Privacy Policy
Lost Tribes is operated by Aligned AI (“we,” “us,” or “our”). This policy explains how we handle information when you use our website, accounts, family tools, and research services.
What we collect
We collect account details such as your name, email, profile preferences, and information you provide during onboarding or support conversations. With Google sign-in, we receive the account information needed to identify you. Where password accounts are available, we store a password hash rather than your password. We also keep account, session, credit, and transaction records.
Family records and research
We store the files and information you submit, including family trees, names, dates, places, relationships, notes, documents, citations, and research questions. Imports can include the original file content as well as extracted information. Research creates additional records, source excerpts, search activity, findings, and conclusions. Information may come from you, authorized collaborators, and the repositories or websites used in an investigation.
DNA information and living people
DNA match and segment exports may contain sensitive genetic information, kit identifiers, and information about living relatives or matches. Upload only information you have authority and any required consent to provide. DNA imports are stored for your account; current documentary research does not use them to establish genetic relationships. Research investigations are for deceased people. Imported family trees may nevertheless contain living people’s information, which this policy also covers.
How we use information
We use information to provide and secure your account, import and organize family records, carry out requested research, generate reports and narration, enable sharing, manage credits and payments, provide support, and diagnose service problems. We also use relevant records to prevent abuse, resolve disputes, and meet legal obligations. We do not sell your personal information.
Service providers and AI processing
Providing these features involves external hosting, storage, authentication, payment, email, search, browser, AI, and speech services. Relevant research questions, names, source content, or narration text may be transmitted to the services performing that work. External repositories can receive search terms and browser requests. Avoid including unrelated sensitive information in research requests.
Requests to AI models for research and chat go through OpenRouter, limited to approved model providers with data collection turned off and zero data retention required, so those providers do not train on or keep that content. Spoken narration uses a separate speech provider. Details of living people are kept out of the searches Lost Tribes runs on outside websites, and DNA files are never sent to them.
Sharing you control
When you invite a collaborator or create a share link, the selected research can become accessible outside your account. Anyone who obtains an accessible share link may be able to view its contents. Review the material before sharing, especially details about living people. Revoking a link prevents subsequent access through that link but cannot recall screenshots, downloads, or copies already made by recipients. External sites have their own privacy practices.
Other disclosures
We may disclose relevant information when required by law or legal process, to protect people and the service from fraud or harm, or to establish or defend legal claims. Information may also be transferred as part of a merger, acquisition, or business transfer, subject to applicable law and any required notice. This does not authorize unrelated use of sensitive family information.
Cookies, storage, and technical information
Cookies and browser storage support sign-in, security, language choices, and saved interface preferences. Our service and infrastructure providers may process technical information such as IP addresses, request times, browser details, and error or security logs. You can manage cookies and local storage in your browser; blocking or clearing them may sign you out or reset preferences. Browser privacy settings do not themselves delete information stored in your account.
Retention and deletion
Account, import, and research records are retained to provide the service. Retention also depends on the type of information, ongoing support or disputes, security needs, and legal obligations; there is no single deletion period for every record. Removing a person from Family hides the profile and does not erase saved research or stop an active investigation. To request account or data deletion, contact us. Some information may need to remain for legal, security, or transaction-record purposes, and backup copies may persist until replaced.
Your choices and privacy requests
You can update available account preferences, choose what to upload or share, revoke share links, and request access, correction, a copy, or deletion of personal information by emailing the contact below. Please identify your account and the request; do not email passwords or full genetic files. We may verify your identity and authority before acting. Depending on your location and applicable law, you may also have rights to object, restrict processing, withdraw consent, opt out of certain uses, appeal a decision, or complain to a privacy regulator. We will handle requests within applicable legal deadlines without penalizing you for exercising protected rights.
Security and international processing
We use safeguards including authenticated access and access controls to protect information. No service can guarantee absolute security. Keep your account credentials and share links secure, and report suspected unauthorized access to us. Our providers may process or store information in countries other than your own, where privacy laws can differ; applicable data-protection requirements continue to apply.
Children’s information
The service is not directed to children under 13. Do not create an account for a child under 13 or upload a child’s sensitive information without appropriate authority. If you believe a child has provided personal information without the required permission, contact us so we can investigate and address it. Historical information about deceased children may be relevant to legitimate genealogy research.
Changes to this policy
We will identify revisions with an updated effective date and provide additional notice or obtain consent when applicable law requires it. A policy update does not by itself authorize a materially different use of previously collected information where additional consent is required.
Contact Aligned AI
For privacy questions, requests about your information, or concerns about someone else’s information in the service, email support@ortelan.com.