Crease Privacy Policy

Effective date: February 2026

Crease ("the App") is developed and operated by iamkoch ("we", "us", "our"). This privacy policy describes how we collect, use, and protect your information when you use the App.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Analytics Data

We use Google Firebase Analytics to collect anonymous usage data, including:

• App feature usage (which feeds you browse, stories you interact with)
• Device information (device model, OS version, screen size)
• App performance metrics (crash reports via Firebase Crashlytics)
• General engagement metrics (session duration, screen views)

This data is collected in aggregate and does not personally identify you. Firebase Analytics uses device identifiers that are managed by Google. You can opt out of analytics collection in your device settings.

1.2 Hacker News Credentials

If you choose to log in with your Hacker News account, your username and session cookies are stored locally on your device only. We do not transmit, store, or have access to your Hacker News password on our servers. Authentication is handled directly between your device and news.ycombinator.com.

1.3 Article URLs

When you request an AI-generated summary of an article, the article URL is sent to our API server. We cache generated summaries in a PostgreSQL database, indexed by URL, to improve response times for subsequent requests. No personal information is associated with these cached summaries.

1.4 Subscription Data

If you purchase a subscription through Google Play, we receive a purchase token from Google Play Billing for the purpose of validating your subscription status. We cache subscription validation results temporarily. We do not have access to your payment details, which are handled entirely by Google Play.

1.5 Locally Stored Data

The following data is stored only on your device and is never transmitted to our servers:

• Saved stories and read status
• Reminders and drafts
• App preferences and settings
• Offline cached content

2. How We Use Your Information

• Analytics data is used to understand how the App is used so we can improve it
• Crash reports help us identify and fix bugs
• Article URLs are used solely to generate and cache summaries
• Subscription tokens are used solely to verify your subscription status

3. Third-Party Services

The App uses the following third-party services:

• Google Firebase Analytics - for anonymous usage analytics. Firebase Privacy Policy
• Google Firebase Crashlytics - for crash reporting. Firebase Privacy Policy
• Google Gemini API - for AI article summarisation. Article URLs are sent to Google's Gemini API to generate summaries. Google AI Terms
• Hacker News API - for fetching stories, comments, and user data. Y Combinator Privacy Policy
• Algolia HN Search API - for search functionality. Algolia Privacy Policy
• Google Play Billing - for subscription management. Google Privacy Policy

4. Data Sharing

We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer your personal information to third parties. Data is shared with the third-party services listed above only as necessary to provide the App's functionality.

5. Data Retention

• Analytics data: Retained by Firebase according to Google's standard retention policies (typically 14 months for event data)
• Cached summaries: Retained indefinitely on our servers as they contain no personal data (only article URLs and their AI-generated summaries)
• Subscription validation cache: Retained temporarily and refreshed periodically
• Local data: Retained on your device until you clear the App's data or uninstall the App

6. Data Deletion

You can delete your locally stored data at any time by clearing the App's data through your Android device settings or by uninstalling the App. To request deletion of any server-side data associated with specific article URLs, please contact us at the email below.

7. Data Security

All communication between the App and our servers uses HTTPS encryption. Hacker News credentials are stored locally using Android's standard data storage mechanisms. We do not store passwords on our servers.

8. Children's Privacy

The App is not directed at children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. Continued use of the App after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

10. Contact

For questions about this privacy policy or your data, contact us at: ant@iamkoch.com