Austen ("we", "us", or "our") operates the Austen platform. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our service.

1. Information We Collect

Account Information

When you create an account, we collect your name, email address, and password. If you sign in via Google, we receive your name, email, and Google account identifier. We do not receive or store your Google password.

Payment Information

Payment processing is handled by Stripe. We do not store your credit card number or bank details. We retain Stripe customer and subscription identifiers to manage your billing.

Content You Provide

We store the content you create within the platform, including projects, ideas, plans, articles, and related data. This content belongs to you.

Usage Data

We collect anonymous analytics using Fathom Analytics, a privacy-focused analytics provider that does not use cookies, does not collect or store personal information, and does not track you across websites. We also log API usage for rate-limiting and billing purposes.

Third-Party Integrations

If you connect your Google Search Console account, we store encrypted OAuth tokens to retrieve your analytics data. You can disconnect this integration at any time. If you provide Proofed API credentials, these are stored encrypted and used solely to submit orders on your behalf.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

Provide, maintain, and improve the platform
Process your transactions and manage your subscription
Generate content based on your inputs using AI language models
Send transactional emails (account verification, password resets)
Monitor usage to prevent abuse and enforce fair-use limits

3. AI Processing

Your content inputs are sent to third-party AI providers (currently OpenAI) for processing. We do not use your content to train AI models. The AI providers' own data policies apply to the processing of your content through their APIs.

4. Data Sharing

We do not sell your personal information, and we do not share it for cross-context behavioral advertising. We share data only with:

Service providers who help us operate the platform (Stripe for payments, OpenAI for content generation, Proofed for editing services, email providers for transactional mail)
Legal authorities when required by law or to protect our rights

5. Data Security

We use industry-standard measures to protect your data, including encrypted storage for sensitive credentials (API keys, OAuth tokens), HTTPS for all connections, and bcrypt password hashing. However, no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure.

6. Data Retention

We retain your account and content data for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account, we remove your personal data within 30 days. Anonymised usage data may be retained for analytics purposes.

7. Your Rights

You may:

Access, update, or delete your account information via your profile settings
Export your content (articles are downloadable as Markdown, HTML, or ZIP packages)
Delete your account, which removes all associated data
Disconnect third-party integrations at any time

For data requests that cannot be handled through the platform, contact us at the email below.

8. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use only essential cookies required for authentication, security (CSRF protection), and session management. We do not use advertising cookies, tracking pixels, session-recording tools, social media trackers, or cross-site tracking of any kind.

Our analytics provider, Fathom Analytics, is cookieless by design: it sets no cookies, fingerprints no devices, and collects no personal information. Because we use no non-essential cookies or trackers, there is nothing for you to opt out of and we do not show a cookie consent banner.

9. California Privacy Rights

If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CCPA/CPRA) gives you specific rights over your personal information.

What we collect and why

In the last 12 months we have collected these categories of personal information: identifiers (name, email address, account identifiers), commercial information (subscription and transaction records), and internet activity (API usage logs and anonymous, aggregated site analytics). We collect this information directly from you and from your use of the service, for the business purposes described in Section 2.

No sale or sharing

We do not sell personal information, and we do not "share" personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising as those terms are defined under the CCPA/CPRA. We have not done either in the preceding 12 months, and we do not knowingly collect or sell the personal information of anyone under 16. Because we neither sell nor share personal information, no "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information" opt-out is required; this statement serves as our notice of that fact.

Global Privacy Control

Because we do not sell or share personal information and use no cross-site trackers, browsers sending a Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal receive the same treatment as everyone else: no tracking either way.

Your CCPA/CPRA rights

Right to know: request the categories and specific pieces of personal information we hold about you
Right to delete: request deletion of your personal information
Right to correct: request correction of inaccurate personal information
Right to non-discrimination: we will never treat you differently for exercising these rights

To exercise any of these rights, email us at help@austenapp.com with the subject line "California privacy request". We will verify your identity using the email address associated with your account and respond within 45 days. You may also use an authorized agent to submit a request on your behalf.

10. Children's Privacy

Our service is not directed to individuals under 16. We do not knowingly collect information from children.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. We will notify registered users of material changes by email. Your continued use of the platform after changes constitutes acceptance.

12. Contact

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at help@austenapp.com.