Privacy Policy

AutomationTown Inc. ("AutomationTown", "we", "us", or "our") operates ParticipationTown, an audience interaction tool for live polls, ratings, word clouds, open text, and anonymous questions (the "Service"). We are based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have. By using the Service, you agree to the practices described here.

Who this policy covers

This policy applies to two groups:

• Presenters: people who create an account to build and run sessions.
• Audience participants: people who join a session to respond or ask questions, without creating an account.

Information we collect

Presenter account information. When you create an account, our authentication provider (Clerk) collects your name, email address, and the credentials or sign-in method you choose. If you sign in with a third-party provider such as Google or LinkedIn, we receive basic profile information (such as your name and email) from that provider. Passwords, if used, are handled by Clerk and are not visible to us.

Profile details you provide. During onboarding or in your account settings you may add details such as your first and last name, firm or company name, country, whether you work in accounting, whether you are an AutomationTown member, and a LinkedIn profile link. You choose whether to provide these.

Session content you create. Presentations, interactions, questions, settings, and any text you enter while building or running a session.

Audience participation data. When someone joins a session, we create an anonymous participant record identified by a random value stored in a cookie on their browser. We do not require audience members to provide a name or email. We collect the responses they submit (poll selections, ratings, words, open text), the questions they ask, and the upvotes they cast. A participant may optionally attach a display name to a question; if they do, that name is stored with the question.

Technical and usage information. Like most online services, our hosting and infrastructure providers automatically log technical information such as IP address, browser type, and timestamps. We use this for security, abuse prevention, and reliability, including per-participant rate limiting on public participation.

Cookies. We use functional cookies only: a session cookie for signed-in presenters (set by Clerk) and a randomly generated cookie that lets an audience member participate and enforces one response or vote per person. We do not use advertising or cross-site tracking cookies.

How we use information

We use the information described above to:

• provide, operate, and maintain the Service;
• authenticate presenters and keep accounts secure;
• run live sessions and display aggregated results;
• prevent spam, abuse, and fraud, including rate limiting;
• send transactional emails you request, such as collaboration or team invitations;
• provide support and administer the platform; and
• comply with legal obligations.

Consent

We collect, use, and disclose personal information with your consent, consistent with Canada's Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). You may withdraw your consent at any time, subject to legal or contractual restrictions, by contacting us or closing your account. Withdrawing consent may limit your ability to use the Service.

How we share information

We do not sell your personal information. We share information only with service providers that help us operate the Service, and only as needed for them to perform their functions. These providers include:

• Clerk, for authentication and account management;
• Neon, for our database;
• Vercel, for hosting and content delivery;
• Resend, for sending transactional email; and
• Google and LinkedIn, only if you choose to sign in with those providers.

We may also disclose information if required by law, to enforce our agreements, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of AutomationTown, our users, or others.

International transfers

Our service providers may store and process information on servers located in the United States and other countries outside Canada. By using the Service, you consent to the transfer of your information to these jurisdictions, where it may be subject to local laws. We take steps to ensure our providers maintain appropriate safeguards.

Data retention

We keep personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the Service, and for a reasonable period afterward to comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. Session and participation data is retained while the related presentation exists. You may request deletion as described below.

Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect personal information, including encryption in transit and access controls. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Your rights and choices

Subject to applicable law, you may:

• access the personal information we hold about you;
• request correction of inaccurate information;
• request deletion of your account and associated data;
• withdraw consent to our use of your information; and
• ask questions about how we handle your personal information.

To exercise these rights, contact us using the details below. You also have the right to make a complaint to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.

Children's privacy

The Service is intended for business and professional use and is not directed to children. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will take steps to delete it.

Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the "Last updated" date above. Material changes will be communicated through the Service or by other reasonable means.

Contact us

If you have questions or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal information, contact: