1. Introduction
Subtext ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our book analysis application ("the Service").
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Information You Provide
We may collect information that you voluntarily provide when using the Service, including:
- ISBNs or barcodes you scan or enter
- Community feedback on content warnings (coming soon)
- Reports or corrections about book information (coming soon)
2.2 Automatically Collected Information
When you use the Service, we may automatically collect certain information, including:
- Device information (browser type, operating system, device identifiers)
- Usage data (pages visited, features used, time spent)
- IP address and general location information (used for rate limiting and security)
- Cookies and similar tracking technologies
Rate Limiting: We collect and temporarily store IP addresses to enforce rate limits (5 scans per IP per day). IP addresses are stored in memory and reset daily. This helps ensure fair usage and manage API costs.
2.3 Local Storage
The Service uses browser local storage to remember your preferences, such as recently scanned books and user settings. This information is stored locally on your device and is not transmitted to our servers unless you explicitly choose to sync data.
3. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to:
- Provide, maintain, and improve the Service
- Process your book scan requests and generate content warnings
- Remember your preferences and provide a personalized experience
- Analyze usage patterns to improve the Service
- Respond to your feedback and support requests
- Detect, prevent, and address technical issues
4. How We Share Your Information
We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information only in the following circumstances:
4.1 Service Providers
We may share information with third-party service providers who perform services on our behalf, such as hosting, analytics, and API providers (e.g., Google Books API, Open Library). These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the purposes we specify.
4.2 Legal Requirements
We may disclose your information if required by law or in response to valid legal requests, such as court orders or subpoenas.
4.3 Aggregated Data
We may share aggregated, anonymized data that does not identify individual users for research, analytics, or improvement purposes.
5. Data Storage and Security
We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your information. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
Your data is stored on secure servers and is encrypted in transit. We retain your information only for as long as necessary to provide the Service and comply with legal obligations.
6. Third-Party Services
The Service integrates with third-party services, including:
- Google Books API: Used to fetch book metadata and descriptions. Your use is subject to Google's Terms of Service.
- Open Library: Used as an alternative source for book information.
- Google Custom Search API: Used to enrich book descriptions when publicly available descriptions are limited. Subject to Google's Terms of Service.
- OpenAI API: Used for LLM processing to generate content warnings.
- Google Gemini API: Used for secondary verification of content analysis.
- Analytics Services: We may use analytics services (e.g., Vercel Analytics) to understand how the Service is used. These services may collect and process your information according to their own privacy policies.
We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party services. We encourage you to review their privacy policies.
7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
The Service uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience. Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help us remember your preferences and analyze usage patterns.
You can control cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling cookies may limit your ability to use certain features of the Service.
8. Your Rights and Choices
Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information, including:
- Access: Request access to your personal information
- Correction: Request correction of inaccurate information
- Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information
- Opt-out: Opt out of certain data collection or processing
- Data Portability: Request a copy of your data in a portable format
To exercise these rights, please contact us through the Service or visit our transparency page.
9. Children's Privacy
The Service is not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately.
10. International Data Transfers
Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have different data protection laws. By using the Service, you consent to the transfer of your information to these countries.
11. Changes to This Privacy 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 such changes constitutes acceptance of the new Privacy Policy.
12. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us through the Service or visit our transparency page.