Legal

Privacy Policy

Effective date: May 8, 2026 · Last updated: May 8, 2026

            Short version: We collect what you give us and what the app generates. We don't sell it. We use OpenAI to moderate and score debates, and Stripe to process payments. You can request deletion.
        

1. What We Collect

We collect the following information when you use Debatbl:

Email address — when you register or request a magic link. Used for authentication and optional match notifications.
Display handle — chosen by you or auto-generated at registration. Used to identify you within the app.
Country — provided at registration. Used for regional context and analytics.
Debate content — all messages you send in debates. This content is stored, analyzed for scoring, and may be displayed publicly to spectators.
Scoring and rating data — AI-generated scores (steelmanning quality, mind-change signals) and spectator ratings associated with your debates.
Exit surveys — self-reported mind-change responses you submit after a debate.
Credit and payment records — credit balances and purchase history. Card details are handled by Stripe and never stored on our servers.
Session identifiers — authentication tokens that keep you logged in.

2. Anonymous Users

You can participate in one free debate without creating an account. In this case, we assign you an anonymous session token and auto-generated handle. No email is collected. Your debate content and scores are still stored and may be publicly visible.

3. How We Use Your Data

Authenticate your account via magic link email
Run and display debates (your messages are shown to both participants and spectators)
Score debate quality using AI analysis (via OpenAI)
Moderate messages before publication using AI (via OpenAI)
Send match notifications and challenge emails (only if you've opted in)
Process credit purchases via Stripe
Generate leaderboard rankings and platform-wide analytics
Improve the platform and detect abuse

4. Third-Party Services

We share data with these services to operate the platform:

OpenAI — Debate messages are sent to OpenAI's API for pre-publication moderation and post-debate scoring analysis. Subject to OpenAI's Privacy Policy.
Stripe — Processes credit bundle purchases. Stripe receives payment information; we receive only confirmation and a payment amount. Subject to Stripe's Privacy Policy.
Render — Hosts the application and database. Data is stored on Render's infrastructure. Subject to Render's Privacy Policy.

We do not sell your personal data to third parties.

5. Debate Content is Public

Debates on Debatbl are public by design. When you post a message in a debate, that message may be visible to any spectator watching the debate. Completed debates may remain publicly accessible on the platform. Do not include personal information you wish to keep private in your debate messages.

6. Cookies and Sessions

We use localStorage to store your authentication token and an anonymous visitor ID for analytics. We do not use third-party advertising cookies. The analytics token is used solely to count unique visitors on the platform.

7. Data Retention

We retain your account data and debate history for as long as your account is active. Anonymous session data from one-time free debates is retained for platform analytics and is not linked to a personal identity.

If you request deletion, we will remove your account and associated personal data (email, handle, country). Debate content may be retained in anonymized or aggregated form for platform analytics.

8. Your Rights

You have the right to:

Access the personal data we hold about you
Correct inaccurate data
Request deletion of your account and personal data
Opt out of email notifications (toggle in account settings)

To exercise these rights, email us at hello@debatbl.com.

9. Children

Debatbl is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect data from children under 13. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such data, please contact us for immediate deletion.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy as the platform evolves. We will update the effective date at the top of this page. Continued use of Debatbl after an update constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

11. Contact

Questions about this policy: hello@debatbl.com