Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ("UIUC", "we", "us", or "our") operates Teen Summit 2.0: The Remix, a civic media platform designed to empower youth voices through debate, musicology, and podcasting. We are committed to protecting the privacy and security of our users, especially the minors who participate in our program.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information when you use our website, mobile applications, or related services (collectively, the "Platform"). Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. If you do not agree with the terms of this Privacy Policy, please do not access the Platform.

2. COPPA Compliance

Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA): Teen Summit 2.0: The Remix is designed for youth aged 15-19. We comply with COPPA requirements for participants under 13 years of age.

Parental Consent: For participants under 13, we obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting, using, or disclosing personal information. Parents and legal guardians have the right to:

• Review the personal information we have collected from their child
• Request that we delete their child's personal information
• Refuse to permit further collection or use of their child's information
• Consent to collection and use of information while prohibiting disclosure to third parties

To exercise these rights, parents may contact us at staff@teensummit2.net

3. Information We Collect

3.1 Personal Information You Provide

We collect information you voluntarily provide when you:

• Apply to Participate: Name, age, date of birth, address, school information, emergency contact details, parent/guardian information
• Create an Account: Email address, password, username, profile information
• Submit Content: Blog posts, comments, debate materials, research documents
• Contact Us: Name, email address, phone number, message content
• Subscribe to Newsletter: Email address
• Participate in Program: Academic records, special needs or accommodations, media release forms

3.2 Information Automatically Collected

When you access the Platform, we automatically collect certain information:

• Usage Data: Pages viewed, time spent on pages, links clicked, features used
• Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device type
• Log Data: Access times, error logs, referring URLs
• Cookies and Tracking Technologies: Session cookies, preferences, authentication tokens

3.3 Media and Recordings

As part of Teen Summit 2.0: The Remix, we create video and audio recordings of participants during filming sessions, debates, and podcast recordings. These recordings include participants' voices, likenesses, and performances.

4. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Program Administration: Process applications, manage participant selection, coordinate filming schedules
• Communication: Send program updates, casting calls, newsletters, and important announcements
• Platform Operation: Provide, maintain, and improve our Platform features and functionality
• Content Production: Create, edit, and publish episodes, podcasts, and educational content
• Analytics: Track social media engagement through Academic Civic NIL Tracker for educational purposes
• Safety and Security: Monitor for violations of our Terms of Use, prevent fraud and abuse
• Legal Compliance: Respond to legal requests, enforce our policies, protect rights and property
• Research and Education: Analyze program effectiveness and participant outcomes for educational research

5. How We Share Your Information

5.1 Public Content

Episodes, podcasts, and certain blog posts are published publicly and may be viewed by anyone. These include participants' names, likenesses, voices, and performances as captured during program activities.

5.2 Service Providers

We share information with third-party service providers who perform services on our behalf:

• Cloud Storage: Google Cloud Storage for video and media hosting
• Database Services: Neon for database hosting and management
• Analytics: Website analytics and performance monitoring tools
• Communication: Email service providers for newsletters and notifications

5.3 University Partners

We may share information with UIUC departments and affiliated research projects for educational and research purposes, subject to university policies and applicable privacy laws.

5.4 Legal Requirements

We may disclose information when required by law or in response to legal process, including:

• Subpoenas, court orders, or legal process
• Requests from law enforcement or government agencies
• Protection of rights, property, or safety of UIUC, our users, or the public
• Investigation of fraud, security issues, or Terms violations

5.5 With Your Consent

We may share information for other purposes with your explicit consent or at your direction.

6. Data Security

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

• Encryption: Data transmission is encrypted using SSL/TLS protocols
• Access Controls: Restricted access to personal information on a need-to-know basis
• Authentication: Secure password hashing and session management
• Regular Audits: Periodic security assessments and vulnerability testing
• Staff Training: Education on privacy best practices and data handling procedures

However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law.

• Application Data: Retained for the current program cycle plus one academic year
• Participant Records: Retained in accordance with university records retention policies (typically 5-7 years)
• Published Content: Episodes and podcasts are archived indefinitely for educational purposes
• Account Data: Deleted upon account closure, unless required for legal compliance
• Analytics Data: Aggregated and anonymized for long-term research

8. Your Rights and Choices

8.1 Access and Correction

You have the right to access and update your personal information. Cast members can update their profiles through the Dashboard. Parents can request access to their child's information by contacting us.

8.2 Deletion Requests

You may request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain exceptions (e.g., legal compliance, university records retention). Note that deletion may affect your ability to participate in the program.

8.3 Marketing Communications

You may opt out of marketing emails by clicking "unsubscribe" in any promotional email or contacting us. Note that you cannot opt out of essential program communications.

8.4 Cookies and Tracking

Most browsers allow you to refuse cookies or alert you when cookies are being sent. However, some Platform features may not function properly without cookies.

8.5 California Privacy Rights

California residents have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), including the right to know what personal information we collect, the right to delete personal information, and the right to opt out of the sale of personal information. We do not sell personal information.

9. Third-Party Links and Services

The Platform may contain links to third-party websites or services (e.g., social media platforms). This Privacy Policy does not apply to those third-party services. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party services you access.

10. International Users

The Platform is operated in the United States and is intended for users in the United States. If you are accessing the Platform from outside the United States, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States where our servers are located and our central database is operated.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of any material changes by:

• Posting the updated Privacy Policy on the Platform
• Updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page
• Sending email notification to registered users for significant changes
• Obtaining renewed parental consent for material changes affecting minors

Your continued use of the Platform after the effective date of the updated Privacy Policy constitutes your acceptance of the changes.

12. Automated Platform Monitoring and Maintenance

Teen Summit 2.0: The Remix uses an automated maintenance and monitoring system to ensure optimal platform performance, security, and reliability. This system:

• Performance Monitoring: Continuously monitors application performance, response times, and load times
• Security Scanning: Regularly audits for vulnerabilities and security issues in dependencies
• Error Detection: Analyzes logs for errors, warnings, and potential issues requiring attention
• Dependency Updates: Tracks outdated packages and recommends updates for security and stability
• Automated Improvements: Implements non-breaking updates and optimizations autonomously
• Database Health: Monitors database performance, connectivity, and query optimization
• Content Integrity: Validates data consistency and performs periodic backups

This system operates continuously in the background and generates automated reports on platform health. Your personal data privacy is fully preserved, the maintenance bot only accesses system logs, performance metrics, and non-sensitive operational data.

13. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us: