Privacy Policy

Last updated: August 29, 2026

Shortcast ("the App", "Service") is provided by RLabs d.o.o. ("we", "us", "Company"). We respect your privacy and are committed to transparency about our data practices.

AI Processing Notice

Important: Our Service uses artificial intelligence to process podcast content. Podcast audio and metadata may be transmitted to third-party AI providers (including OpenAI) for processing. We do not store personal conversations or private content, but publicly available podcast content is processed to create summaries and shortened versions.

Processing is carried out under a legitimate interest to provide the Service and, where required, based on the consent you give when you request specific podcasts to be summarized.

AI-generated summaries are inspired by the original episodes and are not reproductions or substitutes.

Information We Collect

Data You Provide

Learning Profile: Your optional first name, onboarding answers, learning interests, podcast recognition and selections, listening habits, calculated learning persona, time estimates, and onboarding state. This profile is associated with a pseudonymous Shortcast installation identifier; onboarding does not create an account.
Recap Waitlist (Optional): If you explicitly opt in, we store your email address and consent so we can invite you if automatic learning recaps become available. Shortcast does not currently send an automatic recap digest.
Usage Preferences: Podcast selections, playback settings, and favorites, stored locally or with the Service as needed to provide your library.
Support Communications: Messages sent to customer support

Automatically Collected Data

Device Information: Device model, OS version, app version, device identifiers
Usage Analytics: Features used, session duration, crash reports
Podcast Processing Data: URLs of podcasts processed, processing timestamps

Third-Party Services

We use the following services that may collect data:

Firebase (Google) — Analytics, crash reporting, push notifications
Amplitude — Product analytics and user behavior insights
OpenAI — AI processing of podcast content for summarization
Fish Audio — Voice synthesis to generate audio from summaries
Apple App Store — Payment processing and app distribution

How We Use Your Information

Legal Bases for Processing (EEA/UK)

Where the EU or UK General Data Protection Regulation applies, we rely on the following legal bases:

Legitimate interests to operate, maintain, and improve the Service, including AI summarization, analytics, and fraud prevention.
Performance of a contract to deliver requested features, such as processing podcasts you select and providing premium subscriptions.
Consent for optional features such as marketing communications, push notifications, or analytics where local law requires it. You can withdraw consent at any time via in-app or device settings.
Legal obligations to comply with accounting, taxation, and regulatory requirements.

Service Operations

Process and summarize podcast content using AI
Personalize onboarding, podcast recommendations, demonstrations, and learning results using your learning profile
Maintain your podcast library, preferences, and onboarding progress across app launches and presentation updates
Send a future automatic-recap invitation only if you explicitly join that waitlist
Process subscription payments through Apple's App Store (linked to Apple ID)

AI Processing

Send podcast audio and metadata to AI providers for summarization
Generate transcripts, summaries, and shortened audio versions
Send summary text to voice providers (e.g., Fish Audio) to generate audio
Improve AI model performance and accuracy, using aggregated or de-identified data where possible

Analytics and Improvement

Analyze usage patterns to improve the Service
Fix bugs and prevent crashes
Measure feature adoption and user engagement
Send relevant notifications (when enabled)

Onboarding analytics use predefined question and answer identifiers, flow and app versions, branch, persona, demonstration, and paywall placement. Your name, email address, and arbitrary free text are not sent to Firebase Analytics or Amplitude as onboarding event parameters.

Subscriptions & Payments

All subscriptions and in-app purchases are processed by Apple's App Store (StoreKit) and are linked to your Apple ID, not to a Shortcast account. We do not handle or store your payment information. Apple may share subscription status and purchase information with us to provide Service functionality.

Information Sharing and Disclosure

Third-Party Service Providers

We share information with:

AI Providers (OpenAI): Podcast content for processing and summarization
Voice Synthesis Providers (e.g., Fish Audio): Summary text to generate audio
Analytics Providers: Usage data for service improvement
Cloud Infrastructure: Technical data for service operations
Apple: Subscription and payment information

Our agreements with service providers require them to protect your information and only process it for the purposes described in this policy. OpenAI and other processors retain podcast content only for the time necessary to provide the requested output and to comply with their own legal obligations.

Legal Requirements

We may disclose information when required by law, to protect our rights, or to ensure user safety.

Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, user information may be transferred as part of the business.

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information for advertising or marketing purposes.

Data Retention

Learning Profile: Retained until you use “Delete Learning Profile” in the App's Settings or ask us to delete it, unless a longer period is required by law. The App also removes its local copy when you use that control.
Recap Waitlist: Your consented email is retained until you delete the learning profile, withdraw consent, ask us to delete it, or the waitlist is discontinued.
Usage Analytics: Aggregated or pseudonymous data retained for up to 24 months for service improvement, after which it is deleted or further anonymized.
AI Processing Data: Podcast content is not permanently stored by us. Audio sent to AI processors is deleted once processing is complete, subject to their retention obligations.
Support Communications: Retained for customer service purposes and deleted within 12 months of resolution unless a longer retention period is required by law.
Device-Based Data: Some preferences may be stored locally on your device and remain until you delete the app or clear the data.

Your Rights and Choices

Account Controls

Delete your onboarding answers, optional name, and optional recap-waitlist email with “Delete Learning Profile” in the App's Settings
Manage subscription settings through Apple ID (independent of account status)
Clear local app data by deleting and reinstalling the app

Privacy Controls

Disable analytics/crash reporting in device settings
Control push notification preferences in app settings
Manage ad tracking through device privacy settings

Data Requests

You may request access to, correction of, or deletion of your personal information by contacting us at [email protected].

International Data Transfers

Your information may be processed and stored in countries other than your residence, including the United States (OpenAI processing) and other regions where our service providers operate. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for international transfers.

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your information, including:

Encryption of data in transit and at rest
Access controls and authentication
Regular security assessments
Secure third-party integrations

However, no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Third-Party Privacy Policies

For more information about how our partners handle data:

Children's Privacy

Shortcast is not intended for children under 13 (or the minimum age required by local law). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have collected information from a child, we will delete it promptly.

Regional Privacy Rights

European Users (GDPR)

If you are in the European Economic Area, you have additional rights including:

Right to access, rectify, or erase your personal data
Right to restrict or object to processing
Right to data portability
Right to withdraw consent
Right to lodge a complaint with supervisory authorities

California Users (CCPA)

California residents have rights to know about, delete, and opt-out of the sale of personal information. We do not sell personal information.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. We will notify you of material changes through the app, email, or other prominent notice. Your continued use of the Service after changes indicates acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this policy, contact us at:

RLabs d.o.o.
Website: https://shortcast.me
Email: [email protected]