Privacy Policy

This policy explains what personal information [Company legal name] ("we") collects when you use Velvet Chapters, how we use it, who we share it with, and the choices you have. Questions: support@velvetchapters.co.

1. Information we collect

You give us

• The name you want characters to call you, and your date of birth (to confirm you are 18+).
• Your email address, if you create an account.
• Your chat messages with characters, plus memory notes the Service keeps so characters remember your conversations.
• Reports you submit and messages you send to support.

Collected automatically

• Reading progress, story choices, coin and subscription history.
• Device and log data: IP address, browser, device type, time zone, pages viewed.
• Ad attribution data (such as UTM parameters and click IDs from Meta or TikTok ads), and, only if you accept all cookies, analytics and advertising cookies (see section 5).
• If you enable notifications in the app, a push notification token.

From payment providers

Payments are handled by Stripe (web) or by Apple / Google (apps). We do not see or store your full card number; we receive a customer ID, the plan, payment status and limited billing details such as country.

2. How we use it

• To run the Service: show your story, generate character replies, remember your progress, and process purchases.
• For safety: enforce the 18+ rule, detect self-harm signals and show crisis resources, review reported or flagged chats.
• To send emails and notifications you asked for, or that are needed for your account (for example a trial reminder).
• To measure and improve the Service, and, with your consent, to measure our advertising.
• To comply with the law and protect our rights.

3. AI processing

Characters are powered by AI models from Anthropic. To generate a reply, we send Anthropic the relevant part of your chat, your story progress and the name you chose. Anthropic processes this data as our service provider, under terms that do not allow it to use your data to train its models. We do not send your email address or payment details to Anthropic.

4. Chat data retention

• Chat logs are kept for 90 days for safety and moderation, then deleted automatically, unless you delete them sooner.
• Messages that are flagged by our safety systems or reported may be kept longer while they are reviewed, and as needed to comply with the law.
• The short memory summary a character keeps about your conversations stays until you delete it or your account. You can delete your chat history and memory any time in Account.
• Other account data is kept while your account is open, and deleted within 30 days after you delete your account, except records we must keep for legal, tax or fraud-prevention reasons.

5. Cookies, analytics and ad pixels

We use essential cookies and local storage to keep you signed in and save your place. These are always on.

Only if you choose "Accept all" in our cookie banner, we also load:

• PostHog, for product analytics (which pages and features are used).
• Meta Pixel and TikTok Pixel, to measure our ads. When you start a trial, buy or sign up, we may also send that event directly from our server to Meta and TikTok with hashed (not readable) identifiers such as your email address, so the same event is not counted twice.

"Essential only" is the default. You can change your choice at any time with the "Cookie settings" link in the footer.

In our iOS and Android apps we use AppsFlyer to learn which ad (for example on Meta, TikTok, Google or AppLovin) led to an install, and to tell those ad networks about later steps such as finishing onboarding, starting a trial or subscribing, so they can measure our ads. We use Google Analytics for Firebase for app analytics and to measure Google ads. They receive device identifiers, app events and, on iOS, the advertising identifier only if you allow tracking when the app asks. You can change that at any time in iOS Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking. On Android you can reset or delete your advertising ID in your device settings.

If you don't have VIP, the apps show ads between chapters served by Google AdMob. Google receives device identifiers, approximate location from your IP address and ad interactions, and on iOS the advertising identifier only if you allow tracking. Where the law requires it (for example in the EEA, the UK and some US states) we ask for your consent first, and you can choose non-personalised ads. VIP removes the ads.

6. Who we share data with

• Service providers that run the Service for us: hosting and database (Vercel, Supabase), AI (Anthropic), payments (Stripe, Apple, Google, RevenueCat), email (Resend), push notifications (Expo), analytics (PostHog, with consent; Google Analytics for Firebase in the apps), app attribution (AppsFlyer), in-app ads (Google AdMob).
• Advertising partners (Meta, TikTok, Google, AppLovin) only as described in section 5.
• Authorities, when the law requires it or to protect someone's safety.
• A buyer or successor if our business is sold or merged.

We do not sell your chat messages.

7. Your rights and choices

• Access and copy: ask us for a copy of your data.
• Delete: delete your chat history in Account, or delete your whole account in Account → Delete account.
• Correct: change your name and email in Account.
• Marketing: every marketing email has an unsubscribe link; you can turn notifications off in Account or your device settings.

To make a request, email support@velvetchapters.co. We may need to verify your identity first.

8. California residents (CCPA/CPRA)

If you live in California, you have the right to:

• Know what personal information we collect, use, disclose, and share, and get a copy of it.
• Delete your personal information, and correct inaccurate information.
• Opt out of the "sale" or "sharing" of personal information for cross-context behavioural advertising. Our use of Meta and TikTok pixels, and of AppsFlyer in the apps, may count as "sharing". On the web the pixels load only if you accept all cookies; choose "Essential only" in Cookie settings to opt out. We honour Global Privacy Control signals. In the apps, deny tracking on iOS or email support@velvetchapters.co with the subject "Do not share".
• Limit the use of sensitive personal information. We use it only as needed to provide the Service.
• Not be discriminated against for exercising these rights.

Categories collected in the last 12 months: identifiers (name you chose, email, device IDs), commercial information (purchases), internet activity, approximate location from IP, and the content of your chats. Sources, purposes and recipients are described above. You can use an authorised agent to make a request. Email support@velvetchapters.co with the subject "California privacy request".

9. Children

The Service is for adults 18+ only. We do not knowingly collect data from anyone under 18 and delete it when we learn of it.

10. Security and international transfers

We use encryption in transit, access controls and other safeguards, but no system is perfectly secure. Your data may be processed in the United States and other countries where our providers operate.

11. Changes

We will post updates here and tell you about material changes before they take effect.

12. Contact

[Company legal name] · [Registered address] · support@velvetchapters.co