Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to Sous-Chef AI! ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring you have a positive experience on our website and mobile applications. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our AI-powered recipe generation and cooking assistant service.

By using our service, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our service.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Personal Information

We collect personal information that you provide directly to us, including:

• Account information (name, email address, profile picture)
• Authentication data through Clerk authentication service
• Subscription status and billing information (processed by Stripe)
• Communication preferences and settings
• User-generated content (recipes, grocery lists, meal plans)

2.2 Usage Information

We automatically collect certain information about your use of our service:

• Device information (IP address, browser type, operating system)
• Recipe generation requests and preferences
• Grocery list creation and sharing activities
• Subscription status and billing information

2.3 AI-Generated Content

When you use our AI recipe generation features, we may collect:

• Recipe generation prompts and preferences
• Generated recipe content and nutritional information
• User feedback and ratings on generated recipes
• Chat interactions with our AI cooking assistant

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide, maintain, and improve our services
• Generate personalized recipes based on your preferences
• Manage subscriptions and billing through Stripe
• Send you important service updates and notifications
• Respond to your questions and provide customer support
• Prevent fraud and ensure security
• Comply with legal obligations

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer your personal information to third parties except in the following circumstances:

4.1 Service Providers

We share information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our service:

• Clerk: Authentication and user management services
• Supabase: Database and data storage services
• Stripe: Payment processing and subscription management (we do not have access to your payment information)
• Google AI: AI-powered recipe generation and chat functionality
• Vercel: Website hosting and performance optimization

4.2 Analytics and Tracking

We use Google Analytics to understand how users interact with our website. Google Analytics may collect information about your device, location, and browsing behavior. We do not currently track detailed usage patterns beyond what Google Analytics provides.

4.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law or in response to valid legal requests, such as subpoenas or court orders.

5. Data Storage and Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information:

• Data is stored securely in Supabase (PostgreSQL) with encryption at rest
• All data transmission is encrypted using HTTPS/TLS
• Access to personal data is restricted to authorized personnel only
• Regular security assessments and updates are performed
• Row-Level Security (RLS) policies protect user data in the database

6. Your Rights and Choices

You have certain rights regarding your personal information:

• Access: Request a copy of your personal information
• Correction: Update or correct inaccurate information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information
• Portability: Request transfer of your data to another service

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information provided below. Note that we do not currently have automated opt-out mechanisms for data collection.

7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience:

• Essential Cookies: Required for basic website functionality
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how users interact with our site
• Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and preferences
• Authentication Cookies: Maintain your login session

You can control cookie settings through your browser preferences, though disabling certain cookies may affect service functionality.

8. Third-Party Services

Our service integrates with the following third-party services:

8.1 Clerk Authentication

We use Clerk for user authentication and account management. Clerk's privacy policy governs how they handle your authentication data.

8.2 Stripe Payments

Payment processing is handled by Stripe. We do not store your payment card information directly. Stripe's privacy policy applies to payment data.

8.3 Google AI Services

Our AI features are powered by Google's Generative AI services. Recipe generation requests and chat interactions are processed by Google AI.

9. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide our services and fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy:

• Account information is retained while your account is active
• Subscription and billing records are kept for legal and accounting purposes
• User-generated content is retained until you delete it or close your account

10. Children's Privacy

Our service is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.

11. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own. We ensure that such transfers comply with applicable data protection laws and implement appropriate safeguards to protect your information.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

14. California Privacy Rights

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

• Right to know what personal information we collect and how we use it
• Right to delete personal information we have collected
• Right to opt-out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell personal information)
• Right to non-discrimination for exercising your privacy rights

15. European Privacy Rights (GDPR)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have additional rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

• Right to access your personal data
• Right to rectification of inaccurate data
• Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten")
• Right to restrict processing
• Right to data portability
• Right to object to processing
• Rights related to automated decision making and profiling