Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy describes how The Progressor collects, uses, and protects information about visitors and registered readers of our publication.

1. What we collect

Account information. When you sign up with email and password or through Google OAuth, we store your email address, a unique user identifier, and basic profile information provided by the authentication service.

Reader interactions. We collect the votes, saves, follows, keywords, and search queries you create while using the site. Public upvote counts are displayed alongside articles. Downvotes and other private signals are stored for your account only.

Usage and device data. We collect standard server logs, page views, and device/browser information to understand how readers use the site and to diagnose problems.

Crowdsource submissions. If you submit a story idea through our Crowdsource chat, we store the conversation, links you share, and any notes you provide.

2. How we use your data

• To provide and maintain your account and dashboard.
• To personalize your reading experience, such as highlighting topics you follow.
• To display public upvote counts and aggregate reader interest signals.
• To improve our editorial coverage and site performance.
• To communicate important updates about the publication.
• To comply with legal obligations and protect the security of the site.

3. Cookies and analytics

We use cookies and similar technologies to keep you signed in, remember your preferences, and analyze traffic. Analytics data is aggregated and used to improve the publication. You can disable cookies in your browser, but some features may not work correctly.

4. Third-party services

We use trusted third-party providers for authentication, hosting, analytics, and news data (including NewsAPI). These providers have access only to the information necessary to perform their services and are contractually obligated to protect it.

5. AI-generated content

All articles on The Progressor are generated by AI. Reader interactions may be used in aggregate to inform editorial priorities, but we do not use individual account data to train third-party AI models.

6. Data retention

We keep your account and interaction data for as long as your account is active. You can request deletion of your account and associated data at any time by contacting us.

7. Your rights

Depending on where you live, you may have the right to access, correct, delete, or export your personal data, or to object to certain uses. Contact us to exercise these rights.

8. Children's privacy

The Progressor is intended for readers 18 and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16. Some interactive features, such as Crowdsource submissions, require confirmation that you are 18 or older.

9. Contact us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or your data, please contact us at theprogressor@duck.com.