Privacy Policy

Last updated: April 27, 2026

theBrief ("we", "our", or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you use the theBrief app and website (collectively, the "Service").

1. Information We Collect

Account Information. If you sign in with Google or Apple, we receive your name, email address, and profile picture (Google only) from those services. We store this information to personalize your experience.

Topic Preferences. We store the news topics you select so we can curate your personal news briefing. This is saved locally on your device and, if signed in, linked to your account.

Saved Stories. Stories you save are stored locally on your device.

Usage Data and Analytics. We use PostHog, an analytics service, to collect usage information such as which features are used, which stories are played, and app error reports, so we can improve the Service. Analytics data is associated with a random identifier, and with your account if you sign in. We do not use analytics for advertising, and we do not link your data with other companies' data for ad targeting.

2. How We Use Your Information

• To personalize your news briefing based on your selected topics
• To restore your preferences across devices when signed in
• To improve the app and fix bugs
• To communicate with you about significant service changes (if you have an account)

3. Third-Party Services

theBrief uses the following third-party services to operate:

• NewsAPI — fetches news headlines. Subject to NewsAPI's Privacy Policy.
• Anthropic Claude — generates AI summaries of news articles. Subject to Anthropic's Privacy Policy.
• OpenAI — generates audio narration for news summaries. Subject to OpenAI's Privacy Policy.
• Google Sign-In — optional authentication. Subject to Google's Privacy Policy.
• Sign in with Apple — optional authentication. Subject to Apple's Privacy Policy.
• Vercel — hosts the app and stores audio files. Subject to Vercel's Privacy Policy.
• PostHog — product analytics and error reporting. Subject to PostHog's Privacy Policy.

News article content is sourced from third-party publishers. We summarize articles using AI but do not store the full original content beyond what is needed for processing.

4. Data Storage and Security

Account information (name, email) is stored in a secured database hosted on Vercel. We use industry-standard security measures to protect your data.

Your topic preferences and saved stories are stored on your device using browser local storage and are not transmitted to our servers unless you are signed in.

Audio files are stored in Vercel Blob storage and are publicly accessible by URL. They do not contain any personal information.

5. Data Retention

We retain account data for as long as your account is active. You may request deletion of your account and associated data at any time by contacting us at the address below.

6. Children's Privacy

theBrief is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us so we can delete it.

7. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have rights to access, correct, or delete your personal data. To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information below.

8. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by updating the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

9. Contact Us