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Privacy Policy – The Bias

Effective date: 1 January 2026
Last updated: 1 January 2026
For privacy questions: privacy@thebias.co.uk

This Privacy Policy explains how The Bias (“we”, “us”, “our”) collects and uses personal data when you use the The Bias mobile application (the “App”) and any related services (together, the “Service”).

Email privacy@thebias.co.uk

1) Who we are

For UK data protection purposes, we are responsible for the personal data we process to provide the Service.

  • Service / Controller: The Bias
  • Operated by: Sam Ehlen & Charlie Ehlen
  • Registered address: Treetops, Standon, ST21 6TG
  • Company number: Not yet registered
  • Privacy contact: privacy@thebias.co.uk

2) What personal data we collect

We aim to collect the minimum personal data needed to provide the Service.

A) Information you provide

When you sign up, we collect and store:

  • First name
  • Last name
  • Region (e.g., your country) that you select manually

B) Sign in with Apple (authentication)

We use Sign in with Apple for authentication. We receive and store:

  • a unique user identifier from Apple that allows us to recognise your account

We do not store your email address (including any Apple relay email).

C) Reading and interaction data

We store:

  • stories you click/read (and related in-app interaction events)

D) Support communications

If you contact us by email, we process:

  • your email address
  • the content of your message and any attachments
  • any information you choose to include

3) What we do not collect

  • No precise location (GPS) and we do not track your device location.
  • No third-party analytics or advertising tracking at this stage.
  • No marketing email list and we do not send marketing emails.

4) Where your data is stored

Your profile data (first name, last name, region) and reading/interactions data are stored in Apple CloudKit in a private database associated with your account. We do not operate separate The Bias application servers for storing this in-app data at this time.

Apple provides the infrastructure that enables Sign in with Apple, CloudKit, and Apple Push Notification service (APNs). Apple’s own handling of data in those services is governed by Apple’s policies.

5) How we use your data

We use personal data to:

  • Create and manage your account (using the Sign in with Apple identifier and your profile fields)
  • Provide the Service (including syncing your profile and reading history via CloudKit)
  • Personalise or regionalise content using your region and your in-app interactions
  • Respond to support requests you send us
  • Maintain security and reliability (e.g., preventing misuse and keeping the Service functioning)

6) Lawful bases (UK GDPR)

We process personal data only where we have a lawful basis:

  • Contract: to provide the Service you request (account creation, subscription access, saving your settings/reading history)
  • Legitimate interests: to operate, secure, and improve the Service (for example, preventing misuse and maintaining reliability)
  • Legal obligation: where we must keep information to comply with law (if/when applicable)

7) AI use

We use AI within our product. No user personal data is provided to any AI provider or third party for AI processing.

  • AI is used on non-user personal content (for example, processing article text to produce summaries or classifications).
  • Your personal data (name, region, Sign in with Apple identifier, reading/click history) is not sent to third parties for AI purposes.

8) Subscriptions and payments

Subscriptions are currently purchased only through Apple’s in-app purchase system. We do not receive your payment card details.

We may access or store limited information required to provide access (for example, subscription entitlement status available through Apple mechanisms).

9) Sharing your data

We do not sell your personal data.

We share personal data only as necessary to provide the Service, including with:

  • Apple (to enable Sign in with Apple, CloudKit private database storage, and push notifications via APNs)
  • Email services (only if you contact us by email, to receive and respond to your message)

We may also share information if required by law or a valid legal request.

10) International transfers

Apple operates global infrastructure, so your data may be processed in countries outside the UK. Where international transfers occur, appropriate safeguards are used by Apple and/or required under applicable law.

11) How long we keep your data

We use a criteria-based retention approach:

  • Account/profile data (first name, last name, region) and reading/interactions data: retained while your account is active and deleted when you delete your account (subject to any limited retention required for legal or security reasons).
  • Support emails: retained for as long as needed to respond and keep a reasonable record of support history.

12) Whether you must provide data

  • The Sign in with Apple identifier is required to create an account and use the Service.
  • Your first name, last name, and region are required fields at sign-up for the Service as currently designed.
  • If you contact support, you must provide enough information for us to respond (typically your email address and message content).

13) Your rights (UK users)

You have rights under UK GDPR, including the right to:

  • access your data
  • correct inaccurate data
  • request deletion in certain circumstances
  • restrict processing in certain circumstances
  • object to certain processing
  • receive a portable copy of your data in certain circumstances

To exercise your rights, email privacy@thebias.co.uk.

You also have the right to complain to the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

14) Account deletion

You can delete your account in the App:

Profile icon (top right) → Delete account

Deleting your account will delete your profile data and reading/interactions data stored for your account, subject to any limited retention required for legal or security reasons.

15) Children

The Service is intended for users aged 13+. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has provided personal data, contact privacy@thebias.co.uk.

16) Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If changes are material, we will take reasonable steps to notify you in-app. The “Last updated” date indicates when this policy was last revised.

Questions about privacy?

If anything here is unclear, email us. We’ll reply in plain language.

Email privacy@thebias.co.uk