Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

FactChecker Pro ("we", "our", or "us") helps people identify misinformation and judge the credibility of what they read online. It is available as a browser extension for Chrome and Edge, a Windows app, and an Android app. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your rights regarding your data. It applies to all of these.

By using FactChecker Pro, you agree to the collection and use of information as described in this policy.

2. Information We Collect

Account Information: When you register, we collect your username, email address, and a hashed (encrypted) version of your password. We never store your password in plain text.

Browsing Activity: To provide fact-checking services, the extension reads the text content of web pages you actively visit. This content is processed locally in your browser and on our servers to identify claims and assess credibility. We do not sell or share this data with third parties.

Submitted Claims: When you submit a claim for fact-checking, we store the claim text, the source URL, the date of submission, and the analysis result. This data is associated with your account.

Usage Statistics: We collect anonymized usage data such as the number of pages analysed, claims submitted, and accuracy scores. This helps us improve the extension.

Technical Data: We collect standard server logs including IP addresses, browser type, and request timestamps for security and debugging purposes. This data is retained for up to 30 days.

Android App: In the Android app we also store the things you choose to do, such as articles you save, your reactions and comments, your interests and language settings, and your points on the leaderboard. Text you share to FactChecker Pro from another app is only used to run the check you asked for.

Purchases: If you subscribe to FactChecker Pro Pro, the payment is handled by Google Play. We never see your card details. We store only the purchase token, the plan, and the date your subscription ends, so we can unlock your Pro features.

Advertising Data: The free Android app shows ads served by Google AdMob. AdMob may collect your device advertising ID, IP address and general usage information to show and measure ads. See the Advertising section below.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide and operate the FactChecker Pro service
• Authenticate your account and secure your data
• Analyse web page content to detect claims and assess credibility
• Track your transparency score and fact-checking activity
• Send important service notifications (account confirmation, security alerts)
• Improve the accuracy of our fact-checking algorithms
• Comply with legal obligations

We do not sell your personal data to third parties or use your data for purposes unrelated to fact-checking services.

3a. Advertising and Consent

The free version of the Android app shows banner ads through Google AdMob. Pro members do not see ads. If you are in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom or Switzerland, the app asks for your consent before ads are requested, using Google's consent form. You can change your choice later in the app settings or in your Android device's ad settings, where you can also reset or delete your advertising ID. Google explains how it uses data from apps that use its services at policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites.

3b. Services We Use

We rely on a small number of service providers to run FactChecker Pro: Railway for hosting, Google Play for purchases, Google AdMob for ads, and AI services such as Google Gemini to analyse the text of a claim you submit. These providers only receive the information needed to do their job.

4. Data Storage and Security

Your data is stored on secure servers hosted by Railway (railway.app) in the United States. We implement industry-standard security measures including:

• Encrypted HTTPS connections for all data in transit
• Bcrypt hashing for all passwords
• JWT tokens with expiration for authentication
• Rate limiting to prevent abuse

While we take reasonable precautions, no system is completely secure. We encourage you to use a strong, unique password for your FactChecker Pro account.

5. Data Retention

We retain your account data for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account, your personal information will be removed within 30 days. Anonymized usage statistics may be retained indefinitely for research purposes.

6. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
• Correction: Request that we correct inaccurate data
• Deletion: Request deletion of your account and associated data
• Portability: Request your data in a portable format
• Objection: Object to processing of your data in certain circumstances

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at info@factcheckerpro.net.

7. Cookies and Local Storage

FactChecker Pro uses Chrome's built-in storage APIs (chrome.storage.local and chrome.storage.sync) to save your preferences, authentication token, and usage statistics locally on your device. The Android app stores your sign in and settings on your device in the same way. Apart from Google AdMob in the free Android app, as described above, we do not use third-party cookies or tracking technologies.

8. Children's Privacy

FactChecker Pro is not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify registered users of significant changes via email. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision. Continued use of FactChecker Pro after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

10. Contact Us

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at:

FactChecker Pro
Email: info@factcheckerpro.net