Privacy Policy

info_outline1. Who We Are

PublicVerdict ("we", "our", "us") operates the website available at https://discoverbeforebelieve.learnwithtest.pro. We are a community forum built on the Idiology Thinking Solving Methodology — a framework for collaborative problem-solving and idea sharing. If you have questions about this policy, contact us at support@publicverdict.com.

data_object2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide

• Username and Password — required to create an account. Passwords are stored as a bcrypt hash and never in plain text.
• Mobile Number — used for unique account identification. Not shared publicly unless you choose.
• Location (latitude/longitude) — collected with your explicit permission during registration to power the Community Map feature.
• Selfie Photos — collected for identity verification purposes only. Reviewed by administrators and not shared publicly.
• Posts, Questions, Answers, Comments, and Poll Votes — all content you submit to the platform.
• Reviews and Suggestions — feedback you voluntarily provide about the platform.
• Reports — information you provide when reporting content or users.

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

• Session Data — stored in PHP sessions and browser cookies to keep you logged in.
• Auth Cookie — a persistent authentication token stored in your browser (expires in 10 years or when you log out).
• Server Logs — standard web server logs including IP addresses, page requests, and timestamps. Retained for up to 90 days.

settings_suggest3. How We Use Your Information

• To create and manage your account
• To display your profile and content on the platform
• To show your location on the Community Map (only if verified)
• To verify your identity through selfie review
• To enable moderation and enforce community guidelines
• To respond to reports, reviews, and suggestions
• To send important service-related notifications
• To improve the platform based on usage patterns

share4. Information Sharing

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. We may share information only in these limited circumstances:

• Publicly visible content — your username, posts, questions, answers, comments, and poll votes are visible to all visitors.
• Community Map — your location (city/region level) is shown on the map if your account is verified.
• Legal requirements — if required by law, court order, or to protect our legal rights.
• Safety — to prevent fraud or protect the safety of our users or the public.

cookie5. Cookies and Tracking

We use the following cookies:

• PHPSESSID — a session cookie that identifies your browser session. Expires when you close your browser.
• auth — a persistent authentication cookie that keeps you logged in. Expires in 10 years or on logout.
• community_theme — stored in localStorage (not a cookie) to remember your theme preference.

We do not use third-party advertising cookies or tracking pixels. We do not use Google Analytics or similar analytics services beyond standard server logs.

lock6. Data Security

• Passwords are hashed using PHP's password_hash() with the bcrypt algorithm.
• Authentication tokens are derived from hashed passwords, not plain-text credentials.
• HTTPS is used to encrypt all data in transit (ensure your server has a valid SSL certificate).
• Access to the database is restricted to server-side PHP code only.
• Selfie photos are stored in a non-publicly accessible directory where possible.

No system is 100% secure. We encourage you to use a strong, unique password and to log out on shared devices.

child_care7. Children's Privacy

PublicVerdict is not intended for users under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately so we can delete it.

manage_accounts8. Your Rights and Choices

• Access — you can view your profile information by visiting your profile page.
• Correction — contact us to correct inaccurate personal information.
• Deletion — contact us to request deletion of your account and associated data.
• Location — your location is only collected with your explicit browser permission during registration.
• Opt-out — you can log out at any time to clear your session. Delete your auth cookie to prevent persistent login.

public9. Third-Party Services

• Google Fonts — we load the Outfit and JetBrains Mono fonts from Google Fonts. Google may collect limited data per their privacy policy.
• Google Material Icons — icon font loaded from Google's CDN.
• Nominatim (OpenStreetMap) — used during registration to reverse-geocode your GPS coordinates to a human-readable location name. Your IP and coordinates may be sent to Nominatim's servers.

update10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date. Continued use of PublicVerdict after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

mail11. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please contact us: