VALUES.MD

Privacy Policy

Last updated: November 23, 2025

1. Introduction

VALUES.md ("we," "our," or "us") is a research project studying how AI systems can make ethical decisions aligned with human values. This privacy policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your information.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Assessment Data (Anonymous)

  • Your responses to ethical dilemmas
  • Optional demographics (age range, gender, education, country, professional background)
  • Response times and confidence ratings
  • A randomly generated participant ID (UUID)

Note: This data is collected anonymously and used for research purposes. We do NOT link your email to this research data unless you choose to create an account.

2.2 Account Information (Optional)

  • Email address (used for authentication only)
  • Optional bio (for your public profile)

2.3 Generated Content

  • Your VALUES.md file (generated from your assessment responses)
  • Manual edits you make to your VALUES.md
  • Version history of your VALUES.md

3. How We Use Your Information

3.1 Research Purposes

Your anonymous assessment data is used to:

  • Study patterns in human ethical decision-making
  • Compare human values with AI system outputs
  • Improve the VALUES.md generation algorithm
  • Publish aggregate research findings (no individual identification)

3.2 Service Delivery

  • Generate your personalized VALUES.md file
  • Send you authentication emails (magic links)
  • Provide access to your dashboard
  • Allow you to share your VALUES.md publicly (if you choose)

4. Privacy Architecture

We maintain a strict separation between identifiable and anonymous data:

  • Anonymous Research Database: Stores all assessment responses with only a participant ID (no emails)
  • Account Database: Stores email addresses and links them to participant IDs
  • Separation: The research API never receives or stores email addresses

This architecture ensures that even if you create an account, your research data remains anonymous in our research database.

5. Data Sharing and Public Profiles

5.1 Default Privacy

By default, your VALUES.md and assessment responses are private. Only you can access them through your dashboard.

5.2 Optional Public Sharing

You may choose to make public:

  • VALUES.md: Your ethical decision framework (accessible via your email address)
  • Judgements: Your individual dilemma responses and reasoning

Use case: This allows AI agents to look up your values and make decisions aligned with your ethics.

5.3 Research Publication

We may publish research findings using aggregate, anonymized data. Individual responses are never published with identifying information.

6. Data Retention

  • Research Data: Retained indefinitely for ongoing research (anonymous participant IDs only)
  • Account Data: Retained until you delete your account
  • After Account Deletion: We delete the link between your email and participant ID, but preserve anonymous research data

7. Your Rights

You have the right to:

  • Access: View your VALUES.md and assessment data in your dashboard
  • Edit: Modify your VALUES.md at any time
  • Control Visibility: Change whether your VALUES.md is public or private
  • Delete: Delete your account and remove the link between your email and research data

Note: Due to the research nature of this project, we cannot delete anonymous research data after it has been collected, but we will remove your email and any identifying links.

8. Cookies and Tracking

We use minimal cookies for:

  • Authentication (session management)
  • Storing your assessment progress (sessionStorage, not sent to servers)

We do not use third-party tracking, analytics, or advertising cookies.

9. Security

We implement reasonable security measures including:

  • Encrypted connections (HTTPS)
  • Secure authentication (magic links, no passwords stored)
  • Database access controls
  • Separation of identifiable and anonymous data

However, no system is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

10. Children's Privacy

VALUES.md is not intended for users under 18. We do not knowingly collect data from children.

11. International Users

VALUES.md is operated from the United States. By using our service, you consent to your data being processed in the United States.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy. We will notify users of significant changes by updating the "Last updated" date at the top of this page.

13. Contact

For questions about this privacy policy or your data, contact us at: privacy@values.md

← Back to Home