Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to NewsVote ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring you understand how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you use our news curation and community voting platform (the "Service").

By using NewsVote, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with our policies, please do not use our Service.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Account Information

When you create an account, we collect:

• Email address — Used for account authentication and important notifications
• Display name — Your chosen public username
• Password — Stored securely using industry-standard hashing (bcrypt)
• Authentication provider data — If you sign in with Google or Apple, we receive your name and email from those services

2.2 Usage Data

When you use NewsVote, we automatically collect:

• Voting history — Your votes on stories (notable/meh ratings)
• Saved stories — Stories you bookmark for later
• Headlines — Stories you've marked as headlines and Ink wagered
• Comparison choices — Your selections in story comparisons
• Ink balance and transactions — Your in-app currency activity
• Content reports and flags — Reports you submit about content

2.3 Device and Technical Data

• Device type — Mobile, tablet, or desktop
• Browser information — Type and version
• IP address — Used for security and approximate location
• Usage patterns — Features used, time spent, navigation paths

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Provide the Service — Display news, process votes, manage your account
• Personalize your experience — Show relevant content based on your interests
• Calculate community rankings — Aggregate votes to rank stories
• Manage the Ink economy — Track balances, process transactions
• Improve our algorithms — Enhance news clustering and presentation
• Ensure security — Detect fraud, prevent abuse, protect users
• Communicate with you — Send important updates and notifications
• Comply with legal obligations — Respond to legal requests when required

4. Information Sharing

We do not sell your personal information. We may share information in these limited circumstances:

• Public activity — Your display name and voting activity may be visible to other users
• Service providers — We use Vercel for hosting and authentication services
• Legal requirements — When required by law or to protect rights and safety
• Business transfers — In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets

5. Data Security

We implement appropriate security measures to protect your information:

• Passwords are hashed using bcrypt with salt
• All data transmitted over HTTPS encryption
• Database access is restricted and monitored
• Regular security audits and updates

However, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide services.

• Account data — Retained until you delete your account
• Voting history — Retained to maintain community rankings integrity
• Ink transactions — Retained for audit and dispute resolution
• Deleted accounts — Data is permanently removed within 30 days

7. Your Rights and Choices

You have the right to:

• Access your data — View your account information and activity history
• Correct your data — Update your profile and preferences
• Delete your account — Permanently remove your account and associated data via Profile settings
• Export your data — Request a copy of your data by contacting us
• Opt out of communications — Manage notification preferences in settings

8. Children's Privacy

NewsVote is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.

9. International Users

NewsVote is operated from the United States. If you are accessing our Service from outside the United States, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States where our servers are located.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date. Your continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:

12. California Privacy Rights

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

• Right to know what personal information is collected
• Right to know whether personal information is sold or disclosed
• Right to say no to the sale of personal information (we do not sell your data)
• Right to access your personal information
• Right to equal service and price

To exercise these rights, please contact us at privacy@newsvote.app.