Privacy Policy

ucracy (“ucracy,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) operates a civic engagement platform that lets citizens propose bills, vote on them, and see how their elected representatives voted on related legislation. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have. By creating an account or using ucracy, you agree to this policy.

1. Information we collect

Account information you provide when you register: your name, email address, mobile phone number, mailing address, and a public username (@handle). Civic activity: the bills you propose, your votes, comments, replies, follows, and notification preferences. Identity verification (optional): if you choose to verify your identity, the document type and number you submit. Technical data: device, log, and usage information, and the cookies required to keep you signed in and secure.

2. How we use your information

We use your information to operate and secure the platform; to map your address to a state and congressional district; to compute and display voting scores; to send account, security, and civic notifications according to your preferences; to prevent fraud and abuse; and to comply with legal obligations.

3. SMS and text messaging

When you add a mobile number and request a verification code, we use SMS to send you one-time passcodes and account-security messages. You opt in by entering your number and tapping “Send verification code” — we do not send you SMS unless you take that action. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help or STOP to opt out at any time; replying STOP unsubscribes you from further messages.

No mobile information — including your phone number and your SMS opt-in and consent — will be shared with or sold to third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. We use it solely to deliver the account-related messages described above, through our messaging provider (Amazon Web Services).

4. What is public

Bills, votes, comments, replies, any optional reasons you attach to a vote, and your public @handle are visible to others. Your address is private; only the derived state and congressional district are associated with your aggregated activity.

5. How we share information

We share information only with service providers that process it on our behalf under contract — Amazon Web Services (hosting, authentication via Amazon Cognito, and SMS delivery) and the U.S. Census Bureau Geocoder (to resolve your congressional district) — and with the social login providers (Google, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft) you choose to sign in with. We may disclose information when required by law or to protect the rights and safety of our users and the public. We do not sell your personal information, and we do not share mobile opt-in data with third parties for their own marketing.

6. Data retention

We retain your information for as long as your account is active and as needed to provide the service and meet our legal obligations. You can delete your account at any time, and we will delete or de-identify your personal information except where retention is required by law.

7. Your rights and choices

You can access, correct, export, or delete your data, and manage your notification preferences in your account settings. You can opt out of SMS at any time by replying STOP. To make a privacy request, contact us at privacy@ucracy.com.

8. Security

We protect your information with encryption in transit and at rest and with access controls. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, but we work to safeguard your data and to notify you of material incidents as required by law.

9. Children

ucracy is not directed to anyone under 18, and you must be 18 or older to use the service. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

10. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. We will post the revised version here and update the date above; material changes may also be communicated in-app.

11. Contact us

Questions about this policy? Email privacy@ucracy.com.