QIST Foundation — Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

QIST Foundation ("QIST", "we", "our") respects your privacy. As an unincorporated global research initiative, QIST collects minimal information and operates solely for educational, scientific, and research purposes.

This Privacy Policy describes:

• What we collect
• How we use it
• How we protect it
• What we do not collect

QIST Foundation does not sell, trade, or misuse personal information.

2. Data We Do NOT Collect

QIST does not collect, process, or store:

• Financial information
• Cryptocurrency wallet addresses
• Blockchain transaction data
• Identification documents
• KYC/AML data
• Payment information
• Sensitive personal information
• Biometric data
• Geolocation data

QIST does not operate accounts, login systems, or transactional services.

3. Information We Collect Automatically

Like most informational websites, QIST may collect basic analytics such as:

• Page views
• Browser type
• Device type
• General geographic region (non-specific)
• Approximate visit duration

This is standard, non-personal data used to understand how visitors engage with our site.

If analytics tools are used, QIST aims to select privacy-respecting services (for example, tools such as Plausible, Fathom, or similar) that do not track individual users or build behavioral profiles.

4. Information You Voluntarily Provide

Visitors may choose to provide their email for:

• Research updates
• Newsletters
• Workshop or event notifications
• Academic collaboration inquiries
• Expressions of interest or applications for QIST programs, such as fellowships, working groups, or contributor initiatives (where those are made available)

Emails and any related information you provide are used only for the purposes described at the point of collection (for example, delivering updates you requested or considering your participation in a specific program) and are never sold or used for unrelated marketing.

5. Cookies

QIST uses essential cookies for core website functionality (for example, to maintain basic session state or security features).

QIST may also use minimal analytics cookies that do not perform personal tracking.

We do not use:

• Advertising cookies
• Behavioral tracking cookies
• Third-party marketing trackers

As of the Effective Date of this policy, QIST does not use optional analytics cookies in production. If this changes in the future, this section will be updated to describe the tools and options available to visitors.

6. Use of Information

Collected data is used solely for:

• Improving content quality
• Understanding website usage
• Communicating research updates when users opt in
• Responding to academic or professional inquiries

We do not use data for profiling, marketing, targeted advertising, or financial evaluation.

Where privacy or data-protection laws apply, our legal basis for processing limited usage data is QIST's legitimate interest in operating, securing, and improving an informational research website. For any optional email communications, our legal basis is your consent, which you may withdraw at any time.

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have rights over your personal information, such as rights of access, correction, deletion, restriction, or objection. You can exercise these rights, or ask questions about this policy, by contacting contact@qist.foundation.

7. Data Protection

We employ reasonable administrative and technical measures to protect any stored information.

Because QIST does not collect sensitive or transactional data, risk exposure is minimal.

Any limited personal information that QIST handles (for example, email addresses provided for updates or collaboration) is retained only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this policy, or as required by applicable law. Aggregated or anonymized analytics may be retained for a longer period for trend analysis.

8. International Access

QIST operates globally. Visitors from any jurisdiction may access the site.

We comply voluntarily with international privacy norms (including GDPR principles), despite not being a commercial entity.

9. Children’s Privacy

QIST does not knowingly collect personal information from children. Youth educational content does not require accounts, identity submission, or personal data.

10. External Links

QIST Foundation may link to:

• Research papers
• External academic or scientific resources
• Technology ecosystems
• Independent protocol documentation

QIST is not responsible for external privacy practices or policies.

11. Future Foundation Incorporation

Upon transition into a Cayman nonprofit foundation, privacy policies may be updated to reflect:

• Contributor application processes
• Research participation frameworks
• Governance-related communications

QIST may also update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in its practices or in applicable legal requirements. When material changes are made, QIST will adjust the Effective Date and, where appropriate, provide additional notice on this site.

12. Contact

For privacy or data inquiries, or to exercise privacy-related rights:

contact@qist.foundation