Every time you upload an academic paper to a formatting tool, you are handing over unpublished research and intellectual property. It is a daunting risk that most students never stop to consider.

The Privacy Problem with Most Tools

Data Logging

Many formatting and citation tools log and store document content permanently. This creates severe security risks if their databases are compromised.

AI Training Data

Some tools use uploaded documents to train their AI models. Your unpublished research could become part of a public training dataset, with unclear implications for originality.

Third-Party Sharing

Data may be shared with third-party analytics, advertising, or AI partners without your explicit disclosure or consent.

No Document Deletion

Even after you delete your account, document copies may remain on backup servers indefinitely, violating data control principles.

Formatly's Privacy-First Approach

Formatly was built on the principle that formatting your paper should not mean giving up control of your content. We protect your research with several layers of security:

• Zero Document Logging: Formatly never permanently stores your uploaded documents. Once formatting is complete, your content is removed.
• No AI Training: Formatly does not use your documents to train AI models. Our formatting engine is rule-based, not AI-trained.
• End-to-End Encryption: All document uploads and downloads are encrypted in transit using secure TLS 1.3 protocols.
• Clear Data Policy: Our privacy policy is straightforward and transparent. We do not share your data with third parties.

Why This Matters

Privacy-first formatting is essential for graduate students, researchers, and academics working on unpublished research, funded research with data handling requirements, or sensitive subject matter.

Keep your research safe. Try Formatly today to upload and format your manuscript in a secure, privacy-first environment.