Privacy
Last updated
This policy covers the BrighterTube website, at its current address and any address it moves to. BrighterTube is run by BrighterTube (operated by Josh), which is responsible for the information described here. You can reach us through the contact form.
Without an account
- Saved videos and watch history stay in this browser (local storage). They never reach our servers.
- Votes, reports, suggestions and messages. When you use one of these, we set a random ID cookie (
lumen_voter) and keep scrambled, keyed-hash versions of your network address and browser, only to stop ballot-stuffing and spam. We don't store your address itself. Anonymous votes are tied to that random ID, not to you. - View counts. We count watch-page views per video, with no record of who watched.
- Server basics. Like any website, the server sees your network address and browser when you load a page, to send the page back. Our hosting provider may keep short-lived technical logs for security and troubleshooting.
With an account
- Your email and name. The name is shown only to you. Your password is stored as a one-way bcrypt hash; nobody can read it.
- If you use Google sign-in: your name and email address from Google, and the sign-in link Google gives us (stored encrypted). Nothing else from your Google account: not your contacts, photos, or YouTube activity. You can remove BrighterTube's access any time in your Google account permissions.
- What you save, watch and collect: saved videos, watch history (the latest 1,000; pause or clear it any time in your library) and your playlists. Playlists are private unless you turn on a share link, and shared playlists don't show your name.
- Votes, reports and suggestions you make while signed in are tied to your account so each person counts once. Editors see that an item came from an account, not who you are.
- Sign-in sessions: a secure, http-only cookie, plus the network address and browser of each session (for security), deleted when the session ends.
Messages and suggestions you send
The contact form stores your email address, your name if you give it, the topic, any link and your message, so we can read it and reply. The suggest form stores what you suggested, your note, and your email only if you add it. Creator-removal and copyright messages are also added to the editor's review list (without your email). Once email notifications are switched on, a copy of contact messages is emailed to BrighterTube's inbox through an email-sending provider.
YouTube and Google
BrighterTube uses YouTube API Services: the YouTube embedded player for every video, and YouTube's public data to check that videos are still available. Videos load from youtube-nocookie.com (privacy-enhanced mode), so YouTube doesn't set its cookies just because you opened a page. When you press play, YouTube may set cookies or similar storage on your device, collect information about the playback, and show ads, as a third party under the YouTube Terms of Service and the Google Privacy Policy. BrighterTube doesn't receive that information.
Amazon links
Book and tool links go to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, BrighterTube earns from qualifying purchases. Amazon tracks the referral with its own cookies once you're on Amazon, under the Amazon privacy notice. We see only totals (how many items were bought through BrighterTube links), never who bought what.
How we use information
- To run BrighterTube: show your saved videos, history and playlists, keep you signed in, and play videos.
- To keep it fair and safe: one vote per person, rate limits, spam and abuse prevention.
- To review the catalog: votes, reports and suggestions go on the editor's review list.
- To answer you: reply to messages and handle removal, copyright and privacy requests.
We don't sell or rent personal information, we don't “share” it for cross-context behavioral advertising, and we don't build advertising profiles.
Who else handles it
Only the service providers that run BrighterTube for us: website and database hosting, and (once switched on) the email provider that delivers sign-in emails and contact notifications. They may use it only to provide that service. We may also disclose information if the law requires it, to protect people's safety, or to investigate abuse of BrighterTube. If BrighterTube ever changes hands, this policy will go with it and we'll say so on the site.
How long we keep it
- Account data: until you delete your account (history keeps only the latest 1,000 videos).
- Sign-in sessions: up to 30 days, or until you sign out.
- Contact messages: until they're dealt with, then archived; we delete them on request.
- Anonymous votes, suggestions and the scrambled network hashes: as long as needed to keep counts honest and stop abuse.
- Browser-only saved videos and history: until you clear them or your browser storage.
Your rights and choices
Wherever you live, you can ask to see the personal information we hold about you, correct it, get a copy, or have it deleted.
- Do it yourself: on your Account page you can change your name and password, and “Delete my account” deletes your email, name, password, sessions, saved videos, history, playlists and share links, and the votes, reports and suggestions you made while signed in. It happens at once and can't be undone.
- Or ask us: use the contact form (topic “Other”, and say it's a privacy request). We'll answer within 30 days and may need to confirm the request comes from you, usually by replying from the email on the account.
California (CCPA/CPRA)
California residents have the right to know what personal information we collect and how it's used, to delete it, to correct it, and to opt out of its sale or sharing. We don't sell or share personal information, so there's nothing to opt out of. We won't treat you differently for using any of these rights.
EU, UK and similar laws (GDPR)
We use account data to provide the service you asked for (contract), and anonymous vote, spam and security data because we have a legitimate interest in keeping BrighterTube fair and safe. You can also object to or ask us to restrict processing, and you can complain to your local data protection authority. BrighterTube is run from the United States, so your information is processed there.
Children
BrighterTube is for people 13 and older and isn't directed to children under 13. We don't knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 (as the US Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, COPPA, requires). If you believe a child under 13 has given us personal information, please tell us and we'll delete it.
Security
Passwords are hashed, connections are encrypted (HTTPS), session cookies are http-only and secure, and editor tools are separate from viewer accounts. No system is perfectly secure, but we work to protect what we hold and keep it small.
Email from us
We only email you to confirm your address, reset your password, or reply to a message you sent. No newsletters or marketing.
Changes
If we change this policy, we'll update the date at the top, and say so on the site if the change is significant. Cookies are listed on the Cookies page.