GoodNovel - Booktok, Stories

"We work with third-party partners who help us improve GoodNovel, which makes it possible to operate our companies and provide services to people around the world. We do not provide any personally identifiable data to these third-party ad servers or ad networks without your consent or except as part of a specific program or feature for which you will have the ability to opt-in or opt-out. Members, subsidiaries, or affiliates of our corporate group, make GoodNovel improving and optimizing."

Data is shared with third-party partners, ad networks, and corporate affiliates. The opt-in/opt-out mechanism for ad networks is vaguely described with no details on how to exercise it.

"The device data that we collect and receive including: the device and software that you currently use, and other device characteristics; the data that your device links to the Internet, including your IP address; the data that is collected by Cookie and other similar techniques."

GoodNovel collects broad device information including software, device characteristics, and IP address. The vague 'other device characteristics' language leaves the scope of collection unclear.

"We will collect various data and operations that you are on or out of GoodNovel from business partner, supplier and third party. For example, we will collect your device data, your using application and the advertisement you view."

GoodNovel collects data about user activity outside its own platform, including which apps users use and which advertisements they view, enabling cross-service tracking.

"After you have deleted your account, we may retain certain data in an aggregated and anonymized format. We retain your data for as long as it is necessary to provide you with the service or fulfill the transactions you have requested or authorized. Where we do not need your data in order to provide the service to you, we retain it only for so long as we have a legitimate business purpose in keeping such data."

Data may be retained indefinitely after account deletion in 'aggregated and anonymized' form, and the 'legitimate business purpose' standard for retention is vague and open-ended.

"We'll notify you before we make changes to this policy and give you the opportunity to review the revised policy before you choose to continue using our Products."

While they promise notification, the framing implies continued use constitutes acceptance of changes — there is no requirement for explicit consent to new terms.

"You can contact us by e-mail at @goodnovel.com to ask for your account to be removed. Once your account is removed, we will no longer supply you with any products or services. Deleting the account must not last more than 15 days from the date of receipt of the request."

Account deletion requires emailing customer service rather than offering a self-service option in the app. The process can take up to 15 days, creating friction for users wanting to leave.

"The device data that we collect and receive including: the data that your device links to the Internet, including your IP address. Transfer, store, or process your data across borders, including with the United States and other countries."

GoodNovel collects IP addresses which enable geolocation tracking, and transfers this data across borders including to the United States without specifying safeguards.