Privacy Policy – Novel Hut

Effective Date: August 16, 2025

Welcome to Novel Hut. We are committed to being transparent about how we handle your personal information. This Privacy Policy describes how Novel Hut ("we," "us," "our") collects, uses, and shares your information when you use our website, mobile applications, and related services (collectively, the "Service").

By using our Service, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy and our [Terms of Service].

1. Information We Collect

We collect information to provide and improve the Service. The types of information we collect depend on how you use our platform.

A. Information You Provide Directly

  • Account Information: When you create an account, you provide us with a username, email address, and password.
  • Profile Information: You may choose to provide additional information for your public profile, such as a bio, profile picture, location, or links to your social media profiles.
  • Your Content: We collect the content you create, post, or share on the Service. This includes your stories, comments, reviews, private messages, and reading lists.
  • Communications: We collect information when you contact us for support, provide feedback, or otherwise communicate with us.

B. Information We Collect Automatically

  • Usage Data: We log information about your interactions with the Service, such as the pages you visit, the stories you read or write, features you use, time and date of access, and your search queries.
  • Device and Log Information: We collect information from and about the device you use to access our Service, including your IP address, browser type and settings, operating system, device identifiers, and crash data.
  • Cookies and Tracking Technologies: We use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to operate and personalize the Service. This includes recognizing you, remembering your preferences, and collecting information about how you use the Service. See Section 4 for more details.
  • Inferences: We may draw inferences from your activity to help us personalize content and advertising for you.

C. Information from Third Parties

Social Media Logins: If you choose to link or create your Novel Hut account using a third-party service (like Google or Facebook), we receive information from that service, such as your public profile information and email address, as authorized by you and that service's policies.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information for the following purposes:

  • To Provide and Maintain the Service: To operate our platform, authenticate users, process transactions, and maintain the security and stability of the Service.
  • To Personalize Your Experience: To recommend stories and content you might like, customize your feed, and personalize other features based on your activity and preferences.
  • For Advertising and Monetization: To display advertisements on the Service, some of which may be personalized based on your usage data and inferred interests. We use information to measure the effectiveness of ads and to help our advertising partners show you more relevant content. We do not share your name, email address, or other personally identifying information with advertising partners without your consent.
  • To Communicate With You: To send you service-related announcements, updates, security alerts, and support messages. We may also send you promotional communications, which you can opt out of at any time.
  • For Analytics and Improvement: To understand how our users interact with the Service so we can improve it, develop new features, and conduct research.
  • For Safety and Security: To protect our users, prevent fraud and abuse, enforce our [Terms of Service] and [Community Guidelines], and comply with legal obligations.

3. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal data. We may share it in the following circumstances:

  • Publicly on the Service: Your profile information (username, bio, etc.) and the content you post (stories, comments, reviews) are visible to other users and the public.
  • With Service Providers: We share information with third-party vendors who perform services on our behalf, such as cloud hosting, database management, analytics, customer support, and email delivery. These vendors are contractually obligated to protect your data and can only use it for the services they are providing to us.
  • With Advertising Partners: We may share non-personally identifiable information (such as aggregated usage data, device information, or advertising identifiers) with third parties to show and measure the performance of advertisements.
  • For Legal Reasons: We may disclose your information if we believe it's required by law, subpoena, or other legal process, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of Novel Hut, our users, or the public.
  • Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, bankruptcy, or sale of all or a portion of our assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.

4. Cookies, Tracking, and Your Choices

We use cookies and similar technologies to help operate, secure, and personalize our Service.

What are Cookies? Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help us recognize your browser or device.

How We Use Them: We use them for essential functions (like keeping you logged in), remembering your preferences, analyzing performance, and for advertising purposes.

Your Choices: Most web browsers are set to accept cookies by default. You can usually adjust your browser settings to remove or reject cookies. You can also manage your preferences for personalized advertising through our cookie consent manager (where applicable) or by visiting industry opt-out pages like the Digital Advertising Alliance's AboutAds site. Please note that blocking essential cookies may affect the availability and functionality of the Service.

5. Your Data Rights

Depending on your location, you have certain rights regarding your personal data. These may include the right to:

  • Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
  • Rectification: Request that we correct any inaccurate or incomplete information.
  • Erasure (Right to be Forgotten): Request that we delete your personal information, subject to certain legal exceptions.
  • Object to Processing: Object to our processing of your data for certain purposes (like direct marketing).
  • Data Portability: Request that we provide your data in a portable, machine-readable format.
  • Withdraw Consent: Withdraw your consent at any time where we rely on it to process your information.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at novelhutteam@novelhut.net.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you with the Service. We may also retain information to comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements.

7. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.

8. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own. We ensure that such transfers comply with applicable data protection laws and that your information receives adequate protection.

9. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Effective Date" at the top of this policy.

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at novelhutteam@novelhut.net.