1. Overview

ref-check.org ("the Service", "we", "us") is an academic reference verification tool developed and maintained by researchers at National Taipei University, Taiwan. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, store, and protect information when you use our website at ref-check.org. By using the Service, you agree to the terms described in this policy.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Uploaded Content

When you upload a manuscript or paste a reference list, the text content is temporarily processed in memory for the sole purpose of extracting and verifying bibliographic references. We do not permanently store your uploaded manuscript text on our servers. Once your browser session ends or you navigate away, the data is discarded.

2.2 Verification Statistics

Upon completion of a verification session, we store aggregate, anonymized statistics including: the number of references checked, the number of references verified successfully (Check OK), the number of references not found, the verification date and time, and the breakdown of which verification steps (e.g., Crossref, PubMed) were used. These statistics do not contain any personally identifiable information.

2.3 Reference Text

Reference strings may be stored in our database for the purpose of improving our verification system and for academic research on AI-hallucinated citations. This data is used solely for research and service improvement purposes.

2.4 Usage Data

We use Google Analytics to collect anonymous usage data including page views, session duration, browser type, geographic region (country level), and referral sources. This data is aggregated and cannot be used to identify individual users.

3. Cookies and Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services that may set cookies or collect data:

• •Google Analytics — collects anonymized usage statistics to help us understand how users interact with the Service.
• •Google AdSense — displays advertisements on our pages. Google may use cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to this or other websites. You can opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings.
• •Google reCAPTCHA — used to protect the Service from automated abuse. reCAPTCHA collects hardware and software information and sends it to Google for analysis.

4. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• •Provide and operate the reference verification service.
• •Improve the accuracy and coverage of our verification pipeline.
• •Conduct academic research on AI-generated fictitious references in scholarly publications.
• •Monitor and prevent abuse of the Service.
• •Display aggregate usage statistics on our public dashboard.

5. Data Retention

Uploaded manuscript text is not retained beyond the duration of your browser session. Aggregated verification statistics (counts, dates, step distributions) are retained indefinitely for service monitoring and academic research purposes. Reference strings may be retained for research and system improvement purposes. If you wish to request deletion of any data associated with your session, please contact us at the address below.

6. Data Sharing

We do not sell, trade, or transfer your personal information to outside parties. We do not share individual user data with third parties except as required by law. Aggregate, anonymized statistics may be published in academic research papers. When verifying references, the system queries external academic databases (Crossref, Semantic Scholar, OpenAlex, PubMed, Google Scholar, etc.); these queries contain only the reference title and do not include any personally identifiable information.

7. Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect the information processed through the Service. All data transmission is encrypted using HTTPS/TLS. However, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure. We encourage users to avoid uploading documents that contain sensitive personal information unrelated to bibliographic references.

8. Children's Privacy

The Service is intended for use by academic researchers, educators, and students aged 16 and above. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16. If you believe a child under 16 has provided personal information through the Service, please contact us.

9. Your Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the right to:

• •Access the personal data we hold about you.
• •Request correction or deletion of your personal data.
• •Object to or restrict processing of your data.
• •Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.

Since the Service does not require user registration, we do not maintain individual user accounts. Any requests regarding data associated with your session should be submitted via the contact information below.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last updated" date. Continued use of the Service after any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or your data, please contact: