Legal
Privacy Policy
Last updated: March 17, 2026 · Effective: March 17, 2026
VidShook is built on a simple principle: your data is yours. We collect only what's needed to run the service, never sell it, and give you full control to delete it at any time.
1. Who We Are
VidShook ("we", "us", "our") is an AI-powered YouTube optimization service operated by The Podcasters. We help YouTube creators improve their video metadata through AI-generated rewrites.
Contact: hello@vidshook.com
2. Information We Collect
Account Information
- Email address (if signing up with email)
- YouTube channel ID, channel name, subscriber count, and video count (from Google OAuth)
- Google OAuth access and refresh tokens (stored securely, used only to interact with your YouTube channel on your behalf)
Video Data
- Video titles, descriptions, and tags from your YouTube channel
- View counts, like counts, and comment counts
- Video thumbnails (URLs, not files)
- Published dates and privacy status
- Video transcripts/captions (when available and requested by you)
Usage Data
- Shok runs performed and results
- Thumbnail generation requests
- Features used and timestamps
Billing Data
Payment processing is handled by Stripe. We store only your subscription plan and status. We never see or store your full card number, CVV, or banking details.
3. How We Use Your Information
- To connect to your YouTube channel and perform metadata rewrites on your behalf
- To generate AI-optimized titles, descriptions, tags, and thumbnails
- To score your videos and track performance improvements
- To send transactional emails (confirmations, password resets, billing receipts)
- To improve our AI models and product features
- To prevent fraud and abuse
4. YouTube API Data
VidShook uses the YouTube Data API v3 and YouTube Analytics API. By connecting your YouTube account, you authorize VidShook to:
- Read your channel's video metadata (titles, descriptions, tags, thumbnails)
- Update video metadata on your behalf when you trigger a Shok
- Read analytics data (views, impressions, CTR) for the Impact Dashboard
- Read captions/transcripts for Transcript Intelligence analysis
We do not access your private messages, comments on behalf of your account without your explicit action, or any YouTube data beyond what's listed above.
Your use of VidShook is also subject to YouTube's Terms of Service and Google's Privacy Policy.
5. Data Sharing
We do not sell your personal data. We share data only with:
- Anthropic — AI model provider. Video metadata is sent to generate rewrites. Anthropic's data is processed per their Privacy Policy.
- Stripe — Payment processing. Subject to Stripe's Privacy Policy.
- Resend — Transactional email delivery.
- Render — Cloud hosting provider where your data is stored.
- Law enforcement — Only when required by law or to protect against fraud or harm.
6. Data Retention
- Account data is retained while your account is active
- Video metadata is retained to power the Impact Dashboard and historical comparisons
- Transcripts are cached for 30 days then refreshed on next request
- Job logs are retained for 90 days
- You can request deletion of all your data at any time
7. Your Rights
You have the right to:
- Access — Request a copy of all data we hold about you
- Delete — Delete your account and all associated data from your Settings page, or email us at hello@vidshook.com
- Disconnect YouTube — Revoke VidShook's access to your YouTube account at any time from Google Account Permissions
- Correct — Update inaccurate personal information
- Portability — Request your data in a machine-readable format
8. Security
We take security seriously:
- All data is transmitted over HTTPS/TLS
- OAuth tokens are encrypted at rest
- Passwords are hashed using bcrypt (we never store plaintext passwords)
- Access to production data is restricted to essential personnel only
9. Cookies
VidShook uses minimal cookies and local storage to maintain your session (JWT token) and user preferences. We do not use third-party tracking cookies or advertising cookies.
10. Children's Privacy
VidShook is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us data, contact us at hello@vidshook.com and we will delete it.
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we'll update the "Last updated" date at the top and notify you via email if the changes are material.
12. Contact
For any privacy questions or data requests:
Email: hello@vidshook.com
Subject line: "Privacy Request"