Consensus

AI-powered search engine for evidence-based scientific research

Perplexity AI

AI-powered answer engine that searches the web and cites its sources

Consensus

Caution

9/25

Perplexity AI

Moderate

15/25

Score Breakdown

DimensionConsensusPerplexity AI

Data Residency

Where is your data stored and processed?

Consensus: All data is processed on US infrastructure with no EU data residency option currently offered.

Perplexity AI: US-based AWS infrastructure; no regional data residency options currently

1/5

All data is processed on US infrastructure with no EU data residency option currently offered.

2/5

US-based AWS infrastructure; no regional data residency options currently

Legal Jurisdiction

Which laws govern the company and your data?

Consensus: US-incorporated and subject to CLOUD Act; no publicised EU-specific legal frameworks or SCCs are in place.

Perplexity AI: US Delaware corporation subject to CLOUD Act; GDPR compliance via DPA

2/5

US-incorporated and subject to CLOUD Act; no publicised EU-specific legal frameworks or SCCs are in place.

2/5

US Delaware corporation subject to CLOUD Act; GDPR compliance via DPA

Data Retention & Training

Is your data used for model training?

Consensus: States it does not sell user data and does not train on user queries; full retention policy details are limited.

Perplexity AI: Enterprise plans offer zero data retention; no use of enterprise data for AI training

3/5

States it does not sell user data and does not train on user queries; full retention policy details are limited.

5/5

Enterprise plans offer zero data retention; no use of enterprise data for AI training

Certifications

ISO 27001, SOC 2, Cyber Essentials, etc.

Consensus: No SOC 2, ISO 27001, or other formal third-party security certifications are currently published.

Perplexity AI: SOC 2 Type II certified; HIPAA BAA available for enterprise

1/5

No SOC 2, ISO 27001, or other formal third-party security certifications are currently published.

3/5

SOC 2 Type II certified; HIPAA BAA available for enterprise

Regulatory Fit

Suitability for regulated industries and professional services

Consensus: Acceptable for low-risk research activities; European institutional procurement will require additional assurances not currently available.

Perplexity AI: Strong for research-focused business use; US hosting limits EU data residency suitability

2/5

Acceptable for low-risk research activities; European institutional procurement will require additional assurances not currently available.

3/5

Strong for research-focused business use; US hosting limits EU data residency suitability

Total Score

9/25

15/25

Best For

Consensus

Best for teams on a tight budget.

Perplexity AI

Best for privacy-conscious teams who need strong data retention controls; teams on a tight budget; enterprises requiring SSO integration.

Detailed Comparison

Consensus vs Perplexity AI: Trust & Compliance Comparison

Consensus (Consensus, US) scores 9/25 overall with a Review Required (Caution) trust badge. AI-powered search engine for evidence-based scientific research. Perplexity AI (Perplexity AI, Inc., US) scores 15/25 with a Bronze (Moderate) trust badge. AI-powered answer engine that searches the web and cites its sources.

Dimension-by-Dimension Breakdown

#### Data Residency

Perplexity AI leads with 2/5 vs 1/5.

●Consensus (1/5): All data is processed on US infrastructure with no EU data residency option currently offered.

●Perplexity AI (2/5): US-based AWS infrastructure; no regional data residency options currently

#### Legal Jurisdiction

Both score equally at 2/5.

●Consensus (2/5): US-incorporated and subject to CLOUD Act; no publicised EU-specific legal frameworks or SCCs are in place.

●Perplexity AI (2/5): US Delaware corporation subject to CLOUD Act; GDPR compliance via DPA

#### Data Retention & Training

Perplexity AI leads with 5/5 vs 3/5.

●Consensus (3/5): States it does not sell user data and does not train on user queries; full retention policy details are limited.

●Perplexity AI (5/5): Enterprise plans offer zero data retention; no use of enterprise data for AI training

#### Certifications

Perplexity AI leads with 3/5 vs 1/5.

●Consensus (1/5): No SOC 2, ISO 27001, or other formal third-party security certifications are currently published.

●Perplexity AI (3/5): SOC 2 Type II certified; HIPAA BAA available for enterprise

#### Regulatory Fit

Perplexity AI leads with 3/5 vs 2/5.

●Consensus (2/5): Acceptable for low-risk research activities; European institutional procurement will require additional assurances not currently available.

●Perplexity AI (3/5): Strong for research-focused business use; US hosting limits EU data residency suitability

Certifications at a Glance

Certification	Consensus	Perplexity AI
SOC 2 Type II	No	Yes

Overall Verdict

Perplexity AI has a clear trust advantage, scoring 15/25 compared to Consensus's 9/25. Perplexity AI particularly excels in data residency, data retention & training, certifications, regulatory fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for EU compliance, Consensus or Perplexity AI?

Consensus has a TrustKit score of 9/25 while Perplexity AI scores 15/25. Perplexity AI currently rates higher across data residency, legal jurisdiction, data retention, certifications, and regulatory fit.

How do Consensus and Perplexity AI compare on data residency?

Consensus scores 1/5 for data residency (All data is processed on US infrastructure with no EU data residency option currently offered.), while Perplexity AI scores 2/5 (US-based AWS infrastructure; no regional data residency options currently).

Are Consensus and Perplexity AI GDPR compliant?

Both tools are assessed across five compliance dimensions. Consensus has a regulatory fit score of 2/5 and Perplexity AI scores 3/5. Check the full comparison above for a detailed breakdown.

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