Privacy Policy - The Simple Platform (TSP)

Version: 1.3
Effective Date: March 12, 2026

Welcome to The Simple Platform (“TSP,” “we,” “our,” or “us”). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, protect, and manage information when you access or use TSP’s websites and services (the “Services”), and it should be read together with the TSP Terms of Use and TSP Data Sources documentation. By using the Services, you agree to the practices described in each of those three policies.

TSP functions as research infrastructure designed to help researchers organize, maintain, and share research-ready work. The platform does not replace existing scholarly tools or workflows and does not claim authority over scholarly content.

1. Information We Collect

TSP collects information necessary to operate, secure, and improve the Services. Categories of information may include:

Account Information
• Name
• Email address
• Login credentials

Platform Usage Information
• IP address
• Device and browser information
• Log files and timestamps
• Platform interaction information

Research Context Inputs
Certain platform features require contextual inputs to operate discovery and search functionality. These inputs may include:
‍
• Area of Research Interest prompts
• Vertical names
• Vertical summaries
• Geographic filters
• Funding filters

Customer Data
“Customer Data” means proprietary data, content, notes, uploads, or materials that users create, upload, store, or organize within the Services. Customer Data may include research notes, curated resources, uploaded files, or commentary created by users.

2. How Information Is Used

TSP processes information in order to:

• Operate and maintain the Services
• Authenticate users and maintain account security
• Provide discovery and search functionality
• Improve reliability and performance of the platform
• Analyze aggregated platform usage patterns
• Comply with legal obligations

Customer Data is processed solely for purposes of providing and improving the Services requested by the user.

3. Customer Data, Research Independence and Acadmic Norms

a. Ownership
Users retain ownership and editorial control of the research materials, notes, and curated resources they create within TSP. Content created within a vertical is visible only to the user and invited collaborators within that vertical. TSP does not train artificial intelligence models on Customer Data and does not use private research materials to develop external models or services. TSP processes Customer Data as necessary to provide and maintain the Services.

b. Research Independence
TSP is designed as research infrastructure. The platform does not influence, edit, rank, or alter a user’s scholarly work, research conclusions, or intellectual output. Users retain full editorial control and responsibility for their research content.

c. Academic norms
TSP is designed to respect established academic norms regarding attribution, authorship, and scholarly independence.

4. Platform Search Inputs

When platform discovery tools perform searches or refresh content, only limited contextual inputs are shared with search models. These inputs may include:
‍
• Area of Research Interest prompt
• Vertical name
• Vertical summary
• Funding filters
• Geographic filters

Personal notes, research thinking, curated materials, and other Customer Data are not shared with search models.

5. Anonymized and Aggregated Data

TSP may generate anonymized, de-identified, or aggregated data derived from platform usage. Such data will not reasonably identify individual users. This information may be used for:
‍
• Product analytics
• Benchmarking
• Research insights
• Platform improvement
• Academic or industry analysis
• Commercial purposes, including sharing or licensing aggregated insights to third parties

TSP designs these processes to preserve user privacy and prevent re-identification. TSP does not sell personally identifiable user information.

6. Optional Introductions

TSP may offer users the ability to request introductions to collaborators, institutions, organizations, or service providers. Participation in such introductions is strictly opt-in. Personally identifying information will not be shared for introduction purposes unless a user explicitly elects to participate. TSP acts solely as a facilitating intermediary and does not guarantee third-party outcomes or behavior.

7. Data Security

TSP implements reasonable technical and organizational safeguards designed to protect user information. These safeguards may include:
‍
• Encrypted communications (HTTPS)
• Role-based access controls
• Secure cloud infrastructure
• Monitoring to protect platform integrity

While TSP employs commercially reasonable security measures, no system can guarantee absolute security.

8. Data Retention

TSP retains personal information only as long as reasonably necessary to:

• Operate the Services
• Maintain reasonable operational records
• Comply with legal obligations

Users may request deletion of personal data associated with their account by contacting TSP using the information provided below.

9. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have rights under applicable privacy laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). These rights may include:

• Access to personal data we hold about you
• Correction of inaccurate personal information
• Deletion of personal data
• Restriction or objection to certain processing activities
• Portability of personal data

Requests may be submitted to: admin@simple-platform.com. TSP will respond to requests as required by applicable law.

10. International Data Transfers

TSP operates cloud-based infrastructure and may process information in multiple jurisdictions. Where required, appropriate safeguards are implemented to protect personal data in accordance with applicable law.

11. Changes to This Policy

TSP may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Updated versions will be posted with a revised version number and effective date. Continued use of the Services constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.