Privacy Policy

Introduction

Shanakee ("we", "our", or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you use our family story collection service.

Information We Collect

Personal Information

• Account Information: Names and email addresses of family organizers and family members
• Audio Recordings: Voice recordings of family stories submitted through our service
• Story Prompts: Custom prompts created by family organizers

Technical Information

• Session Data: We use essential cookies to maintain your session and preferences
• Analytics Data: With your consent, we collect anonymized usage data through Google Analytics
• Log Data: We maintain activity logs for security and service improvement, including IP addresses

How We Use Your Information

• To provide and maintain the Shanakee service
• To send story request emails to family members
• To honor recipient opt-out preferences for story request emails
• To store and deliver audio recordings to family organizers
• To improve our service through anonymized analytics (with consent)
• To ensure security and prevent abuse

Story Request Opt-Out

Family members who receive story request emails can unsubscribe from all future invitations from a specific organizer using the link in those emails or on the recording page. This is separate from declining a single story request.

• Opt-out applies only to that organizer’s story requests via Shanakee, not other organizers
• The organizer is notified when someone unsubscribes
• Organizers may send a re-invitation; the recipient must confirm before requests resume
• We record opt-out and resubscribe events (including IP for security) as described under Log Data

Cookies and Tracking

Essential Cookies

These cookies are necessary for the service to function and cannot be disabled:

• Session Cookie: Maintains your login session
• Preference Cookies: Remembers your "don't show again" choices for dialogs

Analytics Cookies (Optional)

With your consent, we use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use our site. You can accept or decline these cookies when you first visit, and change your preference at any time.

Email Tracking

Our emails may include a small tracking pixel that lets us know when an email has been opened. This helps family organizers see the status of their story requests.

Data Storage and Security

• Audio recordings are stored securely on our servers
• Data is transmitted using HTTPS encryption
• Access to recordings is restricted to authorized family organizers
• We do not sell or share your personal data with third parties for marketing purposes

Data Retention

• Audio recordings are retained until deleted by the family organizer
• Account data is retained while the account is active
• Activity logs are retained for security purposes

Your Rights

Under data protection laws, you have rights including:

• Access: Request a copy of your personal data
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate data
• Deletion: Request deletion of your data
• Withdraw Consent: Change your cookie preferences at any time

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information below.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your data rights, please contact us at:

privacy@shanakees.com