Cut To It privacy policy

Who we are

Cut To It is built by cursedworks, a studio based in North East England, UK, and published on the App Store by Ric Gingell. We are responsible for the personal data described in this policy. You can reach us at [email protected].

What the app sends us, and why

When you ask for a summary, the app sends our server:

• The YouTube link and summary style you chose, so we can make the summary.
• A random app ID. The app creates this the first time it runs. It isn't linked to your Apple ID, your name or your device's hardware. We use it only to apply fair-use limits, so one device can't exhaust the service for everyone.
• Your IP address, which is part of any internet request. We use it for the same fair-use limits and to protect the service from abuse.

What we keep, and for how long

• Fair-use counters. We store a one-way scrambled (hashed) version of your app ID and IP address alongside a request count, never the original values. These records delete themselves after 2 days.
• Server logs. Our server records which video was summarised, the style, and any errors, so we can find and fix problems. Logs from making summaries are kept for 30 days; logs from fetching videos are kept for longer, to help keep the service reliable. No log contains your IP address or app ID.
• Video cache. What's said in a video is cached for 30 days, so a second request for the same video is faster. The cache is stored against the video, not against you.
• Summaries. We send the summary to your device and don't keep a copy.

What stays on your device

• Your summary history and settings.
• The random app ID described above.
• Your clipboard choice. If you allow it, the app checks your clipboard for a YouTube link when you open it, so it can fill in the link for you. That check happens on your device; nothing from your clipboard is sent anywhere unless you submit it for a summary.

You can delete individual summaries or your whole history in the app at any time. Deleting the app removes everything it stored on your device.

Services we use

We use a small number of other companies to run Cut To It:

• Amazon Web Services hosts our server, in the European Union (Stockholm). AWS privacy notice.
• OpenAI writes the summaries. It receives what's said in the video (or, if that isn't available, the video's title and description) and the style you picked. It doesn't receive your IP address or app ID. OpenAI privacy policy.
• YouTube API Services (Google). Cut To It uses YouTube API Services. Our server looks up public details of the video, such as its title and description. The app also loads video thumbnails directly from YouTube's image servers, so Google receives your IP address when a thumbnail loads. By using Cut To It you agree to the YouTube Terms of Service; see also the Google Privacy Policy. Cut To It never signs in to or reads your YouTube or Google account.
• Webshare is a network service our server uses to fetch what's said in videos from YouTube. It handles the request for the video only, and receives nothing about you. Webshare privacy policy.

Advertising

Cut To It is free, and a banner ad from Google AdMob helps pay for it. To show and measure ads and to prevent ad fraud, Google's advertising software in the app collects information such as your IP address (which can indicate your approximate location), your device and operating system type, an identifier for the app on your device, and how you interact with ads. Google may use this to personalise ads.

The app doesn't ask for permission to track you, so it doesn't access your device's advertising identifier. You can learn more in how Google uses information from apps that use its services.

What we don't do

• We don't run analytics, crash-reporting or tracking tools in the app.
• We don't sell or rent personal data, and we don't share it except as described here.
• We don't build a profile of you or the videos you summarise.

Our legal basis

Under UK data protection law (the UK GDPR), we rely on:

• Providing the service you ask for, to make your summaries.
• Our legitimate interests in keeping the service working, fair and secure (fair-use counters and logs), and in funding a free app through advertising.

International transfers

Our server runs in the European Union. OpenAI and Google may process data in the United States and elsewhere. Where they do, they provide contractual safeguards for international transfers, such as standard contractual clauses.

Your rights

You have the right to ask for access to, correction of, or deletion of your personal data, to object to or restrict how we use it, and to receive a copy of it. Because there's no account, and we only hold scrambled identifiers for 2 days, we usually hold nothing we can link to you. If you'd like to ask anyway, email [email protected].

If you're unhappy with how we've handled your data, you can complain to the UK Information Commissioner's Office at ico.org.uk.

Children

Cut To It isn't directed at children under 13, and we don't knowingly collect personal data from them. If you think a child has given us personal data, email us and we'll delete it.

Changes to this policy

If we change how Cut To It handles data, we'll update this page and the effective date at the top.

Contact

Privacy questions: [email protected]
App support: [email protected]

Cut To It is an independent app. It isn't affiliated with or endorsed by YouTube or Google. YouTube is a trademark of Google LLC.