Cookie Policy
Last updated: June 2025
1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files placed on your device by websites you visit. GovPillar also uses browser localStorage, a similar client-side storage mechanism that stores key-value pairs locally on your device and is never sent to a server as part of HTTP requests.
This policy covers both cookies (HTTP cookies) and localStorage, collectively referred to as “local storage technologies”.
2. What We Use and Why
Strictly Necessary
Always onThese cookies are essential for the platform to function. They cannot be disabled via our consent banner.
| Name / Key | Type | Provider | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| __session | HTTP cookie | Clerk | Maintains your authenticated session. HttpOnly, Secure, SameSite=Lax. Session duration. |
| __clerk_db_jwt | HTTP cookie | Clerk | Short-lived JWT used for server-side session verification. HttpOnly, Secure. ~1 min TTL. |
| gp_cookie_consent | localStorage | GovPillar | Records your cookie consent choices so you are not re-prompted on every visit. Persistent. |
Functional
OptionalThese improve your experience by remembering settings. All values remain on your device and are never sent to our servers.
| Key | Type | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| govpillar_theme | localStorage | Remembers your dark/light mode preference. |
| govpillar_tour_seen | localStorage | Records whether you have completed the guided product tour. |
| govpillar_chat_pinned | localStorage | Saves whether the Assistant chat panel is pinned open. |
Analytics
Not yet activeReserved for privacy-first, aggregated analytics (e.g. page-load performance, feature usage counts) that would help us improve the platform. No analytics scripts or third-party trackers are currently loaded. If we activate analytics in future, this policy will be updated and you will be re-prompted.
3. What We Do Not Use
- No advertising or retargeting cookies
- No third-party tracking pixels or fingerprinting scripts
- No cross-site tracking of any kind
- No social media integration cookies
- No analytics platforms that sell or share data with advertisers (Google Analytics, Meta Pixel, etc.)
4. Legal Basis (GDPR)
For users in the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom, or other jurisdictions with similar data protection laws:
- Strictly necessary cookies: processed on the basis of legitimate interest and contract performance (Article 6(1)(b) and (f) GDPR). No consent required (Recital 47).
- Functional & analytics: processed on the basis of consent (Article 6(1)(a) GDPR). You may withdraw consent at any time.
5. Managing Your Preferences
You can review and change your cookie preferences at any time by clicking Manage cookies in the footer of any page within the GovPillar application, or by clearing your browser's localStorage for app.govpillar.com.
You can also control cookies directly in your browser. Instructions for the most common browsers:
Note: blocking strictly necessary cookies (Clerk session cookies) will prevent you from signing in to GovPillar.
6. Retention
Your consent record (gp_cookie_consent) is stored in your browser's localStorage with no expiry date. It is not transmitted to our servers. When the consent schema version changes (e.g. if we add new cookie categories), your previous record is invalidated and you will be prompted again.
7. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy when we change the cookies or local storage keys we use, or when applicable law requires it. The “Last updated” date at the top of this page reflects when a material change was last made. Continued use of the Platform constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
8. Contact
For questions about this Cookie Policy, email us at privacy@govpillar.com.