Privacy Policy

Overview

Metis respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, why we collect it, how we use it, and the choices you have when you download Metis, use the Metis website, contact support, or submit feedback.

Metis is currently a Windows desktop application for PLS-SEM workflows. At this stage, the Metis desktop app does not require users to create an account or sign in.

Information We Collect

When you submit feedback, contact support, or interact with the website, we may collect information you provide directly, including:

• Name, email address, institution or organisation, country, role, and selected package.
• Feedback, bug reports, feature suggestions, screenshots, or files you choose to submit.
• Testing details you choose to provide, such as Windows version, app version, device information, dataset size, number of constructs, or features tested.

When you use the Metis website, we may automatically collect limited technical information to help us understand website traffic, improve performance, and protect the download process. This may include your IP address, browser type, device type, operating system, user agent, pages visited, date and time of visit, referral source, download-page access, and basic website analytics.

Metis does not intentionally collect the datasets you analyse in the desktop app unless you choose to upload, attach, describe, or share them through a feedback channel.

How We Use Information

We use the information we collect to manage downloads, communicate with users, send important notices, review bug reports, improve Metis, understand website usage, maintain security, prevent misuse, and document acceptance of the Privacy Policy and Terms.

We may use aggregated or anonymised feedback to describe general outcomes, such as common usability issues. We will not intentionally identify individual users publicly without permission.

Legal Basis

Where applicable, we process personal information based on consent, our legitimate interest in running and improving Metis, maintaining security, communicating with users, and compliance with legal obligations.

If we ask whether you want future product or marketing updates, that choice will be separate from downloading or using Metis.

Email Communication

If you contact the Metis team or subscribe for updates, we may email you about download instructions, important bug notices, feedback reminders, updated builds, and changes to this Privacy Policy or the Terms.

We will not add you to unrelated marketing emails unless you separately agree to receive them.

Cookies and Analytics

The Metis website may use cookies, analytics tools, server logs, or similar technologies to understand website traffic, page visits, download activity, and general user behaviour. These tools may collect technical information such as browser type, device type, IP address, visited pages, and approximate location derived from technical data.

Where required, we will provide cookie notices or consent options.

Service Providers

We may use trusted service providers to operate the website, backend, database, email delivery, analytics, feedback forms, and file delivery. These providers may process personal information only as needed to provide their services to Metis.

International Processing

Because testers may come from different countries, your information may be processed or stored outside your country of residence, depending on the services used for hosting, email, forms, analytics, or databases. Where required, we will take reasonable steps to protect your information when it is transferred or processed internationally.

Retention

We keep user and support information only for as long as reasonably necessary for product improvement, communication, legal compliance, security, and record keeping.

• Support and download-related details may be kept for a reasonable period after they are submitted.
• Feedback and bug reports may be kept longer where needed for product development, debugging, research, or documentation.
• Website analytics may be kept according to the retention settings of the analytics provider.
• If you request deletion, we will delete or anonymise your personal information unless limited retention is needed for legal, security, or legitimate record-keeping reasons.

Your Rights

Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have rights to request access, correction, deletion, restriction, objection, withdrawal of consent where processing is based on consent, a copy of your information, and opt-out from direct marketing.

To make a privacy request, contact support@metis.emend.it.com. We may need to verify your identity before responding to some requests.

Security

We take reasonable steps to protect personal information from unauthorised access, loss, misuse, alteration, or disclosure. However, no website, database, email system, or internet-based service can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

You should avoid submitting confidential, sensitive, restricted, or proprietary datasets through the feedback form unless specifically requested and covered by a separate agreement.

Children

Metis is intended for researchers, students, lecturers, supervisors, and professionals. It is not designed for children, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

Changes and Contact

We may update this Privacy Policy as Metis develops. If we make significant changes, we may notify registered testers by email or through the website.