By accessing VoteGauge.com, you acknowledge the practices described in this Privacy Policy. This policy applies to VoteGauge.com and the pages, rankings, profiles, forms, and voting features provided through the website.
1. Scope of this policy
This Privacy Policy describes how VoteGauge handles information associated with visitors who browse AI company profiles, review rankings, cast votes, use search or category features, or contact the website.
It does not govern the privacy practices of AI companies, advertisers, social platforms, affiliate partners, or other websites linked from VoteGauge.
2. Information we may collect
Information you provide voluntarily
VoteGauge may collect information you choose to submit, including:
- Your name and email address when using a contact form.
- The subject, inquiry type, and message you send.
- Company-profile corrections, listing requests, or supporting information.
- Advertising, partnership, or business inquiry details.
- Information included in communications sent directly to VoteGauge.
Information collected automatically
When you access the website, the site, hosting provider, security services, and enabled technical tools may automatically process information such as:
- Internet Protocol address or related network information.
- Browser type, device type, operating system, and language.
- Pages viewed, referring pages, timestamps, and navigation activity.
- Cookie identifiers and similar technical identifiers.
- Error, security, and server-log information.
3. Community voting information
VoteGauge uses technical information to operate its voting system, record accepted votes, apply the company-specific 12-hour voting window, and reduce repeated or abusive voting attempts.
Information associated with voting may include:
- The AI company receiving the vote.
- Whether the submitted vote was an upvote or downvote.
- The date and time of the voting attempt.
- A browser-based or cookie-based visitor identifier.
- Technical or network information needed to apply voting and security rules.
- Whether the vote was accepted, rejected, or blocked.
4. How information may be used
VoteGauge may use collected information to:
- Operate the website, company directory, profiles, and leaderboard.
- Record accepted upvotes and downvotes.
- Apply the 12-hour voting window.
- Detect repeated voting, automation, fraud, abuse, or security threats.
- Respond to messages, corrections, and support requests.
- Maintain, troubleshoot, and improve website performance.
- Understand general traffic and use of the website.
- Comply with legal obligations and enforce site policies.
- Protect VoteGauge, its visitors, and its technical systems.
5. Cookies and similar technologies
Cookies are small files stored through a visitor’s browser. VoteGauge may use cookies, local storage, or similar technologies for essential functions such as remembering a voting identifier, applying voting limits, maintaining security, and preserving basic website preferences.
Additional cookies may be placed by analytics, advertising, embedded content, spam-prevention, or other third-party services when those services are enabled.
Most browsers allow users to block or delete cookies. Blocking essential cookies may interfere with voting, form submission, preferences, or other website functionality.
6. When information may be shared
VoteGauge may disclose limited information to service providers that help operate the website, including providers of:
- Website hosting and server infrastructure.
- Security, firewall, spam-prevention, and abuse detection.
- Contact forms and email delivery.
- Analytics and website-performance measurement.
- Advertising or monetization services when enabled.
- Backup, maintenance, and technical support.
Information may also be disclosed when reasonably necessary to comply with law, legal process, court orders, protect legal rights, investigate misuse, or respond to security concerns.
VoteGauge does not currently sell personal information for money.
7. Analytics, advertising, and third-party technology
VoteGauge may use analytics services to understand general website traffic, page performance, referral sources, and visitor interactions. These services may process device, browser, network, cookie, and usage information according to their own privacy practices.
If advertising services are enabled, advertising providers may use cookies or similar technologies to deliver, measure, limit, or personalize advertising. Available consent and opt-out controls may vary by visitor location and by the provider involved.
VoteGauge will update this policy and provide any required controls if its analytics or advertising practices materially change.
8. How long information is retained
Information is retained only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this policy, including operating the voting system, responding to inquiries, maintaining security records, resolving disputes, and meeting legal or accounting requirements.
Different categories of information may have different retention periods. Voting records and technical security logs may be retained for the time needed to preserve ranking integrity, detect misuse, investigate technical issues, and maintain reliable results.
9. Your privacy rights and choices
Depending on where you live and the laws that apply, you may have rights concerning personal information associated with you. These may include rights to:
- Request access to certain personal information.
- Request correction of inaccurate information.
- Request deletion of certain information.
- Object to or restrict certain processing.
- Withdraw consent where processing relies on consent.
- Request information about categories of data collected or disclosed.
- Opt out of certain sales, sharing, or targeted advertising when applicable.
- Submit a complaint to an appropriate privacy regulator.
VoteGauge may need to verify a request before acting on it. Some requests may be limited or denied when retaining information is required for security, fraud prevention, legal compliance, free-expression protections, or another lawful reason.
Because ordinary voting does not require a user account, VoteGauge may be unable to reliably connect a particular voting record with a named person.
10. Information security
VoteGauge uses reasonable administrative and technical measures intended to protect information and maintain the operation of the website. However, no website, database, transmission method, or storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
Visitors should avoid submitting passwords, financial account information, government identification numbers, medical information, or other highly sensitive material through general contact forms.
11. Children’s privacy
VoteGauge is intended for a general audience and is not directed to children under 13. VoteGauge does not knowingly request personal information from children under 13.
A parent or guardian who believes a child has submitted personal information may contact VoteGauge to request review and deletion.
12. External websites and company links
VoteGauge profiles may link to official AI company websites, social networks, news sources, advertisers, affiliates, and other third-party resources.
VoteGauge does not control the privacy, security, cookie, or data-handling practices of those services. Visitors should review the privacy policies of external websites before providing information to them.
13. Changes to this Privacy Policy
VoteGauge may update this Privacy Policy when website features, voting technology, analytics, advertising, legal obligations, or service providers change.
The updated version will be posted on this page with a revised “Last updated” date. Material changes may also be communicated through an additional website notice when appropriate.
14. Contact VoteGauge
Questions, privacy requests, or concerns about this policy may be submitted through the VoteGauge contact page.