Privacy Policy
Effective date: October 16, 2026 | Operated by: Choseno (About Us)
1. Overview
Choseno (“we,” “our,” or “the platform”) is an independent civic social media platform, available on the web and as a mobile app, that lets citizens anonymously rate, review, and discuss elected officials and political candidates. This policy explains what data we collect, why we collect it, and the steps we take to protect it.
Choseno is an early-stage startup and is currently in beta. We work hard to protect your information, but we cannot guarantee that every feature works as intended or that your data will never be exposed (see Section 8).
2. Information We Collect
Account Information
If you create an account (via email or Google Sign-In), we store your email address and name for authentication and account management. We do not sell your personal account information.
Ghost IDs & Anonymity
Public activity on Choseno (posts, ratings, and comments) is tied to a rotating, anonymized “Ghost ID” rather than your real name. The system is designed so that other users, including politicians on the platform, cannot link a Ghost ID to your real identity. We strive to maintain this, but we cannot guarantee absolute anonymity. For example, information you choose to include in a post, a legal order, or a security incident could reveal who you are.
Usage, Analytics & Diagnostic Data
We collect standard analytics data (page views, session durations, referral sources) through Google Analytics, and technical error information (such as error messages, the page you were on, and browser or device details) to find and fix problems. We use this to improve the platform and do not use it to identify you.
Location (Boundary Matching Only)
To show you elections and candidates relevant to your area, we may ask for your location or address. We use it to match you to your electoral boundaries. If you search by address, city, or postal code, the text you type is sent to the OpenStreetMap Nominatim geocoding service to find the matching location.
3. User-Generated Content
Content posted by users, including ratings, reviews, comments, and wall posts, is user-generated. Choseno does not verify, endorse, or take responsibility for it. Users are solely responsible for the accuracy and legality of what they post.
By posting on Choseno, you grant Choseno a non-exclusive license to display your content on the platform. Content posted publicly may be visible to search engines and AI indexing systems.
4. Public Politician & Candidate Data
Politician and candidate profile information (name, office sought, party affiliation, campaign website) is sourced from publicly available government records and official election filings. We do not guarantee that it is complete or current. If you are a public official and believe information about you is incorrect, please contact us at contact@choseno.com.
5. How We Use Your Data
- To authenticate and maintain your account
- To match you to your electoral districts and relevant candidates
- To display anonymized community discussions and ratings
- To keep the platform secure, diagnose errors, and improve performance
- To send optional notification emails if you opt in
6. Data Sharing
We do not sell your personal data, and we do not share it with political parties, advertisers, or data brokers. We may share aggregated, anonymized statistics publicly.
We rely on service providers to run the platform, including Supabase (database and authentication, with data stored in the United States), Google (Sign-In and Analytics), OpenStreetMap (address search), and our hosting provider. They process data on our behalf. We may also disclose information if required by law, a valid court order, or to protect the rights and safety of others.
7. Cookies
Choseno uses essential cookies for session authentication and non-essential analytics cookies (Google Analytics) on the website. You can disable analytics cookies through your browser settings. Essential cookies are required for the platform to function.
8. Security & Beta Disclaimer
We use commercially reasonable measures to protect your information. However, no website, app, or database is completely secure, and Choseno is a beta product built by a small team. We cannot guarantee that unauthorized access, hacking, data loss, or data disclosure will never occur. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Choseno and its founders are not liable for losses resulting from such events. If we become aware of a breach affecting your personal information, we will notify you as required by applicable law.
You are responsible for keeping your login credentials secure.
9. Your Rights
You can delete your account and associated personal data at any time in the app (Profile → Delete account) or at choseno.com/delete-account. You may also contact us at contact@choseno.com. Anonymized public content (ratings, posts) may remain on the platform, as it cannot be linked back to your identity after deletion.
10. Children's Privacy
Choseno is not intended for anyone under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe a child has created an account, please contact us.
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy from time to time. Significant changes will be communicated via the platform. Continued use of Choseno after an update constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.
12. Contact
For privacy questions, data deletion requests, or correction requests, contact us at contact@choseno.com.