This Privacy Policy applies to the MEI iOS application ("App") operated by MEI Media. It describes what data the App collects, why it collects it, how it is stored and shared, and the controls you have over your information.
This policy is separate from the MEI Media website privacy policy, which governs mei.media. If you have questions about either, contact us at [email protected].
Device identifier. On first launch the App generates a random UUID and stores it in your iOS Keychain. This identifier is used as your anonymous account. It is never tied to your name, email, or Apple ID unless you choose to Sign in with Apple.
Apple ID identifier (optional). If you tap "Sign in with Apple," we receive only Apple's opaque user identifier (the sub claim from Apple's identity token). We request no scopes — your name and email address are never shared with us. This identifier is used solely to link your reading preferences across devices.
Topic preferences. When you complete onboarding or edit your profile, the topics you follow are stored on our servers. These are explicit selections you make.
Reading behavior signals. As you use the App, we collect signals about how you interact with content. These signals are used to personalize your feed over time. We do not store a history of which articles you have read; individual signals are discarded after processing, and only the resulting topic preferences are kept.
Aggregate article view counts. When you open an article, an anonymous view count is incremented against the article's author and date. This count contains no information about which user read the article — it is equivalent to a page-view tally.
Subscription status. The App reads your current MEI subscription entitlements from Apple's StoreKit 2 to determine your subscription status (Free vs Premium). No payment details, billing history, or credit card information are ever transmitted to or stored by MEI Media — all billing is handled exclusively by Apple.
We do not collect your name, email address, phone number, location, camera or microphone data, contacts, browsing history outside the App, device hardware model, or operating system version. We also do not maintain a server-side record of which articles you have read.
Apple StoreKit 2 and Sign in with Apple. Subscription purchases and Apple ID authentication are handled directly by Apple under Apple's Privacy Policy. MEI Media receives only the entitlement status and the opaque Apple user identifier described above.
Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM). If you enable breaking news notifications, your device subscribes to a FCM topic using Apple's device token. FCM handles delivery; we do not store individual device tokens on our servers. Google's privacy terms apply to FCM traffic. You can opt out at any time via the breaking news toggle in your Profile or via iOS Settings → Notifications → MEI.
Google Analytics 4 (GA4). Our backend uses GA4's Measurement Protocol as a secondary backup to count article views. Only the article's author identifier is included as a custom dimension — no user identifier, device ID, or IP address from the App is transmitted to Google Analytics through this pathway.
Your profile (device identifier, Apple identifier if linked, followed topics, topic preferences, subscription status) is retained for as long as your account exists. It is deleted upon account deletion as described in Section 8.
Aggregate article view counts (attributed to authors) are retained. Because these counts contain no reader identity, they cannot be attributed to or deleted on behalf of any individual.
On-device data (e.g. theming, reader settings) is managed by your device. All on-device data is cleared when you delete your account or uninstall the App.
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to any third party.
We may share information in these limited circumstances:
You can delete your account at any time from Profile → Delete Account within the App. Upon deletion:
Push notifications require your permission, which iOS requests when you first enable the breaking news toggle. You can revoke notification permission at any time via iOS Settings → Notifications → MEI. Revoking permission does not delete your account or data.
The App is not directed to individuals under the age of 13 (or 16 in the EU/EEA). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a minor, contact us at [email protected] and we will promptly delete it.
All users. You may request access to, correction of, or deletion of personal data we hold about you by contacting [email protected] or using the in-app account deletion feature.
EU / EEA residents (GDPR). You have the right to access, rectify, erase, restrict, or object to the processing of your personal data, as well as the right to data portability. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local supervisory authority. Our legal basis for processing your data is: performance of a contract (providing the App service), legitimate interest (analytics and trending), and consent (push notifications).
California residents (CCPA / CPRA). You have the right to know what personal information we collect, to delete it, to opt out of its sale (we do not sell personal information), and to non-discrimination for exercising these rights. To submit a request, contact [email protected].
We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your information, including HTTPS for all API traffic and Keychain storage for device credentials. No method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will post the revised policy at this URL with an updated effective date. Continued use of the App after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
For privacy-related questions or requests:
[email protected]
MEI Media
101 Huynh Tan Phat, Hoa Cuong Bac Ward
Hai Chau District, Da Nang 55000, Vietnam