Testing phase: access is limited to 25 users and one manuscript submission per user.

ARGUS Privacy Policy

Effective August 10, 2026

ARGUS is a private, deterministic manuscript-analysis service operated for The First Generation Series. This policy explains what information ARGUS collects, why it is used, how it is handled, and the choices available to you.

Information we collect

Google account information

When you choose “Sign in with Google,” ARGUS requests the basic openid, email, and profile permissions. Google may provide your unique Google account identifier, verified email address, display name, and basic profile information. ARGUS does not request access to Gmail, Google Drive, contacts, calendars, passwords, or other Google content.

Manuscripts and analysis records

When you submit an EPUB, ARGUS temporarily receives the uploaded file and extracts its contents in a private workspace to perform deterministic analysis. The service creates measurements, findings, validated source locations, short supporting excerpts, report metadata, and a PDF report.

Technical and activity information

ARGUS uses an essential session cookie to keep you signed in and to protect account access. Server and security logs may contain request times, requested paths, IP addresses, browser information, errors, and security events. ARGUS also records limited account and report activity, such as sign-in, upload, completion, failure, administrative action, and deletion events.

How we use information

Information is used to authenticate users, enforce testing limits, process EPUBs, generate and deliver reports, protect report access, diagnose failures, prevent abuse, maintain audit records, support users, and improve the accuracy and usefulness of ARGUS’s deterministic rules and report presentation.

ARGUS does not use an LLM, generative AI service, embedding API, or external AI provider to analyze manuscripts. Manuscript findings are generated by reproducible code.

Storage and retention

  • Uploaded EPUB and extracted files: deleted after successful processing or after the final failed attempt. They may be retained temporarily while an automatic retry remains possible.
  • PDF reports: normally retained for 30 days, although the current retention setting may be changed by the operator.
  • Structured analysis: retained after the PDF expires. It contains measurements, rule results, locations, and short supporting excerpts, but not a complete copy of the extracted manuscript. It may be used to evaluate and improve ARGUS’s deterministic analysis and reporting.
  • Account, report, job, and audit records: retained as needed to operate, secure, troubleshoot, and document the service.
  • Backups: encrypted or access-controlled operational backups may persist for a limited backup-retention period after primary records are removed.

When information is shared

ARGUS does not sell personal information or manuscript content and does not use either for advertising. Information is disclosed only as needed to operate the service, comply with law, protect users or the service, or complete a transaction you requested.

  • Google: provides authentication through Google OAuth. Google’s handling of information is governed by Google’s own policies.
  • Email provider: when report email is enabled, the recipient email address, report title, and protected report link are sent to the configured transactional email provider.
  • Hosting and infrastructure providers: may process encrypted traffic, stored records, logs, or backups as necessary to host and protect ARGUS.
  • Legal and safety disclosures: information may be disclosed when reasonably necessary to comply with legal obligations or protect rights, safety, and service integrity.

Google user data

Google user data is used only to authenticate you, create and maintain your ARGUS account, associate reports with that account, communicate service information, and protect access. It is not sold, used for advertising, or used to train generalized artificial-intelligence models. ARGUS’s use and transfer of information received from Google APIs adheres to the Google API Services User Data Policy, including its Limited Use requirements.

Security

ARGUS uses reasonable administrative and technical safeguards, including HTTPS in production, private storage, access controls, authenticated report downloads, restricted database and queue services, and automatic source-file cleanup. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, so absolute security cannot be guaranteed.

Your choices and requests

You may stop using ARGUS at any time. You may request access to, correction of, or deletion of your account and associated retained information by contacting mcloide1977@gmail.com. Some limited records may be retained where reasonably necessary for security, legal compliance, dispute resolution, or backup integrity.

Children’s privacy

ARGUS is intended for manuscript authors and other users able to authorize these Terms. It is not directed to children under 13, and the operator does not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

International processing

Information may be processed in the country where ARGUS and its service providers operate. Those locations may have data-protection rules different from those in your jurisdiction.

Policy changes

This policy may be updated as ARGUS changes. Material changes will be reflected by an updated effective date and, when appropriate, an additional notice in the service.

Contact

Questions or privacy requests may be sent to mcloide1977@gmail.com.