Privacy policy.

Overview

Noteworthy News is an independent news product: a website, web push notifications, live story coverage, and a companion iOS app. We try to collect only what we need to run those services, deliver the alerts you ask for, keep things reliable, and prevent abuse.

You can read the site and follow most coverage without creating an account. Some features - signing in, enabling notifications, following a live story, or pairing the iOS app - require a small amount of additional information, described below.

Information we collect

Information you provide

When you contact us, submit a tip or correction, or sign up for the newsletter, we receive what you send - typically your email address and message. Newsletter delivery is handled by our email provider (see Third-party services).

Account and profile information

If you sign in, authentication is handled by Auth0. We receive the profile details associated with your login, which may include your email address, name, and avatar image. We use this to show your profile, enable comments, grant authorized staff access, and - only if you choose to pair the iOS app while signed in - to display your linked profile in the app.

Notification and device information

If you enable web push notifications, your browser creates a push subscription (a delivery endpoint and keys). We store that subscription and a key derived from its endpoint so we can send the alerts you selected and respect your preferences. If you provide an email when subscribing, we store it with the subscription.

Live Story follows and preferences

When you follow a live story, we record which story you follow (linked to your push subscription key), an optional email if provided, and whether the follow is muted. This lets us notify you about updates and show aggregate follower counts.

App and device information (iOS app)

If you use our iOS app and pair it with the website, we process a device identifier you generate, a hashed device secret (the secret itself is stored only on your device), your push environment, app version and locale, and Apple push tokens used for notifications and Live Activities. Pairing uses a short-lived, single-use code; if you pair while signed in, that code briefly carries your verified profile so the app can show it.

Usage and log information

Like virtually all websites, our hosting and infrastructure providers automatically generate technical logs (for example, IP address, browser/device type, and timestamps) to operate, secure, and troubleshoot the service.

On-device preferences

Some preferences are stored locally in your browser (for example, your article text-size choice and your cookie-consent selection). These stay on your device unless this policy states otherwise.

How we use information

• Operate and display the website, stories, and live updates
• Deliver web push and (where enabled) iOS notifications and Live Activities you opt into
• Manage the live stories you follow and your notification preferences
• Pair and maintain the iOS companion app
• Respond to messages, tips, and correction requests
• Maintain reliability, security, and prevent abuse or fraud
• Show advertising through Google AdSense (see Cookies)
• Comply with legal obligations and respond to lawful requests

Notifications & Live Activities

Web push: When you opt in, your browser registers a push subscription that we use to send the alert categories you selected (such as breaking news, earthquakes, website updates, or live story updates). You can turn these off at any time in your browser's site settings or your notification preferences, which deactivates delivery.

iOS notifications and Live Activities: If you use the iOS app, Apple Push Notification service (APNs) delivers notifications and Live Activity updates (such as Lock Screen and Dynamic Island coverage of a live story) to your device. These rely on Apple-issued push tokens tied to your paired device. You control them through iOS notification settings and by following or unfollowing stories.

Your control: Disabling notifications in your browser or in iOS settings stops delivery. Unfollowing a story stops updates for that story.

Third-party services

We rely on a small set of service providers to run Noteworthy News. Each has its own privacy practices:

• NetlifyWebsite hosting, serverless functions, and storage for content and push subscriptions.
• SupabaseDatabase for live stories, follows, and paired-device records.
• Auth0Sign-in and account authentication.
• Apple (APNs)Delivery of iOS notifications and Live Activities.
• Google AdSense & Google FontsAdvertising and web fonts. AdSense may use cookies/device identifiers for ads.
• ResendSending and routing email such as newsletters and contact replies.
• X (Twitter) and original sourcesSome stories link to original posts or sources. Visiting them is subject to those sites' own policies.

We also use public data sources (for example, USGS and the National Weather Service) for event information; these provide data and do not receive your personal information from us.

Cookies, local storage, and similar technologies

We use local storage for essential preferences (such as your article text-size setting and your cookie-consent choice). These are not used to track you across other sites.

We display ads through Google AdSense. AdSense and its partners may use cookies or device identifiers to show and measure ads, including personalized ads based on your activity. When you first visit, our cookie banner lets you accept or reject non-essential cookies, and that choice is stored on your device.

You can manage advertising preferences through Google's Ads Settings, the Network Advertising Initiative opt-out, and Google's partner-sites policy. You can also control or clear cookies in your browser settings.

How we share information

• Service providers: We share information with the providers listed above only as needed to operate the service.
• Advertising: Google AdSense may use cookies/identifiers to deliver and measure ads. Under some privacy laws, this advertising activity may be considered "sharing" of information for targeted advertising; you can opt out using the links above.
• Legal and safety: We may disclose information to comply with the law, enforce our terms, or protect the rights, safety, and security of our users and the public.
• Public content: Comments you post and links to original sources are not private.

We do not sell your personal information for money.

Data retention

• Pairing codes are short-lived (about 10 minutes), single-use, and removed after they expire or are redeemed.
• Push subscriptions, live story follows, and paired-device records are kept while they remain active and are removed when you unsubscribe, unfollow, or a subscription becomes invalid.
• Operational logs are retained by our infrastructure providers according to their own schedules.
• Messages you send us are kept as needed to respond and maintain records.

To request access or deletion of information associated with you, contact us using the details below.

Your choices

• Notifications: Turn web push or iOS notifications on or off in your browser or device settings.
• Live stories: Unfollow a story at any time to stop its updates.
• iOS pairing: Unpair or reset the app's device link from the app, and re-pair when you choose.
• Account: Sign out at any time; contact us about your profile information.
• Cookies: Accept or reject non-essential cookies, and manage ad personalization with the links above.
• Access & deletion: Contact us to request access to, correction of, or deletion of your information.

Children's privacy

Noteworthy News is a general-audience news product and is not directed to young children. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us personal information, please contact us and we will take appropriate steps to remove it.

Security

We take reasonable measures to protect information - for example, storing device secrets only as hashes, deriving subscription keys rather than exposing raw endpoints, restricting database access, and rate-limiting sensitive actions. No method of transmission or storage is perfectly secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy as our products and practices change. When we do, we will revise the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Significant changes may be highlighted on the site.