Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to Azure Chronicles (https://hardto.watch/). We are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy. This Privacy Policy explains what data we collect, why we collect it, how we use it, and the choices you have regarding your information when you access or use our platform.

By using Azure Chronicles, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree with the terms described here, please discontinue use of our services.

This policy applies to all users of Azure Chronicles, including registered members, guests, and anyone who interacts with any part of our website. It has been drafted in compliance with applicable data protection legislation, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), where applicable.

2. Information We Collect

We collect different categories of information depending on how you interact with Azure Chronicles. This includes information you provide voluntarily and information gathered automatically during your use of the platform.

• Account Information: When you register for an account, we collect your username, email address, and an encrypted version of your password. You may also optionally provide a profile avatar and a display name.
• Reading Activity: We record your reading history, chapter progress, bookmarks, library shelves, tier list votes, XP progress, and any preferences you set within the platform in order to deliver a personalized experience.
• User-Generated Content: Any comments, reviews, ratings, or tier list entries you submit are stored and associated with your account.
• Technical Data: We automatically collect your IP address, browser type and version, operating system, referring URLs, and device identifiers when you visit our site.
• Usage Data: We collect information about the pages you visit, the time and duration of your visits, the features you interact with, and other behavioral data to help us understand how our platform is used.
• Cookies and Tracking Data: We use cookies and similar technologies to remember your preferences, maintain your session, and analyze traffic patterns. For more detail, see Section 4.

3. How We Use Your Information

The information we collect is used solely to operate and improve Azure Chronicles. We do not use your data for purposes beyond what is outlined below without your explicit consent.

• Service Delivery: To provide access to our novel reading platform, manage your account, and enable features such as reading history, tier lists, achievements, and community interactions.
• Personalization: To tailor your reading recommendations, restore your chapter progress, display your library shelves, and offer a consistent experience across sessions and devices.
• Platform Security: To detect, prevent, and address fraudulent activity, unauthorized access, abuse, spam, and other harmful behavior on the platform.
• Communication: To send you account-related notifications such as password reset emails, moderation alerts, and service announcements. We will only send promotional or optional communications with your consent.
• Analytics and Improvement: To analyze usage patterns, identify technical issues, and continuously improve the performance, design, and content of Azure Chronicles.
• Legal Compliance: To fulfill our obligations under applicable laws and respond to lawful requests from public authorities where required.

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Azure Chronicles uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience on the platform. Cookies are small text files placed on your device that allow us to recognize your browser across visits and remember certain information.

We use the following types of cookies:

• Essential Cookies: Required for the platform to function correctly. These include session cookies that keep you logged in and cookies that remember your UI preferences such as dark or light mode.
• Functional Cookies: Used to remember your reading progress, NSFW content preferences, and other personalization settings so your experience is consistent between visits.
• Analytics Cookies: Used to collect anonymized data about how visitors use Azure Chronicles, helping us identify popular content, detect errors, and improve the platform.

You may configure your browser to refuse all cookies or to alert you when cookies are being sent. Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of Azure Chronicles, including your ability to remain logged in or retain your reading preferences.

5. Data Sharing and Third-Party Disclosure

We respect your privacy. Azure Chronicles does not sell, rent, or trade your personally identifiable information to any third party. We may share your information only in the limited circumstances described below:

• Service Providers: We may engage trusted third-party service providers to assist in operating Azure Chronicles — for example, hosting providers, email delivery services, and analytics platforms. These providers are granted access only to the information necessary to perform their specific functions and are contractually obligated not to disclose or use it for any other purpose.
• Legal Obligations: We may disclose your information when required to do so by law, court order, or governmental authority, or when we believe in good faith that such disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, prevent fraud, or ensure the safety of our users or the public.
• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of all or a portion of our assets, your information may be transferred to the acquiring entity. We will notify affected users prior to any such transfer and outline any changes to this Privacy Policy that may result.
• With Your Consent: We may share your information with third parties in circumstances not covered above when you have given us your explicit consent to do so.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account remains active or as long as is necessary to provide you with our services. If you choose to delete your account, we will remove or anonymize your personal data within a reasonable timeframe, except where retention is required by law, for the resolution of disputes, or to enforce our agreements.

Certain anonymized or aggregated data, such as aggregate reading statistics, may be retained indefinitely as it can no longer be used to identify you.

7. Data Security

We take the security of your personal information seriously. Azure Chronicles implements a range of technical and organizational security measures designed to protect your data from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include encrypted password storage, HTTPS encryption for all data transmitted between your browser and our servers, and access controls that restrict who within our team can view personal data.

However, no method of transmission over the internet or method of electronic storage is entirely secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for any activity that occurs under your account.

8. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have a number of rights regarding the personal data we hold about you. Where applicable, these rights include:

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details provided in Section 11. We may need to verify your identity before processing your request. We will respond to all legitimate requests within 30 days. In cases where a request is particularly complex or numerous, we may require up to 60 days, and we will notify you accordingly.

9. Children's Privacy

Azure Chronicles is not directed at individuals under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that a child under the age of 13 has provided us with personal data without verifiable parental consent, we will take immediate steps to delete that information from our systems.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately using the details in Section 11, and we will take appropriate action.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, the services we offer, or applicable legal requirements. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page and, where appropriate, notify registered users via email or a prominent notice on the platform before the changes take effect.

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy regularly to stay informed about how we are protecting your information. Your continued use of Azure Chronicles after any changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of those changes.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or the way we handle your personal data, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We are committed to addressing your inquiry promptly and transparently.

This Privacy Policy is provided for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. If you require legal guidance regarding your data protection rights, please consult a qualified legal professional in your jurisdiction.