Privacy Policy

1. Overview

This Privacy Policy describes how AuthorHub ("we", "us", "our") collects, uses, and protects your information when you use the Author Platform website and services (the "Service"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your data transparently.

2. Data We Collect

We collect the following types of information:

• Account Information: Username, email address, display name, and avatar when you register an account.
• User Content: Stories, characters, worlds, chapters, comments, posts, and other content you create on the platform.
• Usage Data: Pages visited, features used, timestamps of actions, and general interaction patterns to improve the Service.
• Payment Information: Transaction IDs and purchase history. We do not store your credit card numbers or cryptocurrency wallet addresses — all payment processing is handled by third-party providers (Paddle, NOWPayments).
• Technical Data: Browser type, device type, IP address, and operating system for security and performance purposes.

3. How We Use Your Data

• To provide, maintain, and improve the Service
• To authenticate users and maintain account security
• To process payments and manage subscriptions
• To personalize your experience (e.g., feed recommendations, reading history)
• To communicate with you about the Service (e.g., updates, security alerts)
• To enforce our Terms and Conditions and Community Rules
• To detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and security threats

We do not sell your personal information to third parties.

4. Cookies & Local Storage

• Authentication Cookies: JWT tokens stored in HTTP-only cookies to keep you logged in.
• Preferences: Language selection, theme preferences, and UI settings stored in browser localStorage.
• Analytics: Basic usage tracking to understand how the platform is used and to improve features.

You can clear cookies and local storage at any time through your browser settings. This may require you to log in again.

5. Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services:

• Paddle — Payment processing for card payments, subscriptions, and regional tax handling. Paddle acts as the Merchant of Record. (Paddle Privacy Policy)
• NOWPayments — Cryptocurrency payment processing. (NOWPayments Privacy Policy)
• AI Providers — Text prompts sent to AI services (Google Gemini, Groq, OpenRouter) for creative content generation. We do not send personally identifiable information to AI providers.

6. Data Security

• All data is transmitted over HTTPS (TLS encryption).
• Passwords are hashed using industry-standard algorithms and are never stored in plain text.
• Access to production systems is restricted and monitored.
• We conduct regular backups of user data to prevent data loss.

While we take reasonable measures to protect your data, no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure.

7. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you
• Correct inaccurate or incomplete data through your profile settings
• Delete your account and all associated data through your profile settings
• Export your content using the built-in export features
• Object to or restrict certain processing of your data

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at support@authorhubapp.com.

8. Children's Privacy

The Service is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, we will take steps to delete such information.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will post the updated policy on this page and update the "Effective Date" at the top. Continued use of the Service after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.

10. Contact

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us:

• Email: support@authorhubapp.com
• Website: https://authorhubapp.com