Privacy Policy
Last Updated: January 2025
American Literature is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information when you use our website and services.
Information We Collect
When You Create an Account
We collect the following information when you create an account:
- Username: Your chosen display name
- Email Address: Used for account management and communication
- Password: Securely hashed and stored
When You Sign In with Google
If you choose to sign in using your Google account, we access and collect:
- Your Name: From your Google profile
- Your Email Address: Your Google account email
- Google Account ID: A unique identifier for authentication
When You Use Our Services
We automatically collect:
- Your reading preferences and saved stories
- Library selections and bookmarks
- Basic usage data through cookies and Google Analytics
How We Use Your Information
We use your information exclusively for the following purposes:
- Account Management: To create and maintain your account
- Authentication: To securely sign you in
- Personalization: To save your reading preferences and library
- Communication: We may contact you via the email you provided for:
- Password reset requests
- Important security alerts
- Essential service updates
- Response to your inquiries
- Service Improvement: To understand how our services are used and improve them
Important: We do NOT sell, rent, or share your personal information with any third parties for marketing or any other purposes.
Data Storage and Security
Your data is protected through:
- Encrypted connections using SSL/TLS protocols
- Secure password hashing (passwords are never stored in plain text)
- Regular security updates and monitoring
- Restricted access to personal data
Data Retention and Deletion
We keep your account information only as long as your account is active.
Deleting Your Account:
- You can permanently delete your account at any time using the "Delete Account" option on your Account Management page
- Account deletion immediately and permanently removes:
- Your user account and profile
- All your saved stories and library items
- Your reading history and preferences
- Any associated Google OAuth connections
- Once deleted, this data cannot be recovered
Third-Party Services
Google Advertising
We display advertisements through Google AdSense to support our free content:
- Google may use cookies to show relevant ads based on your browsing
- These ads operate independently from your American Literature account
- Google does NOT have access to your account information
- You can learn about Google's data practices at Google's Privacy & Terms
Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics to understand site usage patterns. This data is aggregated and does not identify individual users.
Cookies
We use cookies to:
- Keep you signed in to your account
- Remember your display preferences
- Provide analytics about site usage
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect your ability to use some features of our site.
Children's Privacy
While we provide children's literature content, we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 years of age. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately at amlit.editor@gmail.com.
Your Rights
You have the right to:
- Access your account information
- Update your account information
- Delete your account and all associated data
- Opt out of non-essential communications
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. When we make significant changes, we will notify registered users via email. The "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy indicates when it was last revised.
Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us at:
Email: amlit.editor@gmail.com
American Literature
Privacy Inquiries
This privacy policy complies with GDPR, CCPA, and Google API Services User Data Policy requirements.