Privacy Policy for Root News

1. Introduction

Root Labs OÜ ("we," "our," or "us") operates the Root News mobile application (the "Service"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our Service.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Account Information

• Anonymous Accounts: We create temporary anonymous accounts during onboarding to provide immediate access to our service
• Email and Password: If you choose to create a permanent account or upgrade from anonymous
• Apple ID Information: If you sign in with Apple, we receive your Apple ID, email (if shared), and name (if shared)
• Display Name: User-provided name for account personalization

2.2 Usage Information

• News Preferences: Categories you mark as favorites
• Notification Settings: Your daily reminder preferences and timing
• Subscription Information: Subscription type (Monthly/Annual) and status
• App Usage: Basic app functionality usage for service improvement
• Daily Briefing Interactions: Categories selected and audio briefing plays
• Ask Root Usage: Question count and usage patterns
• In-App Review Responses: Responses to in-app review prompts

2.3 Device Information

• Device Type: To optimize app performance
• Push Notification Tokens: To deliver daily news reminders (only if enabled)
• Platform Information: iOS version and device capabilities

2.4 AI Interaction Data

• Ask Root Questions: Questions you submit through the Ask Root AI Q&A feature are sent to OpenAI for processing. These questions are not stored long-term by Root News.
• Daily Briefing Preferences: Your selected news categories and preferred voice for audio briefings, stored locally on your device
• Audio Briefing Requests: Requests to generate audio versions of your Daily Briefing

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Provide Service: Deliver personalized news content and maintain your account
• Process Payments: Handle subscription billing through Apple App Store
• Send Notifications: Deliver daily news summaries and app updates (with your consent)
• Improve Service: Analyze usage patterns to enhance user experience
• Customer Support: Respond to your inquiries and resolve issues
• Legal Compliance: Meet legal obligations and protect our rights

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information. We may share information only in these limited circumstances:

• Apple App Store: Subscription and payment processing
• Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or to protect our rights
• Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets (with user notification)
• Consent: When you explicitly agree to sharing

We use the following third-party service providers:

• OpenAI: Processes AI-generated news summaries, Ask Root Q&A responses, and text-to-speech audio for Daily Briefings. User questions and article context are sent to OpenAI's API for processing. OpenAI's data usage policies apply.
• Mixpanel: Analytics platform used to understand app usage, retention, and feature engagement. Collects anonymized usage events.
• AppsFlyer: Mobile attribution and marketing analytics. Collects device-level attribution data subject to Apple's App Tracking Transparency framework.
• Superwall: Paywall and subscription management. Handles paywall presentation and conversion tracking.
• Supabase: Cloud database hosting for user accounts and content storage.

5. Data Storage and Security

5.1 Data Storage

• Location: Data stored on secure servers in the United States
• Duration: Account data retained while account is active
• Deletion: Data deleted within 30 days of account deletion request
• Anonymous Accounts: Automatically deleted after 30 days of inactivity

5.2 Security Measures

• Industry-standard encryption for data transmission and storage
• Regular security audits and updates
• Limited access to personal data on need-to-know basis
• Secure authentication systems

6. Your Rights and Choices

6.1 Account Management

• Access: View your account information in app settings
• Update: Modify your preferences and account details
• Delete: Request account deletion through app or email
• Export: Request a copy of your data

6.2 Communication Preferences

• Control push notification settings in app
• Unsubscribe from email communications
• Adjust daily summary timing and frequency

7. Children's Privacy

Root News is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we discover such information, we will delete it immediately.

8. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for international transfers.

9. Analytics and Tracking

We use analytics tools to understand how our app is used and to improve the Service. We do not serve third-party advertisements.

• Mixpanel: We use Mixpanel for product analytics, including feature engagement, retention, and usage patterns. Data collected by Mixpanel is anonymized.
• AppsFlyer: We use AppsFlyer for mobile attribution and marketing analytics. AppsFlyer respects Apple's App Tracking Transparency (ATT) framework, and attribution data is only collected with your consent where required.
• Superwall: We use Superwall for paywall analytics and subscription conversion tracking.

10. AI Data Processing

Root News uses artificial intelligence (powered by OpenAI) to generate content and provide features throughout the app:

• News Summaries and Deep Dives: Article summaries and in-depth analyses are generated using AI based on content from trusted news sources.
• Ask Root: Questions submitted through Ask Root are sent to OpenAI for processing. Root News does not permanently store your Ask Root questions.
• Daily Briefings: Personalized text briefings are generated using AI from the day's top stories in your selected categories.
• Audio Briefings: Audio versions of Daily Briefings are generated server-side using OpenAI text-to-speech technology and streamed to your device.
• Accuracy: AI-generated outputs may contain inaccuracies. Users should verify important information with original sources.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. We will notify you of material changes through:

• In-app notifications
• Email notifications (if provided)
• Updated policy posted on our website

12. Contact Us

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

13. Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR)

For users in the European Union, our legal basis for processing personal information includes:

• Contract Performance: To provide the Root News service you've subscribed to
• Legitimate Interest: To improve our service and provide customer support
• Consent: For optional features like push notifications
• Legal Obligation: To comply with applicable laws and regulations

You have the right to withdraw consent, request data portability, and lodge complaints with supervisory authorities under GDPR.