Effective date: July 24, 2026
This Privacy Policy explains how Portage Systems ("we", "us", or "our") collects, uses, stores, and protects your personal information when you use Ethel, our content and publishing platform. By using Ethel, you agree to the practices described in this policy.
We collect information you provide directly to us, including your name, email address, organization name, billing information, and any content you upload or create in Ethel.
We also collect information automatically as you use the service, such as device and browser information, IP address, usage logs, and interactions with features. In addition, Ethel stores content data specific to the product, including:
We use your information to provide, maintain, and improve Ethel; to process your subscription and billing; to communicate with you about your account, updates, and support requests; to secure the service; and to comply with legal obligations.
We do not sell your personal information. We do not use your content to train or improve third-party AI models. AI-generated drafts are produced for your workspace only, and the inputs used to create them are processed by the service on your behalf.
All payments are processed by Stripe, our third-party payment processor. When you subscribe to Ethel, Stripe collects your payment details. We do not store complete credit card numbers or bank account information on our servers. Stripe's use of your information is governed by Stripe's Privacy Policy and terms.
We use trusted service providers to host and operate Ethel. This includes cloud infrastructure providers, email delivery services, authentication providers, error monitoring tools, and analytics services. These providers process data only as necessary to perform services on our behalf and are contractually bound to protect it.
Ethel uses cookies and browser local storage to keep you signed in, remember your preferences, and understand how the product is used. You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings, but some features may not work properly without them.
We may use analytics tools that set cookies to help us understand usage patterns. These tools collect data in aggregate and do not identify you personally.
We retain your account information and content for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the service. If you delete content within Ethel, it may be removed from active use but retained in backups for a limited period. If you close your account, we will delete or anonymize your personal information within a reasonable time, except where we are required to keep it for legal or security purposes.
We take reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your information from unauthorized access, loss, or misuse. This includes encryption in transit, access controls, and regular review of our practices. However, no internet-based service can be completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
You are responsible for keeping your account credentials secure and for using the team access features thoughtfully. If you believe your account has been compromised, please contact us immediately.
Depending on your location, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, or restrict the processing of your personal information. You can update most account information directly in your Ethel settings. To request deletion of your account or personal data, contact us at support@portage.systems.
We will respond to reasonable requests in accordance with applicable law. If you are located in a jurisdiction with specific data protection laws, you may also have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority.
Ethel is not directed at children under 13 years of age, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.
Ethel is operated from the United States. If you access Ethel from outside the United States, you understand that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States or other jurisdictions where our service providers operate. By using Ethel, you consent to this transfer and processing.
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will notify you by email or by posting a notice in Ethel before the changes take effect. Your continued use of Ethel after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your data, please contact us at support@portage.systems.