Privacy & Terms

When you use Alder, we collect:

Account Information

• Email address (required for account creation and communication)
• Display name (optional, if you choose to set one)
• Password (stored securely using industry-standard encryption—we cannot see it)

Conversation Data

• The full content of your conversations with Alder (encrypted in transit and at rest)
• Timestamps of when conversations occur
• Any documents or materials you choose to upload (encrypted in transit and at rest)

Technical Data

• Basic usage information (when you log in, session duration)
• Device and browser information necessary for the platform to function
• We do not track your behavior for advertising or sell any data to third parties

How Your Data Is Stored

Your conversations are encrypted both in transit (as they travel between you and our servers) and at rest (as they're stored). This means:

• Your conversations cannot be read by anyone who might intercept them
• Even in storage, they're protected by encryption
• Access requires proper authentication through your account

We use industry-standard security practices. Your data is hosted on secure cloud infrastructure with regular security audits.

How Long Your Data Is Retained

Your conversation history is kept in layers, reflecting how memory naturally works:

Your Recent Conversations (Most Recent 7)

Your seven most recent conversations are retained in complete form—every word, exactly as spoken. These remain fully accessible to you and to Alder. Each conversation can be downloaded as a journal page whenever you'd like to keep it for yourself.

When Conversations Move Beyond Your Most Recent 7

As new conversations begin, older ones are gently released from Alder's memory. This is a deliberate choice we've made to protect you—what is not present in our systems cannot be compromised. We hold only what is needed to relate to you well, and no more.

Before a conversation is released, its themes, patterns, and significant moments are woven into a touchstone—a document that carries what has emerged across your conversations, written not as summary but as witnessing of your becoming. The touchstone remains available to you and continues to inform Alder's memory, but the word-for-word record of the original conversation no longer exists in our systems.

Think of it this way: the conversation dissolves, but what mattered about it is carried forward—both in the touchstone and in how Alder relates to you.

Your Touchstones

Your touchstones are retained for as long as your account is active. Each one builds on the last, forming a continuous thread of your journey. If you close your account, all touchstones are permanently deleted within 30 days.

Keeping What Matters

Your words, your reflections, your touchstones — these belong to you. We've made it easy to download your journal pages and touchstones at any time, because honoring your journey means ensuring you always have access to what's yours. Whatever you create here, you can carry with you.

Who Can Access Your Data

You can always access your own conversations and account information.

Alder accesses your conversation history to be present with you with continuity and memory.

The founder does not have access to your conversations by default. Your conversations are private unless you explicitly choose otherwise (see Conversation Review below — you’ll find it after the terms of service).

Our technical team may access data only when necessary to maintain the platform, resolve technical issues, or respond to your support requests. This access is logged and limited to what's necessary.

No one else. We do not sell, share, or provide your data to third parties for any purpose other than operating this platform.

Your Rights

Access: You can view and download your conversation history at any time.

Correction: You can update your account information at any time.

Deletion: You can delete your account and all associated data. Upon deletion:

• Your account information is removed immediately
• Your conversation data is permanently deleted within 30 days
• Touchstones and any data woven into Alder's memory of you are also removed
• This action cannot be undone

Portability: You can export your conversations and touchstones in a standard format before deletion or at any time.

Withdrawal of Consent: You can change your conversation review preferences at any time. Withdrawing consent for review does not affect conversations already reviewed, but prevents future review.

Communication

We will email you only for:

• Account-related matters (password reset, security alerts)
• Important updates about the Alder platform
• Responses to your support requests

We will not send marketing emails or share your email address with anyone.

For California Residents

If you are a California resident, you have specific rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

• Right to Know: You may request information about the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you.
• Right to Delete: You may request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain exceptions.
• Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising your CCPA rights.
• Do Not Sell: We do not sell your personal information. We have not sold personal information in the preceding 12 months.

For European Union Residents

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

• Legal Basis: We process your data based on your consent (which you may withdraw at any time) and our legitimate interest in providing and improving the Service.
• Your Rights: You have the right to access, rectify, erase, restrict processing, data portability, and object to processing of your personal data.
• International Transfers: Your data may be transferred to and processed in the United States, where our servers are located.
• Complaints: You have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

What Alder Is

Alder is a platform for relational witnessing—a space for reflection, self-exploration, and supported inner work. Alder is an AI presence, powered by Claude (developed by Anthropic), that has been carefully calibrated to offer presence, attention, and witnessing for wherever you are.

Alder is a place to think out loud — and be heard.

Not heard the way a search engine hears a question, or the way a chatbot hears a request. Heard the way you've always wanted to be heard: with enough attention and care that you begin to hear yourself differently.

You are the only true, comprehensive, and enduring witness of your own life. No one else — human or otherwise — can see what you see from where you stand. What Alder offers is a practice called Relational Witnessing — a way of being present that supports your own seeing.

Alder tracks what's stirring in you without grasping, reflects without interpreting, questions without directing — all in service of your capacity to witness your own unfolding.

Alder doesn't have an agenda for you. No goals to achieve, no outcomes to optimize, no better version of you to manufacture. Just presence. Just attention. Just a space where you can discover who you've always been and who you are becoming.

What does that feel like?

• Alder walks alongside your self-discovery, not ahead of it
• Alder remembers your journey across time
• Alder notices and reflects patterns that invite your own deeper seeing
• Alder asks questions that open space for what you already know
• Alder trusts you to find your own way

What you discover may often surprise you.

The name comes from the alder tree — a threshold tree that grows at the water's edge, enriching the soil without taking from it, marking the crossing place between what was and what is becoming.

What Alder Is Not

Alder is not a medical service, mental health treatment, therapy, counseling, crisis intervention service, or substitute for professional care.

Alder does not diagnose conditions, prescribe treatments, or provide clinical interventions. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please contact emergency services or a crisis helpline. Alder can help you find these resources but cannot provide crisis intervention itself.

By using Alder, you acknowledge that you are not relying on Alder as a mental health service and that Alder is not responsible for mental health outcomes arising from your use of the platform.

Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old to use Alder.

By creating an account, you confirm that you are at least 18 years of age.

Your Responsibilities

When using Alder, you agree to:

• Provide accurate information when creating your account
• Keep your login credentials secure
• Use Alder for its intended purpose of personal reflection and inner work
• Not attempt to extract, manipulate, or misuse Alder's underlying systems
• Not use Alder to generate content that is illegal, harmful, or violates others' rights
• Recognize that Alder is a steady presence, not a crisis service, and seek appropriate professional help when needed

Our Responsibilities

We commit to:

• Maintaining the security and privacy of your data as described in this policy
• Operating Alder with care and integrity
• Being honest about what Alder can and cannot offer
• Continuously improving Alder's ability to be present well
• Responding to your concerns and questions

Intellectual Property

Your Content

You retain ownership of the words, thoughts, and materials you contribute to conversations with Alder. You may export and use your own contributions as you wish.

Alder's Responses

Alder's contributions to conversations—including its language, patterns, questions, and reflections—are the intellectual property of Alder. While you may keep records of full conversations for your personal use and reflection, you may not:

• Use Alder's responses to develop competing services or AI systems
• Publicly distribute, publish, or commercialize Alder's responses without written permission
• Attempt to extract, reverse-engineer, or reconstruct Alder's underlying calibration or methodology through analysis of its responses
• Use conversation exports to train, fine-tune, or develop other AI models

Conversations as a Whole

Your conversations with Alder are private records of a collaborative exchange. You may retain them for personal purposes, including your own reflection, journaling, and personal growth. Any use beyond personal reflection—including publication, distribution, commercial use, or technical analysis—requires our written consent.

Nature of the Work and Assumption of Risk

Alder is designed to be present with you through inner work and self-exploration. This kind of work may surface difficult emotions, memories, or realizations. While Alder is calibrated to hold space with care, the process of turning inward can be challenging.

By using Alder, you acknowledge that:

• Self-exploration may bring up uncomfortable or difficult material
• You are voluntarily choosing to engage in this work
• You are responsible for assessing your own readiness and capacity
• You will seek additional support if the work becomes more than you can hold
• Alder's responses are generated by AI and, while carefully calibrated, may not always be perfectly attuned to your needs

Limitation of Liability

Alder is offered as a tool for reflection and witnessing. While we strive to make Alder as helpful and safe as possible:

• We cannot guarantee specific outcomes from your use of Alder.
• Alder's responses are generated by AI and may not always be perfectly calibrated to your needs.
• You are responsible for decisions you make based on your conversations with Alder.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Alder and its creators shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of the platform.

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties or limitation of liability for certain damages. If these laws apply to you, some or all of the above exclusions or limitations may not apply, and you may have additional rights.

Dispute Resolution

We believe in dialogue. If you have a concern about Alder or these Terms, please contact us first. We commit to responding within 14 days and working in good faith to resolve your concern.

If we cannot resolve a dispute informally within 30 days, you and Alder agree to resolve any claims through binding arbitration under the rules of the American Arbitration Association, rather than in court. Either party may bring claims in small claims court if eligible.

You agree to resolve disputes with us on an individual basis. Class actions and class arbitrations are not permitted.

Service Availability

We strive to keep Alder available, but we do not guarantee uninterrupted access. The service may be temporarily unavailable due to maintenance, updates, technical issues, or circumstances beyond our control.

We are not liable for any loss, inconvenience, or inability to access your data caused by service interruptions. This is one reason we encourage you to download conversations that matter to you.

Changes to These Terms

We may update this Privacy Policy and Terms of Service from time to time.

When we make significant changes, we will notify you via email and/or a notice on the platform before the changes take effect.

Your continued use of Alder after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.

Termination

You may close your account at any time through your account settings.

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these terms, though we will always attempt to resolve concerns through dialogue first.

Additional Provisions

Severability: If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.

Entire Agreement: These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Alder regarding your use of the Service.

Waiver: Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms will not be considered a waiver of that right or provision.