Privacy Policy

1. Data we collect

• Account data: when you register we store your email address and, if provided, your name. For email/password accounts we store a securely hashed password — never the password itself. If you sign in with Google, we receive your name, email address, and profile picture.
• Subscription and billing data: payments are processed by Stripe. We never see or store your card details; we store your Stripe customer ID and your subscription status, plan, and renewal date.
• Activity data: community votes you cast on outlet bias (linked to your account) and aggregate story view counts.
• Preferences: your language, country, theme, and interests are stored in your browser, not on our servers.
• Technical data: your approximate country (from your IP address) to pick a default region and language, and standard server logs.

2. How we use your data

• To create and operate your account and keep you signed in.
• To provide the Supporter subscription and process payments.
• To send essential emails (verification, password reset, billing notices).
• To enable community voting and personalize your experience.
• To secure, maintain, and improve the Service and comply with the law.

3. Legal bases (GDPR)

Where the GDPR applies, we process your data to perform our contract with you (your account and subscription), for our legitimate interests (security, abuse prevention, improving the Service), with your consent where required, and to meet our legal obligations.

4. Cookies and local storage

We use a strictly necessary cookie to keep you signed in, and we store your preferences (language, country, theme, interests) in your browser. We do not use advertising cookies.

5. Service providers

We share data only with the service providers that operate the Service, who act on our behalf under their own security commitments. We do not sell your personal data. These providers are:

• Vercel — application hosting (USA).
• Neon — managed PostgreSQL database (USA).
• Stripe — subscription payments.
• Resend — transactional email delivery.
• Google — optional sign-in (Google OAuth).

6. AI analysis

The news analysis on this Service (political lean, topic, factuality, summaries) is produced by AI models we run on our own self-hosted infrastructure. Your personal data is not sent to any third-party AI service.

7. International transfers

Our hosting and database providers are located in the United States, so your data may be processed there. Such transfers rely on appropriate safeguards, such as the EU Standard Contractual Clauses and/or the EU-US Data Privacy Framework where applicable.

8. Data retention

News articles are automatically deleted about a month after publication. We keep your account data for as long as your account exists; once you delete your account it is removed, except limited records we must keep by law (for example billing records). Aggregate and statistical data that does not identify you may be retained.

9. Your rights (GDPR)

Subject to applicable law, you have the right to access and port your data, to rectify it, to erase it, to restrict or object to processing, and to withdraw consent at any time. You can exercise the main rights directly from your account page: "Download my data" provides access and portability, and "Delete account" performs erasure (and cancels any subscription). For other requests, email privacy@objective-news.org. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your supervisory authority — in Slovenia, the Information Commissioner (Informacijski pooblaščenec).

10. Security

We use industry-standard measures including encryption in transit (HTTPS), hashed passwords, and access controls. No method of transmission or storage is perfectly secure, but we work to protect your data.

11. Children

The Service is not directed to children under 16, and we do not knowingly collect their personal data.

12. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. We will revise the date above and, for material changes, take reasonable steps to notify you.

13. Contact

Questions or requests: privacy@objective-news.org.