Privacy policy
This policy covers the website backfirefiles.com (and thebackfirefiles.com, which redirects to it), the social media channels published under The Backfire Files and its sister channels such as Maren (together, "the channels"), and the private publishing and analytics tools we use to run them (the "Backfire Files publishing app"). "We" and "us" mean the operator of The Backfire Files.
The short version
- We don't sell, rent or share personal information.
- The website has no ads, no tracking cookies and no analytics scripts.
- Our publishing app only connects to accounts we own, to upload our own videos and read our own channel statistics.
Visiting this website
The website is a set of static pages. Like almost every web server, ours keeps standard access logs (IP address, browser type, page requested, date and time) for security and troubleshooting. These logs are kept for up to 30 days and are not used to identify or profile visitors. The pages load fonts from Google Fonts, which receives your IP address under Google's privacy policy.
Our publishing app and Google / YouTube data
The Backfire Files publishing app uses the YouTube API Services (YouTube Data API and YouTube Analytics API). It is used only by us, signed in with Google accounts that own or manage our channels. It is not offered to the public.
- What it accesses: the basic channel information of our own channels, the ability to upload and set details (title, description, tags, schedule, captions) for our own videos, and read-only statistics for our own channels and videos (views, watch time, likes, comments, subscribers).
- How it is used: to publish our videos and to show our own performance numbers on a private dashboard. It is never used to collect data about other people's channels or about individual viewers.
- Storage: sign-in tokens and statistics are stored on our own private server and computer, protected by access controls. Statistics are kept only as long as they are useful for tracking the channels' growth.
- Sharing: this data is not sold, shared with or transferred to anyone.
By using a YouTube-connected feature of our app you agree to be bound by the YouTube Terms of Service, and Google's handling of data is governed by the Google Privacy Policy. Access granted to our app can be revoked at any time from the Google security settings page. When access is revoked, we delete the stored tokens, and on request we delete stored data within 30 days.
Meta (Instagram and Facebook) data
Where our app connects to Instagram or Facebook, it does so only for Pages and accounts we own, to publish our own posts and read their insights. Data is used, stored and protected in the same way as the YouTube data above and is never shared or sold.
TikTok
Where our app connects to TikTok, it does so only for our own account, to publish our own videos and read their statistics, under the same rules as above.
Comments and messages
If you comment on or message one of our channels, that happens on the platform (YouTube, TikTok, Instagram or Facebook) under that platform's privacy policy. We may read public comments to reply or to improve future episodes; we don't copy them into other systems or combine them with other data.
Data deletion
To ask us to delete any data related to you, or data obtained through our app, email hello@backfirefiles.com with the subject "Data deletion". We'll confirm and complete the request within 30 days. You can also remove our app's access yourself from your Google account permissions or from the Apps and Websites section of your Facebook or Instagram settings.
Children
The website does not knowingly collect personal information from anyone, including children under 13.
Changes
If this policy changes, we'll update the date at the top of this page.
Contact
Questions about this policy: hello@backfirefiles.com