Withword

Privacy Policy

Updated: 2026-10-01

1. Operator and scope

This policy explains how Wang Xuelin (王雪林), operator of Withword (共话), handles information. Contact l_lsnow@sina.com for privacy matters and rights requests. It covers the iOS app and its account and online analysis services. Apple and the third-party AI service also have their own privacy terms.

2. Local reading data

Imported TXT and EPUB files, pasted text, titles, chapters, reading progress, covers, character images, name preferences and reading packages are stored in the app’s local storage. Importing or reading original text alone does not send its contents to our analysis server. You select files and images through system pickers; full photo-library access is not required. Inclusion in device-level backups depends on your system settings and Apple’s terms.

3. Accounts and security

Apple supplies identity credentials at sign-in. Our server validates the signature, audience and validity before creating an app account. We process a hashed platform user identifier, an app account ID, hashed session credentials, expiry and usage records for authentication, security, rate limits and cost controls. The current flow does not request your Apple name or email and cannot obtain your Apple profile photo. The app session credential is stored in the device Keychain. Apple sign-in credentials are not sent to the model provider.

4. Optional online AI processing

The app requests explicit permission before online analysis. Your selected chapter text, book or chapter title and necessary character, alias and structural context are sent over encrypted connections to our server and then to the DeepSeek API for character identification, dialogue/narration separation, paragraph layout and structured presentation. This is not on-device-only processing or merely a font change; rewriting, continuation and new plots are not intended features. Do not submit personal or sensitive information you lack authority to process. Declining does not prevent original reading or use of existing reading packages. Withdraw this device’s permission for future uploads in the app under Settings → Privacy Policy.

5. Recipients and international processing

Our analysis server is in mainland China. Online analysis submitted from outside China is transferred there. The current model recipient is DeepSeek, whose public policy identifies Hangzhou DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence Co., Ltd. and describes processing and storage in China. Apple processes necessary information for sign-in and optional iCloud features under its terms and location arrangements. DeepSeek’s public privacy policy does not directly cover downstream app users and does not replace our API data processing arrangements. Third-party retention, model improvement and rights are governed by the applicable policies, API contracts and statutory rights; we do not promise immediate third-party deletion or that data will never be used for training. Different laws and lawful-access requirements may apply abroad. Required contractual, security and other legal conditions must still be met; consent does not waive these requirements.

6. Temporary processing and retention

Our backend is not a permanent library. Text and intermediate results are temporarily stored during analysis. Deletion of related tasks is triggered when the reading-package response finishes or its connection closes. Failed analysis clears text, results and diagnostics, but may temporarily retain titles, errors and usage metadata. Unclaimed or uncleared finished tasks are subject to scheduled cleanup. Network and service failures can affect timing; we do not promise every record is erased at the instant a transfer completes. Account, security and usage data are retained as needed for account, security and quota functions. Network logs may contain IP addresses, timestamps, request paths, status and client information and should not contain text bodies. We do not train our own models on your text. App deletion operations do not directly control third-party retention.

7. Optional iCloud backup

Only when you choose backup does the app write your library, text, reading packages, progress, covers and character images to its container in the device’s current iCloud account. App login credentials and Keychain contents are excluded. Your iCloud account may differ from the Apple account used to sign into Withword. Restoration requires access to the same container; books with matching IDs may be overwritten. Delete the cloud backup separately on the account page. Apple’s policies govern system backups, synchronised copies and its deletion mechanisms.

8. Purposes and legal bases

We process necessary information for your selected reading, sign-in, backup and support features and to prevent abuse. Where legal bases must be distinguished, requested account and service processing is necessary to perform the contract; optional AI uploads use explicit consent; security processing may rely on legitimate interests balanced against your rights; mandatory processing relies on legal obligations. The app has no advertising or cross-app tracking features. We do not sell personal information or use it for cross-context behavioural advertising. See the model provider’s policy for its own processing.

9. Deletion, withdrawal and rights

You can delete local books, separately delete an iCloud backup, sign out, or reauthenticate on the account page to delete your account. Account deletion removes the app account, sessions and related tasks; failed cleanup is retried. Independent service-wide usage totals may remain for cost controls. Local books and iCloud copies are not deleted with the account. Withdrawal stops future AI analysis uploads; it does not undo prior processing or immediately stop server tasks already running. Subject to applicable law, you may request access, correction, deletion, restriction, objection, a portable copy, withdrawal of consent, and appeal of a refused request. Rights and exceptions vary by jurisdiction. Email us; we verify only necessary identity details and respond within applicable legal deadlines. You will not face unlawful discrimination for exercising rights.

10. Regional rights and complaints

US residents may exercise applicable state-law rights and appeals. Canadian residents may seek access, correction and privacy complaint resolution. UK residents may exercise applicable data protection rights and complain to the ICO. Australian residents may complain to the OAIC where applicable. Japanese residents may request disclosure, correction and cessation of use and contact the Personal Information Protection Commission. Korean residents may request access, correction, deletion and suspension of processing and contact the Personal Information Protection Commission or other competent bodies. You may also complain to other competent regulators. Applicability depends on the facts; additional local rights are not limited by this section.

11. Security and children

We use HTTPS, identity verification, token protection and access restrictions, but no storage or transmission is absolutely secure. Protect your device and backup account. We will meet applicable legal duties to notify data incidents. The service is not directed to children. If information is processed without required parental consent, contact us; we will investigate and delete or restrict processing as required.

12. Contact, changes and third-party policies

Operator and privacy contact: Wang Xuelin (王雪林), l_lsnow@sina.com. Material changes will be appropriately notified; changes to AI recipients or purposes require fresh consent where required. This policy remains available offline in Settings. Third-party policy links appear below.

This website

This website serves static product and legal information. It has no sign-in, file upload or online analysis, advertising, analytics tracking or cookies. The server processes necessary IP addresses, request times, page paths, response status and browser information to deliver pages, troubleshoot and protect the service. If you email us, we process the information you choose to provide to respond to your request.