How Factory handles your data, what controls you have over your information, and how group privacy settings work. The sections below adapt to your role — group managers will see additional guidance on configuring privacy for their communities.
Our approach to privacy
Factory is built on a simple principle: your data stays yours. We don't sell your information, we don't show you ads, and we don't mine your communications for profit. The platform exists to serve your group — not the other way around.
What information Factory collects
| Category | What | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Account basics | Name, email address | Required to create your account and deliver email |
| Profile information | Job title, company, bio, social links, skills | You choose what to share — profiles are optional |
| Group activity | Messages you send, groups you join, content you create | Required for the platform to function |
| Contact preferences | Phone, timezone, networking availability | You choose what to share — helps members connect |
What we don't do
- We don't sell or share your data with third parties for advertising
- We don't read your private messages or group emails for marketing purposes
- We don't track you across the web
- We don't use your content to train AI models outside of features you explicitly use (like the group creation assistant)
Group privacy levels
Groups on Factory can set their own privacy level, which controls how much member information is visible within the group:
| Level | What members see |
|---|---|
| Open | Full names and email addresses are visible to other members |
| Names Only | Names are visible, email addresses are hidden |
| Anonymous | Members use aliases or pseudonyms — no real names or emails shown |
The privacy level is set by the group manager. You can see the privacy level on the group's page before you join.
Group visibility
Separate from privacy, groups have a visibility setting that controls who can find and access the group:
| Visibility | Who can see the group |
|---|---|
| Public | Anyone, including visitors who aren't logged in |
| Internal | Any logged-in Factory user |
| Private | Only members of the group |
Want to read more?
2 more sections available with a free account: Your Data Controls, Group Privacy Settings
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