourly projects, the time and screenshots the Insightful app records while your timer runs * **Messages:** Your conversations with Sophia and with our support team * **Behavioral data:** How you interact with tasks, such as timing and completion patterns ### Technical Data [#technical-data] We automatically collect: * **Device information:** Browser type, operating system * **Connection data:** IP address, location (country/region) * **Usage data:** Pages visited, features used ### Payment Data [#payment-data] For payouts, we collect: * **Email address:** To set up your payout account with Whop * **Identity and tax information:** Collected by Whop directly during payout verification. This includes a government ID and, for participants in the United States, an SSN. Terac does not collect or store tax forms. * **Bank details:** Collected by Whop directly, in its own forms, when you add a payout method If Whop cannot pay out in your country, your payouts go through Virtual Incentives instead, which receives your email to send you your reward. ## How We Use Your Data [#how-we-use-your-data] ### Matching and Opportunities [#matching-and-opportunities] We use your data to: * Match you with relevant research opportunities * Check you meet study requirements * Show your profile to researchers when you apply ### AI Processing [#ai-processing] We use AI to: * Extract information from your resume * Enrich your profile with LinkedIn data * Conduct interviews through our AI interviewer * Answer your questions through Sophia, our assistant * Check submission quality > Our AI features are provided through third-party AI service providers, which > process your information on our behalf. The Privacy Policy names them and > explains how your information is handled. ### Research Delivery [#research-delivery] Your participation data is shared with researchers for their studies. This includes: * Screening responses * Task submissions * Interview recordings and transcripts Researchers use this data for their research purposes as described in each study. ### Platform Operations [#platform-operations] We use data to: * Process payments * Communicate with you * Improve our platform * Prevent fraud ## Data Sharing [#data-sharing] ### With Researchers [#with-researchers] When you apply to a study, researchers can see: * Your profile information relevant to the study * Your screening responses * Your task submissions and interview transcripts ### With Service Providers [#with-service-providers] We share data with the providers that run parts of Terac for us, including: * **Whop:** for payouts (they receive your email, and collect identity and tax details from you directly to verify you before your first cash out) * **Virtual Incentives:** for payouts in countries Whop does not cover (they receive your email) * **Persona:** for identity verification (they receive your ID image and selfie) * **LiveKit and our speech and AI providers:** for interviews and Sophia * **Text messaging providers:** for the texts we send you * **Insightful:** for time tracking on hourly projects * **Email and analytics providers** The Privacy Policy describes who we share data with, including the categories of personal information we have sold or shared in the past 12 months as some US state privacy laws define those terms, and how to opt out. ### We Never [#we-never] * Share your identity documents with researchers * Share your contact information with researchers without your consent ## Data Security [#data-security] We protect your data with: * Encryption in transit and at rest * Secure access controls * Regular security audits * SOC 2 certification ## Data Retention [#data-retention] ### Active Accounts [#active-accounts] We retain your data while your account is active and for a reasonable period after for legal and operational purposes. ### Deleted Accounts [#deleted-accounts] When your account is deleted, you can no longer sign in, and the account is closed. We keep some records as our Privacy Policy describes and as the law requires. An email address that belonged to a deleted account cannot be used to sign up again. ### Research Data [#research-data] Participation data (submissions, recordings, transcripts) may be retained by researchers according to their data retention policies. ## Your Rights [#your-rights] ### Access [#access] You can view your data in your profile and on your Earnings page. ### Correction [#correction] You can update your profile information at any time from **Profile** in your dashboard. ### Deletion [#deletion] You can ask for your account to be deleted. [Ask Sophia](https://terac.com/docs/experts/support/contact), and our team will take care of it. ### Portability [#portability] You can request an export of your data. ### Opt-Out [#opt-out] You can opt out of certain communications under **Profile → Communications**. To stop text messages, reply STOP. ## Regional Rights [#regional-rights] ### United States [#united-states] Residents of some US states, including California, have additional rights, such as the right to know, to delete, and to opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information. The Privacy Policy explains them and how to exercise them. ### European Union [#european-union] EU residents have rights under GDPR including access, rectification, erasure, and portability. ### Other Regions [#other-regions] Additional rights may apply based on your location. ## Cookies [#cookies] We use cookies for: * Authentication * Preferences * Analytics and advertising You can manage cookie preferences in your browser and in our cookie settings. See the [Cookie Policy](https://terac.com/legal/cookie-policy). ## Changes to This Policy [#changes-to-this-policy] We may update this policy periodically. We'll notify you of significant changes via email or in-app notification. ## Questions [#questions] For privacy-related questions: * Review our [Privacy Policy](https://terac.com/legal/privacy-policy) * [Ask Sophia](https://terac.com/docs/experts/support/contact)