Privacy Policy
This policy describes how Justin Kastil ("I") handles information in the DeepNiche iOS application (the "App").
Who I am
DeepNiche is an iOS application I operate as an individual. It displays short briefs of third-party articles for a niche name you select, and it links to the original source.
Information stored on your device
The App stores, on your device:
- the niche names you select;
- cached briefs, source links, photographs from those sources when available, and any date printed on the source;
- the date you first opened the App, used only to measure a three-day complimentary access period;
- App Store subscription status provided by Apple through StoreKit;
- your choice of whether usage counting is on; and
- notification permission and any time you set for a local reminder.
Deleting the App deletes this on-device information. Apple retains App Store purchase records under Apple's policies. I do not receive StoreKit receipts or transaction identifiers on my server.
Information sent off the device
When you request a brief, the App sends the niche name you entered to a server I operate, hosted by Vercel, so the App can return up to five article briefs from a thirty-day lookback. That server forwards the request to xAI, which generates the briefs. The generated briefs are sent back to the App. These services may also process technical information necessary to receive and secure the request, such as the time of the request, IP address, and diagnostic information.
xAI retains API requests and responses for up to 30 days unless Zero Data Retention is enabled on that account. Vercel may retain request logs, which can include IP address and user-agent, for hosting and security, typically not more than 30 days.
Do not enter personal, confidential, medical, financial, or other sensitive information as a niche name. A name you type is sent to xAI to generate briefs.
Usage counting is on by default. The App sends the niche names you open, with no account, email address, advertising identifier, or other persistent user identifier. When you open a source link, the App may also send that https URL as a product interaction (which URLs were opened). Those counts are not linked to a person or a device, and they are kept for up to 90 days so papers can be prepared for names people actually read. You may turn counting off at any time in the App without losing access, including paid reading.
If you email me, I receive the address, the message, and anything else you choose to send. I keep that correspondence as long as needed to respond and then delete it, and in any event within 12 months unless a legal obligation requires longer.
The App does not create an account, does not collect your email except if you write to me, does not use an advertising identifier, and does not collect precise location or contacts.
How this information is used
The niche name is used to produce the five briefs. Counts are used to see which names are opened so those papers can be prepared. I do not sell personal information. I do not use this information for advertising. I do not build a cross-application advertising profile.
Processors
Apple Inc. processes App Store payments and subscription status under Apple's terms. xAI generates the briefs under xAI's terms. Vercel hosts the server. The xAI API key is held on the server. It is not stored in the iOS application.
Children
The App is not directed at children under 13 years of age.
Retention and deletion
On-device data remains until you delete the App. Cached briefs on my server, when stored so other devices can read the same day's paper, are kept as publication records and are not a personal profile. Optional usage counts are deleted after 90 days. To ask me to delete server-side information I can identify, email factorybornapps@gmail.com. I will not reduce paid functionality because you turn counting off or ask me to delete counts.
Your choices
You may turn counting off later in the App. You may decline notifications. You may delete the App. You may manage or cancel a subscription in your Apple Account settings.
Contact
Justin Kastil
factorybornapps@gmail.com