Privacy Policy
Last Updated: October 31, 2025
At !tldr, we believe that reclaiming your attention starts with respecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your information when you visit our website or use our platform (collectively, the "Services").
We're committed to transparency and putting your interests first, not engagement metrics.
Information We Collect
Account Information
When you create an account using a social login provider (like Google), we receive information from that provider, such as your email address and name, to create your account. Premium subscribers may provide payment information (like credit card details), which is processed securely through our payment provider (e.g., Stripe). We do not store your full payment card details.
Reading Activity
We track which articles you read, how long you spend reading, and your reading preferences. This helps us understand what content serves you best and enables personalization features for premium users.
Device and Usage Data
We automatically collect device information (type, operating system), IP address, browser type, and general usage patterns (like features you interact with). This helps us optimize the mobile experience and maintain platform security.
Cookies and Tracking Technologies
We use cookies (small files stored on your browser), web beacons, and similar technologies to help our Services function. This includes keeping you logged in (essential cookies), understanding how you use our site (analytics cookies), and, for free users, helping our ad partners show relevant ads (advertising cookies). You can manage your cookie preferences through our cookie consent banner or from settings page.
Bookmarks and Preferences
Premium users can save articles and customize their reading experience. We store these preferences to enhance your learning journey.
How We Use Your Information
Personalization: Premium subscribers receive customized content recommendations based on reading history and stated interests.
Content Improvement: We analyze aggregate reading patterns to understand which topics and formats best serve our community's curiosity.
Platform Optimization: Usage data helps us improve mobile performance and ensure articles display perfectly on your device.
Account Management: We use your email to manage your subscription, send important service updates, provide customer support, and send optional marketing communications (which you can opt out of).
Advertising (Free Tier): For free users, we work with respectful advertising partners. We limit data sharing and prioritize quality over invasive targeting.
Legal Basis for Processing (EEA/UK): If you are in the European Economic Area (EEA) or UK, we process your data based on: Contract (to provide our service), Consent (for non-essential cookies or marketing), and Legitimate Interest (for platform security and improvement).
How We Share Your Information
We do not sell your personal information. We share data only in limited circumstances:
Service Providers: We work with trusted partners for payment processing (e.g., Stripe), hosting (e.g., AWS), and analytics (e.g., Google Analytics). They're contractually required to protect your data and only use it for the services they provide.
Advertising Partners (Free Tier): Free users see respectful ads. We may share minimal, pseudonymous data (like an ad ID or IP address) necessary for ad delivery and measurement.
Legal Requirements: We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or in response to a valid legal request (e.g., a subpoena).
Business Transfers: If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that deal. We will notify you of any such change in control.
Aggregated Data: We may share anonymized, aggregated statistics that cannot identify individual users (e.g., "70% of our users are interested in AI").
Your Rights and Choices
We believe you should have control over your data. You have the following rights:
Access and Export: You can contact us to request a copy of your personal data at any time.
Deletion: You may contact us to request deletion of your personal data, subject to our legal obligations to retain certain information.
Data Retention: We retain your personal data for as long as your account is active. After you delete your account, we will permanently delete your data within 90 days, except for information we are legally required to keep (e.g., payment invoices for tax purposes).
Marketing: You can opt out of promotional emails at any time by clicking the "unsubscribe" link in the email. You will still receive important account and service updates.
Cookie Controls: You can manage your non-essential cookie preferences via our consent manager.
Premium Upgrade: Upgrading to premium removes ads and provides an entirely ad-free experience with enhanced personalization.
Your Regional Privacy Rights
Depending on your location, you may have additional rights under laws like the GDPR (Europe) or CCPA (California). These may include:
Right to Rectification: The right to correct inaccurate personal data we hold about you.
Right to Object: The right to object to our processing of your data for certain purposes.
California Rights: The right to opt-out of the "sale" or "sharing" of your personal information (as defined by California law). You can exercise this right via our "Do Not Sell or Share My Info" link.
Right to Complain: The right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.
AI-Generated Content and Data Use
Our articles are generated by AI. We want to be transparent about this:
No Training on Your Data: We do not use your reading activity or personal information to train external, third-party AI models.
Internal Improvement Only: Your reading patterns help us improve our internal content recommendation system, but this happens on our platform with strict privacy controls.
Data Security
We implement industry-standard technical and organizational security measures to protect your information, including encryption in transit (SSL) and at rest, secure authentication, and regular security audits. However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
Children's Privacy
!tldr is not directed to children under 13 (or 16 in certain European regions). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately so we can delete it.
International Users
Our Services are hosted in the United States. If you're accessing !tldr from outside the United States, your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States. By using our platform, you consent to this transfer and processing.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy occasionally to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We'll notify you of significant changes via email or a prominent notice on our platform. Continued use after changes indicates acceptance of the updated policy.
Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your information, we're here to help. Do not hesitate to contact us.
At !tldr, we're committed to respecting your privacy while helping you transform scrolling into learning. Your trust is fundamental to our mission of making curiosity sacred.