Privacy Policy

1. Scope & Consent

This Privacy Policy applies to all users of the Short2News mobile application, website (short2news.com), and related services operated by Short2News Media Network Pvt. Ltd. By accessing or using our services, you consent to the collection, processing, and storage of your personal data as outlined in this document.

2. Data We Collect

We only collect data strictly necessary to provide our short news delivery and creator monetization services:

• Account Data: When you register via phone number or Google Sign-In, we collect your display name, email address, or mobile phone number.
• Device & Technical Data: Device model, operating system version, app build version, IP address, and unique push notification tokens (FCM) to deliver breaking news alerts.
• Approximate Location Data: State and city-level geolocation (e.g., Telangana, Andhra Pradesh) derived from IP address or optional GPS consent, used solely to show regional state news stories. We do NOT track precise real-time background locations.
• Creator Payout Data: For users enrolled in the Creator Program, we collect UPI IDs or bank account details strictly for distributing news reporting earnings and tax compliance.
• Reading Preferences: Selected preferred languages (e.g., Telugu, Hindi, English) and bookmarks saved locally or to your user profile.

3. How We Use Your Data

We process personal data for lawful purposes including:

• Serving personalized 60-word news feeds in your preferred language and state.
• Synthesizing real-time AI audio voice narration via Shorty AI.
• Delivering urgent breaking news notifications and severe weather alerts.
• Processing coin rewards and UPI payouts to accredited creator journalists.
• Detecting fraudulent news submissions, spam, or malicious attacks.

4. We Do NOT Sell Your Data

Short2News has a strict zero-data-brokerage policy. We will NEVER sell, lease, or rent your personal information to third-party data brokers, marketers, or advertisers.

5. Data Storage & Security Standards

All user data is stored within certified cloud servers located in India in accordance with local data localization directives. We implement industry-standard encryption protocols:

• In Transit: TLS 1.3 encryption across all API requests and socket connections.
• At Rest: AES-256 military-grade encryption for all database records and storage buckets.
• Access Control: Strict Row-Level Security (RLS) ensuring users only access their own private data.

6. Your Rights Under DPDP Act 2023

Under Indian privacy laws, you enjoy complete control over your personal data:

• Right to Access: You can request a summary of the personal data we hold about you.
• Right to Correction: You can update inaccurate profile details directly inside the app settings.
• Right to Erasure ("Right to be Forgotten"): You can request total deletion of your Short2News account and associated reading history at any time.
• Right to Withdraw Consent: You can revoke notification permissions, location access, or delete your account whenever you wish.

7. Cookies & Local Storage

On our website, we use essential first-party cookies (such as s2n_theme and s2n_state) to remember your chosen theme (dark/light) and state preferences. We do not use intrusive third-party cross-site tracking cookies.

8. Grievance Redressal & Data Protection Officer

In accordance with Rule 11 of the Information Technology Rules, 2021 and Section 12 of the DPDP Act 2023, Short2News has appointed a designated Grievance Redressal Officer: