Your data is yours. Here is what that means in practice.

What we collect

• Account registration: phone number or email address, used for verification only.
• Profile information: handle, display name, bio, and profile photo — all optional except the handle.
• Content: posts, comments, reactions, and media you share publicly on AnnouPale.
• Usage data: pages visited, features used, and general interaction patterns — to improve the product.
• Device information: browser type and approximate location (country/region) — for security and service delivery.

What we never do

• We do not sell your data to third-party advertisers or data brokers.
• We do not display your phone number publicly or to other users.
• We do not use your private messages to train AI models.
• We do not build behavioral ad profiles based on your private content.
• We do not require government ID, selfies, or biometric data.
• We do not share your data with employers, landlords, or government agencies except when legally required.

How we protect your account

• Passwords are hashed before storage — we never see your plain-text password.
• Verification codes (OTP) expire after a few minutes and cannot be reused.
• Sessions can be reviewed and revoked from your Security settings.
• Login alerts are available to notify you of new sign-ins.

Your phone number

We ask for your phone number to verify you are a real person. It is stored securely, never displayed publicly, and never shown to other users. We send you a one-time code at signup and for account recovery. We do not use it for marketing messages.

Your controls

• Profile visibility: public, followers-only, or private.
• Discoverability: toggle whether people can find you by phone or email.
• Content controls: who can comment on your posts.
• Block and mute: remove specific people from your experience.
• Account deletion: closes your account and schedules data removal.

Data retention

When you delete your account, your public posts, profile, and personal data are removed within 30 days. Backup copies may persist for up to 90 days before full deletion. Logs required for legal compliance are retained as legally required.

Account recovery

If you lose access to your phone number, contact support@annoupale.com before your account becomes inaccessible. We will ask you to verify your identity through another method.

Security incidents

If you believe your account has been compromised, change your password immediately and contact safety@annoupale.com. We will investigate and notify affected users of significant breaches as required by law.