What is an &tag?

An &tag is your unique, portable identity for the AI era—like a digital passport that you own and control. It's a human-readable identifier (like &alice or &company) that enables AI agents to recognize, authenticate, and act on your behalf across any platform or service while keeping your data under your control.

How do &tags work?

Your &tag serves as a cryptographically secure identity that AI agents and services can verify and trust. When you interact with any AI system or service, your &tag provides authenticated access to your preferences, context, and permissions—allowing agents to act on your behalf while respecting your privacy boundaries and data ownership rights.

Who owns my data with &?

You own 100% of your data—always. We never sell, trade, or monetize your personal information. Your &tag gives you complete control over what data is shared, with whom, and for what purpose. You can download, modify, or delete your data at any time. This is the foundation of our commitment to data sovereignty.

How are &tags different from regular usernames?

Unlike traditional usernames locked to specific platforms, &tags are portable identities you can use everywhere. They're cryptographically secured, AI-native (meaning agents can read and authenticate them), and enable complex features like composite identities and agent-to-agent negotiations that regular usernames can't support.

What is composite identity and how does chaining work?

Composite identity allows multiple &tags to be chained together (like &alice&bob&carol) to make group decisions while preserving individual privacy. When chained, agents representing each person can negotiate collectively—finding restaurants everyone likes, scheduling meetings that work for all, or making group purchases—without revealing individual private data.

How is my data stored?

Your data is encrypted and stored in secure, distributed systems with multiple redundancies. Personal data remains in your control through cryptographic keys tied to your &tag. We use progressive decentralization, meaning we're moving toward device-native storage where your most sensitive data never leaves your devices.

How do I modify or update my data?

You can update your data anytime through your & dashboard or by instructing your agent. Changes propagate instantly across all connected services that have permission to access that data. You maintain a complete audit trail of all modifications, and you can roll back changes or revoke access at any time.

How is privacy managed?

Privacy is managed through granular permission controls you set. Data is classified into tiers: private (never shared), composite-private (shared only within specific groups), negotiation-public (shared with specific counterparties), and public. You control exactly what information each service or agent can access, and all access is logged for your review.

How do I prevent private data from being shared?

Set explicit privacy boundaries for each data type in your & settings. Mark sensitive information as "private" to ensure it never leaves your control. Enable approval requirements for new data requests, use zero-knowledge proofs for verification without disclosure, and regularly review your data access logs to monitor what's being shared.

How do connections work between &tags?

Connections are mutual agreements between &tags that define how agents can interact. When you connect with another &tag, you establish permission levels for data sharing and agent interactions. Connections can be temporary (for single transactions) or persistent (for ongoing relationships), and either party can modify or revoke connections at any time.

How do I train my agent?

Training happens through natural interaction—every preference you express, decision you make, and feedback you provide helps your agent understand you better. You can also explicitly teach your agent through the training interface, uploading documents, setting rules, and correcting its assumptions. Your training data always remains private to your agent unless you explicitly share it.

How do agents negotiate on my behalf?

Your agent uses your preferences, constraints, and permissions to negotiate with other agents. For example, when finding a restaurant with friends, your agent shares only necessary information (like "vegetarian" or "nut allergy") while keeping private details (like health conditions) hidden. Agents use established protocols to propose, evaluate, counter, and commit to agreements that respect everyone's requirements.

How is value exchanged between &tags?

Value exchange happens through smart negotiations where agents agree on terms that benefit all parties. This could be information exchange, service agreements, or economic transactions. The protocol ensures fair value distribution, tracks contributions, and maintains transparent records of all exchanges while preserving privacy.

How do I download my data?

Request a complete data export through your & dashboard at any time. You'll receive all your data in standard, portable formats (JSON, CSV) that you can import into other systems. This includes your profile, preferences, connections, interaction history, and any content you've created—ensuring true data portability.

How do I delete my data?

You can delete specific data points or your entire &tag through your account settings. Deletion is permanent and propagates across all systems within 30 days. We maintain only the minimum legal records required for regulatory compliance. You can also set automatic deletion rules for data older than specified timeframes.

How do I report issues or flag problems?

Report issues directly through the & app's feedback system, email hi@andme.org, or use the in-app reporting tool for urgent safety concerns. We prioritize safety reports, especially those involving minors, and respond within 24 hours. All reports are investigated thoroughly while protecting reporter privacy.

Can I have multiple &tags?

Yes, you can maintain multiple &tags for different aspects of your life—personal, professional, creative, or anonymous. Each &tag has its own data, connections, and agent training. You can link &tags privately if desired or keep them completely separate for different contexts.

What's the difference between free and premium &tags?

Free &tags include full functionality for personal use with standard identifiers. Premium &tags offer short, memorable names (like &john instead of &john.smith.123), business features, advanced agent capabilities, priority support, and early access to new features. Premium tags are one-time purchases that support the network's infrastructure.

How do I get a premium &tag?

Premium &tags are available through our marketplace where you can search for available names and purchase them directly. Prices vary based on length and memorability—single words and short names command higher prices. Premium tags can be gifted or transferred, making them valuable digital assets for individuals and businesses.

How do I register a business &tag?

Business registration requires verification of your legal entity and authority to act on its behalf. Submit your business documentation through our verification process, choose your business &tag (like &company or &brand), and configure multi-user access controls. Business &tags include additional features for team coordination and public verification badges.

What is an &place and how do I adopt one?

&places are location-based &tags for physical spaces—stores, venues, landmarks, or geographic areas. Adopt an &place by verifying your connection to that location (ownership, management, or official representation). &places enable location-aware agent interactions, local discovery, and place-based community features.

How do I share my &tag with others?

Share your &tag as easily as sharing a social media handle—verbally, in text, or through QR codes. Others can search for your &tag in any &-enabled service or scan your QR code to instantly connect. You control what information is visible publicly versus what requires connection approval to access.

How do I scan &tags?

Use the & app's built-in scanner to read QR codes containing &tags, or recognize them in AR displays at &places. Scanning instantly pulls up public information and connection options. For deeper interaction, scanning can initiate agent-to-agent negotiations or composite identity formation with permission.

Are &tags compatible with other AI systems?

Yes, &tags work with any AI system through our open protocols. We support industry standards like A2A (Agent-to-Agent) and MCP (Model Context Protocol), and provide APIs and SDKs for integration. This ensures your &tag remains valuable regardless of which AI platforms emerge in the future.

How secure are &tags?

&tags use bank-grade encryption and cryptographic authentication to prevent unauthorized access. Multi-factor authentication, biometric options, and hardware key support add extra security layers. Every interaction is logged for audit, and suspicious activity triggers automatic protection protocols.

Can someone impersonate my &tag?

No—cryptographic signatures make &tag impersonation virtually impossible. Every action taken with your &tag is digitally signed with your private key, creating mathematical proof of authenticity. Any attempt to forge your &tag signature will be immediately detected and rejected by the network.

Can I transfer my &tag to someone else?

Premium &tags can be transferred or sold to others through our secure transfer process. Both parties must verify the transfer, and the recipient gains full ownership rights. Free &tags are non-transferable to prevent fraud and maintain identity integrity.

What happens to my &tag if I stop using it?

Free &tags remain yours indefinitely but may be marked inactive after extended non-use. Premium &tags are yours permanently once purchased. You can always reactivate an inactive &tag by logging back in. For estate planning, you can designate beneficiaries who can claim your &tag with proper documentation.

Can I recover a lost &tag?

Yes, we offer multiple recovery options including email verification, backup codes, social recovery through trusted connections, and identity verification for premium accounts. Store your recovery codes safely when you create your &tag—they're your failsafe for account recovery without compromising security.

How do &tags enable the trust layer for AI?

&tags create the foundational trust infrastructure that AI needs to safely interact with human data and intentions. By providing verified identity, clear permissions, and cryptographic proof of authenticity, &tags enable AI systems to act with confidence while respecting human agency and privacy—solving the critical trust problem in human-AI interaction.