Effective 1 September 2026
Cookie and local-storage policy
ResearchBuddy uses essential storage for security and preferences. Optional analytics remains off until you affirmatively allow it.
Storage inventory
| Name | Technology | Status | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Better Auth session | Cookie | Essential | Keeps an authenticated session and protects account access. | Up to 30 days |
| rb_consent | Cookie | Essential | Stores essential-only or analytics preference so the banner respects the choice. | 12 months |
| researchbuddy-consent | Local storage | Essential | Stores the choice, date and policy version; it triggers renewal when expired or materially changed. | 12 months |
| researchbuddy-consent-subject | Local storage | Essential | Pseudonymous identifier used to append consent and withdrawal records without an advertising identity. | Until site data is cleared |
| Workspace continuity storage | Session or local storage | Essential | Restores account-scoped feed pages, scroll position, unsent post drafts, the current research project and a pseudonymous feed session. It is not used for advertising. | Current browser session, except the last-project preference which remains until site data is cleared |
| Optional product analytics | Consent-controlled event data | Optional | Measures feature reliability and aggregate workflow use without advertising or cross-site tracking. | Only after Allow analytics |
How consent works
The first visit offers Reject optional and Allow analytics with equal presentation. Optional analytics is not initialized before permission. The preference is renewed after 12 months or a material policy change. Marketing and advertising storage is not used.
Withdraw or change a choice
Select Cookie choices in any page footer. Choosing Reject optional immediately replaces an analytics choice and records the withdrawal; it takes the same number of actions as granting permission. Clearing site data also removes the local preference and causes the panel to appear again.
Global Privacy Control
When the browser exposes an enabled Global Privacy Control signal, ResearchBuddy applies Essential only, prevents optional analytics from being selected and records that the preference came from GPC. ResearchBuddy does not sell personal information or share it for cross-context behavioral advertising.
Browser controls
You can also delete cookies or local storage through browser settings. Blocking essential session storage may prevent sign-in or saved preferences from working. Browser controls do not erase server-side account or project data; use the Privacy rights page for those requests.