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.