1. Introduction
Welcome to BLTN News ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring you have a positive experience when using our mobile application. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use the BLTN News mobile application.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Personal Information
When you create an account or use our services, we may collect:
- Email Address: Used for account creation, authentication, and communication
- Authentication Information: When you sign in with Google or Apple, we receive basic profile information (name, email) from these providers
- User ID: A unique identifier assigned to your account
2.2 Usage Information
We automatically collect certain information when you use BLTN News:
- Reading Preferences: Articles you read, save, and categories you prefer
- App Usage Data: Features you use, time spent in app, interaction patterns
- Device Information: Device type, operating system version, app version
- Notification Preferences: Your push notification settings and preferences
2.3 Subscription Information
If you subscribe to BLTN Premium:
- Subscription Status: Active/inactive status, subscription tier
- Purchase Information: Managed by Apple App Store or Google Play Store (we do not store payment details)
2.4 Information We Do NOT Collect
- Credit card or payment information (handled by Apple/Google)
- Precise location data
- Contact lists or phone numbers
- Photos or media from your device
3. How We Use Your Information
We use the collected information for the following purposes:
- Account Management: Create and manage your account, authenticate your identity
- Personalization: Customize your news feed based on your preferences
- Push Notifications: Send breaking news alerts and updates (only if you opt-in)
- Premium Features: Provide subscription-based features to premium users
- Analytics: Understand how users interact with our app to improve functionality
- Communication: Send important updates, subscription information, and customer support
- Legal Compliance: Comply with legal obligations and enforce our terms
4. Third-Party Services
BLTN News integrates with the following third-party services:
4.1 Authentication Providers
- Google Sign-In: For account creation and login (Privacy Policy)
- Sign in with Apple: For account creation and login (Privacy Policy)
4.2 Backend & Database
- Supabase: Cloud database and authentication (Privacy Policy)
4.3 Subscriptions
- RevenueCat: Subscription management (Privacy Policy)
- Apple App Store: iOS subscription processing (Privacy Policy)
- Google Play Store: Android subscription processing (Privacy Policy)
4.4 Push Notifications
- OneSignal: Push notification delivery (Privacy Policy)
4.5 Advertising
- Google AdMob: Ad serving for free users (Privacy Policy)
4.6 AI & Content Processing
- OpenAI: Article summarization and bias analysis (Privacy Policy)
5. Data Sharing and Disclosure
5.1 We Share Data With:
- Service Providers: Third-party services listed above that help us operate the app
- Analytics Partners: Anonymized usage data to improve app performance
5.2 We DO NOT:
- Sell your personal information to third parties
- Share your email with advertisers
- Share your reading history with other users or companies
5.3 Legal Requirements
We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or government regulation.
6. Data Storage and Security
- Encryption: Data is encrypted in transit (HTTPS/TLS) and at rest
- Secure Storage: Sensitive data stored in Supabase with row-level security
- Access Controls: Limited employee access to user data
- Regular Audits: We regularly review our security practices
7. Your Rights and Choices
7.1 Access and Update
You can view and update your profile information in the app's Settings screen.
7.2 Delete Your Account
You can permanently delete your account in Settings → Account Management → Delete Account. This will remove:
- Your profile information
- Saved articles and preferences
- Notification settings
- All associated data
7.3 Opt-Out of Communications
- Push Notifications: Disable in Settings → Notification Preferences
- Marketing Emails: Unsubscribe link in emails (if we send any)
7.4 Advertising
- Ad Personalization: Manage in device settings (iOS: Settings → Privacy → Advertising; Android: Settings → Google → Ads)
- Ad-Free Experience: Upgrade to BLTN Premium
7.5 Data Export
Contact us at support@bltnnews.com to request a copy of your data.
8. Children's Privacy
BLTN News is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we discover we have collected information from a child under 13, we will delete it immediately.
9. International Data Transfers
Your data may be stored and processed in the United States or other countries where our service providers operate. By using BLTN News, you consent to the transfer of your data to these locations.
10. California Privacy Rights (CCPA)
If you are a California resident, you have the right to:
- Know what personal information we collect, use, and share
- Request deletion of your personal information
- Opt-out of the sale of your personal information (we do not sell your data)
- Non-discrimination for exercising your privacy rights
To exercise these rights, email us at support@bltnnews.com.
11. European Users (GDPR)
If you are in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have rights under GDPR including:
- Right to Access: Request a copy of your data
- Right to Rectification: Correct inaccurate data
- Right to Erasure: Delete your data ("right to be forgotten")
- Right to Data Portability: Receive your data in a portable format
- Right to Object: Object to data processing
- Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent at any time
Contact us at support@bltnnews.com to exercise these rights.
12. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by:
- Posting the new Privacy Policy in the app
- Updating the "Last Updated" date
- Sending a push notification (for material changes)
Your continued use of BLTN News after changes means you accept the updated policy.
13. Contact Us
If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, please contact us:
- Email: support@bltnnews.com
- App: Settings → Contact Support