Privacy Policy

Last updated: May 27, 2026

Information We Collect

When you use our Site, we may collect the following types of information:

Account Information: When you register, we collect your email address, nickname, and optionally your country of residence. We do not store your password in plain text — it is cryptographically hashed.

Reading Activity: We record which articles you read to provide features like reading history, free-read tracking, and personalized recommendations.

Comments and Interactions: Any comments, replies, suggestions, or questions you submit are stored on our servers.

Payment Information: When you subscribe to a premium plan, payment is processed through PayPal. We do not store your credit card or PayPal account details on our servers. We retain transaction records (order ID, amount, plan type) for account management and legal compliance.

Currency & Settlement Notice: All paid services on our website are denominated and settled in U.S. Dollars (USD) by default. The actual amount charged will be converted by PayPal based on its exchange rate on the day of the transaction. Please refer to the amount payable as shown on the PayPal payment page. We shall not be held responsible for any discrepancies arising from currency fluctuations.

Automatically Collected Information: We use cookies and similar technologies to maintain your login session and remember your preferences. We also collect standard server logs including IP address, browser type, referring pages, and timestamps for security and analytics purposes.

Time Zone Information: All times are stored in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When displayed, they are converted to your local time zone as follows: For users in the United States, times are shown in UTC−4. For users in Europe, times are shown in UTC+2.

How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for the following purposes:

1. To provide, maintain, and improve our services
2. To authenticate your identity and manage your account
3. To process subscription payments and manage premium access
4. To display your nickname and country alongside your comments (as part of our community features)
5. To respond to your questions, suggestions, and support requests
6. To send essential service communications (e.g., account verification, payment confirmations)
7. To analyze site usage and improve content and user experience through Google Analytics
8. To prevent fraud, abuse, and unauthorized access

Cookies

We use the following types of cookies:

Essential Cookies: We use an authentication token cookie to keep you signed in across pages. This cookie is necessary for the Site to function and cannot be disabled.

Preference Cookies: We store your cookie consent preference so we remember your choice.

Analytics Cookies: Google Analytics sets cookies to help us understand how visitors interact with our Site. These cookies collect anonymous usage statistics.

You can control cookie settings through your browser. Disabling essential cookies may prevent you from logging in or using certain features.

Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services that may process your data:

PayPal: Payment processing for premium subscriptions. PayPal's Privacy Policy applies to transactions processed through their platform.

Google Analytics: Website analytics to understand traffic and usage patterns. Google's Privacy Policy applies to data collected through this service.

Google OAuth: Optional sign-in method. When you choose to sign in with Google, we receive your email address and name from your Google account.

Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may disclose information only in the following circumstances:

1. With your explicit consent
2. To comply with legal obligations, court orders, or government requests
3. To protect the rights, property, or safety of our Site, our users, or the public
4. In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets (users will be notified)

Data Retention

1. Account information is retained as long as your account remains active.
2. Comments and content you post remain visible on the Site unless you request removal.
3. Payment records are retained for the period required by applicable tax and accounting laws.
4. Server logs are retained for a limited period for security and diagnostic purposes.

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information, including:

1. Passwords are hashed using industry-standard cryptographic algorithms
2. Authentication tokens are signed and expire automatically
3. All data transmission is encrypted via HTTPS
4. Access to personal data is restricted to authorized personnel

Your Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:

Access: You can view your profile information through your dashboard at any time.

Correction: You can update your profile details through your account settings.

Deletion: You may request deletion of your account and associated data by contacting us. Certain information may be retained as required by law.

Data Portability: You may request a copy of your data in a portable format.

Children's Privacy

Our Site is not intended for individuals under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify users of material changes by posting a notice on the Site or sending an email. Continued use of the Site after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your data rights, please contact us at:

[email protected]