Hackernoon
- The documents do not say whether your data trains AI.
- Your data is used for personalized ads, including by third-party ad companies.
- Data is shared only with the providers who run the service.
- The documents do not say who can read your content.
They collect account, cookies, and usage data, share it with Google and other vendors, and keep it as long as they need it.
Agent Trust Hub uses AI and may make mistakes. Review reports and confirm their contents before relying on them.
Collected
Account info, cookies, usage data, and extra data from Google, social logins, and other vendors.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“Among the types of Personal Data that this Website collects, by itself or through third parties, there are: Cookies; Usage Data; email address; first name; last name; username; password; various types of Data.”
Training
They use it to run the site, analytics, newsletters, logins, and Google may personalize ads.
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Privacy policy
“Google may use the Data collected to contextualize and personalize the ads of its own advertising network.”
Sharing
Staff plus many vendors (Google, Firebase, Mailgun, Algolia, Vercel, social networks) can get the data.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“in some cases, the Data may be accessible to certain types of persons in charge, involved with the operation of this Website (administration, sales, marketing, legal, system administration) or external parties”
Kept
They keep it as long as they need it for the purpose, or longer for law or consent.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“Unless specified otherwise in this document, Personal Data shall be processed and stored for as long as required by the purpose they have been collected for and may be retained for longer due to applicable legal obligation or based on the Users’ consent.”
Controls
You can email them to access or delete data; they also point to ad and cookie opt-outs.
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Privacy policy
“Any requests to exercise User rights can be directed to the Owner through the contact details provided in this document.”
Fine print
They can change the privacy policy by posting on the page; their actual terms of use are not in these documents.
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Privacy policy
“The Owner reserves the right to make changes to this privacy policy at any time by notifying its Users on this page and possibly within this Website”
Expand “Read the exact line” to see the source alongside the explanation.
What you can turn off
The controls and opt-outs their own documents describe, and where they say to find them.
Email to access or delete your data
Owner contact email: legal@hackernoon.com
Opt out of interest-based ads
Cookie Policy section on interest-based advertising, plus vendor opt-outs (e.g. Google Analytics Opt Out)
If a switch is not where they say, the deletion request above still applies.
Line by line
The lines that matter most, worst first.
Google Analytics on this site can feed Google’s ad network so ads follow you elsewhere.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“Google may use the Data collected to contextualize and personalize the ads of its own advertising network.”
For example, reading tech posts here could help Google show you related ads on other sites.
Several vendors collect extra data types that this policy does not list; you have to read those companies’ policies.
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Privacy policy
“Personal Data processed: various types of Data as specified in the privacy policy of the service.”
For example, signing in with GitHub or Facebook can send whatever those companies share, not just your email.
There is no clear delete-by date. They keep data until they decide the purpose is done, or longer.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“Unless specified otherwise in this document, Personal Data shall be processed and stored for as long as required by the purpose they have been collected for and may be retained for longer due to applicable legal obligation or based on the Users’ consent.”
For example, an old newsletter signup could stay on file indefinitely unless you ask them to erase it.
They can change the rules by updating this page. You are expected to check it yourself.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“The Owner reserves the right to make changes to this privacy policy at any time by notifying its Users on this page”
For example, they could add a new tracker and only mention it on the privacy page.
Creating an account or buying something can put you on the marketing email list.
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Privacy policy
“Your email address might also be added to this list as a result of signing up to this Website or after making a purchase.”
For example, registering to comment could start promotional emails without a separate newsletter signup.
They claim they use security measures, but they do not name audits or specific tools.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“The Owner takes appropriate security measures to prevent unauthorized access, disclosure, modification, or unauthorized destruction of the Data.”
For example, you are not told if they encrypt data or run independent security tests.
If -style rights apply to you, you can ask them to delete your data.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“Have their Personal Data deleted or otherwise removed. Users have the right to obtain the of their Data from the Owner.”
For example, you can email legal@hackernoon.com and ask them to erase your account details.
They say you can opt out of interest-based ads via their cookie policy and vendor tools.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“Users may learn more on how to generally opt out of interest-based advertising within the dedicated section of the Cookie Policy.”
For example, you can use the cookie settings or Google’s ad opt-out they link to.
If you post someone else’s personal info, that is on you.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“Users are responsible for any third-party Personal Data obtained, published or shared through this Website.”
For example, putting a coworker’s email in a story could make you responsible, not the site.
Words to know
Legal words from the lines above, in plain English.
- personal data
- Any information that is about you or can be linked to you, from your name to your phone's ID. For example, your email, your IP address and the list of apps on your phone are all personal data.
- third parties
- Any company or person other than you and the app, such as advertisers, partners or analytics firms. For example, an analytics company that receives a record of every screen you tap is a third party.
- cookies
- Small files a website saves on your device so it can recognise you and remember what you did. For example, a cookie keeps you logged in and can also tell an ad company which sites you visited.
- retention
- How long a company keeps your data before deleting it. For example, a policy might keep your messages for 30 days after you delete them, or for as long as it likes.
- consent
- Your clear agreement to something, given by an action like ticking a box or tapping Accept. For example, a pop-up asking if the app may use your location is asking for consent.
- right to erasure
- Your right to have a company delete the personal data it holds about you, with some exceptions. For example, you can ask a social app to wipe your old posts and profile and it must, unless a law says otherwise.
- opt out
- Something is on by default and stays on until you find the setting and turn it off. For example, your chats may be used for training unless you go into settings and switch it off.
- targeted advertising
- Ads chosen for you based on what you have done across other apps and websites, not just this one. For example, you look at shoes in one app and see shoe ads in a totally different app the next day.
How we got here · grade D · score 35/100 · 15 of 15 policy answers backed by a verified quote · 9 not stated
What does the app collect beyond what it needs to work?
They collect cookies, usage data, and account fields, plus extra types from third-party services.
Does it record your voice, face or body, and what happens to that?
Not stated in the documents.
Are your chats and uploads used to train AI models, and is that off by default?
Not stated in the documents.
Can employees or contractors read your conversations, and when?
Not stated in the documents.
Are you profiled or tracked for advertising?
Google Analytics and other trackers are used, and Google may personalize ads. They mention interest-based ad opt-outs.
Do they sell or share your data, and can you opt out?
Data goes to named service providers (hosting, analytics, mail, logins). They do not say they sell it.
What rights do they take over what you type and what the AI makes?
Not stated in the documents.
How long do they keep your data after you delete it, and can you delete it in the app?
They keep data as long as needed. Deletion is by contacting them, not described as an in-app button with a deadline.
Does it build a lasting memory or profile of you, and can you see, edit or turn it off?
Not stated in the documents.
Do they commit to basic security, and have they leaked data?
They say they take appropriate security measures, without naming audits or a bug-bounty program.
Is there a real age gate, and are teens protected?
Not stated in the documents.
Will they tell you when the rules change, and is the policy specific?
The policy has no last-updated date in the text we received. They may change it by posting on the page.
Can they close your account without warning, and can you get your data out first?
Not stated in the documents.
If something goes wrong, who pays?
Not stated in the documents.
Do subscriptions renew on their own, and can you get a refund?
Not stated in the documents.
The privacy policy is 5,334 words at a college graduate level (Flesch reading ease 37.7); the terms are 837 words at a college level.
