Privacy Policy

Last Updated: January 15, 2026

This Privacy Policy describes how IoTClass.org (“we”, “us”, or “our”) collects, uses, and protects your information when you use our educational website. We are committed to protecting your privacy and being transparent about our data practices.

1. About IoTClass.org

IoTClass.org is a free educational resource dedicated to teaching Internet of Things (IoT) concepts, technologies, and best practices. Our primary goal is education, not data monetization.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide

When you create an account or interact with our platform, we may collect:

  • Account Information: If you sign in using GitHub OAuth, we receive your GitHub username, email address, and profile information that you have made public on GitHub
  • Learning Progress: Quiz scores, completed chapters, badges earned, and learning path progress
  • Preferences: Theme settings, accessibility preferences, and notification choices

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, we automatically collect:

  • Usage Analytics: Pages visited, time spent on content, interactive tools used, and navigation patterns
  • Device Information: Browser type, operating system, screen resolution, and device type
  • Location Data: Country-level location only (for the world map visualization showing our global learner community). We do NOT collect precise location, city, or address information
  • Referral Information: How you arrived at our website (search engine, direct link, social media)

2.3 Cookies and Local Storage

We use cookies and browser local storage for:

  • Session Management: Keeping you logged in during your visit
  • Preferences: Remembering your theme, font size, and accessibility settings
  • Learning State: Saving your progress in interactive tools and quizzes
  • Analytics: Understanding how visitors use our content to improve the learning experience

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may limit some functionality, such as saving your learning progress.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information to:

  • Provide Educational Services: Deliver personalized learning experiences, track your progress, and award achievements
  • Improve Content: Analyze which topics are most engaging and identify areas needing improvement
  • Maintain Security: Protect against unauthorized access and ensure platform stability
  • Communicate: Send important updates about the platform (only if you opt in)
  • Display Community Statistics: Show aggregated, anonymized data such as total learners by country

We do NOT:

  • Sell your personal data to third parties
  • Use your data for advertising purposes
  • Share individual learning data with employers or institutions without your explicit consent

4. Third-Party Services

Our website integrates with the following third-party services, each with their own privacy policies:

4.1 Authentication

  • GitHub OAuth: We use GitHub for user authentication. When you sign in, GitHub shares your public profile information with us. See GitHub’s Privacy Statement.

4.2 Backend Services

  • Supabase: Our backend database and authentication service. User data is stored securely on Supabase infrastructure. See Supabase Privacy Policy.

4.3 Embedded Content

  • YouTube: Educational videos are embedded from YouTube. When you play a video, YouTube may collect data according to Google’s Privacy Policy.
  • Wokwi Simulators: Hardware simulation labs are provided by Wokwi. See Wokwi’s Terms.

4.4 Visualizations

  • amCharts: Used for interactive maps and charts. amCharts may collect anonymized usage statistics. See amCharts Privacy Policy.

5. Data Retention

We retain your data according to the following policies:

Data Type Retention Period
Account Information Until you delete your account
Learning Progress Until you delete your account or request deletion
Analytics Data 26 months (rolling)
Session Data 30 days after last activity
Cookies Varies by type (session to 1 year)

After the retention period, data is automatically deleted or anonymized.

6. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your data:

  • Encryption: All data transmitted to and from our servers uses HTTPS/TLS encryption
  • Access Control: Database access is restricted and requires authentication
  • Secure Infrastructure: We use Supabase and GitHub, which maintain industry-standard security certifications
  • No Password Storage: We use OAuth, so we never store your password

While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure.

7. Your Rights

You have the following rights regarding your personal data:

7.1 Access Your Data

You can view your learning progress, achievements, and profile information from your user dashboard at any time.

7.2 Export Your Data

You can export your learning progress and achievement data in JSON format from your profile settings.

7.3 Delete Your Data

You can request deletion of your account and associated data by:

  1. Using the “Delete Account” option in your profile settings, or
  2. Opening an issue in our GitHub repository

Upon deletion:

  • Your account and personal information will be permanently removed
  • Your learning progress and achievements will be deleted
  • Anonymized, aggregated statistics may be retained

7.4 Opt Out

You can opt out of:

  • Leaderboard participation (your progress remains private)
  • Learning analytics (basic functionality will remain)
  • Non-essential cookies (through browser settings)

8. Children’s Privacy

IoTClass.org is an educational platform designed for learners of all ages, including students.

8.1 Children Under 13

  • We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without parental consent
  • Users under 13 should use the platform under parental or educator supervision
  • The platform can be used without creating an account for basic learning activities

8.2 Educational Institution Use

If you are an educator using IoTClass.org with students:

  • You are responsible for obtaining necessary parental consents
  • We recommend students under 13 use the platform without creating accounts
  • Contact us if you need support for educational compliance requirements

8.3 COPPA Compliance

We comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under 13 without proper consent, we will delete that information promptly.

9. International Users

IoTClass.org is hosted and operated from various global locations. If you access our website from outside the hosting region:

  • Your data may be transferred to and processed in different countries
  • By using our website, you consent to this transfer
  • We apply consistent privacy protections regardless of where data is processed

9.1 European Users (GDPR)

If you are in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have additional rights under GDPR:

  • Legal Basis: We process data based on consent and legitimate educational interests
  • Data Portability: You can request your data in a portable format
  • Objection: You can object to certain data processing activities
  • Complaint: You have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. When we make significant changes:

  • We will update the “Last Updated” date at the top
  • We may notify registered users via email (if you have opted in)
  • Material changes will be highlighted on the website

Your continued use of the website after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

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

We aim to respond to all privacy-related inquiries within 30 days.

By using IoTClass.org, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy.