PHASE ONE · UPDATED OCTOBER 5, 2026

Privacy Notice

Living Stories is operated by Daniel Ochoa. This notice describes the current prototype.

What the app stores

We store story titles, contributions, public pen names, creation times, room membership, inherited fragments, and a record of the terms version accepted for each new contribution. The server stores a hashed browser identifier derived from the writer cookie. We do not ask for bank details or create verified user accounts.

Cookies and your device

The ls_writer cookie remembers your browser for up to one year and enables your notebook, room management, one-contribution rule, and Ghost Memory. Your pen name is also remembered in this browser’s local storage. Clearing these values or using a different browser can lose access to your saved identity and creator controls.

Who can see your writing

Anyone with a room link can access that room. During writing, new writers see the latest line; returning contributors see their own contribution. Completed stories reveal all lines and public pen names. Ghost Memory is restricted to the contributing browser by the app, but the same lines are visible in the completed story. The operator and hosting infrastructure can access stored data as needed to operate the service. Do not submit private or identifying details.

Visit counts

For each story room, we store the hashed identifier and first recorded visit time for visitor browsers other than its creator. Repeat visits from that browser are deduplicated. Only the creating browser sees the room’s visitor count. This measures browsers, not verified people, and does not show where visitors came from. The app does not store IP addresses or location data for this counter.

Homepage visits are counted separately using the same hashed browser identifier and first visit time. Repeat visits are deduplicated. Browsers unlocked with the operator’s private dashboard key are marked as excluded. These homepage totals and platform activity totals are visible only through the operator’s protected dashboard.

Hosting and other services

The site runs on OpenAI Sites hosting with Cloudflare infrastructure and database storage. Hosting providers may process connection data and operational logs under their own policies. This edition has no advertising trackers or third-party analytics scripts. Opening a share destination such as X or Reddit subjects that activity to that service’s policies.

Retention and removal

Room records and contributions are retained until the room is removed or the operator deletes them. A creator can use Manage this room to remove the story, its contributions, memberships, and room visit records. Other contributors can ask the room creator through the channel where they received the invitation to remove the room. This edition has no individual-line deletion tool or verified-account recovery. Browser identity records may remain after room removal; hosted backups and operational logs may have separate retention.

Age recommendation and future changes

Recommended for ages 13+. Future capabilities with different data handling will require an updated notice and, where appropriate, additional consent.

Read the Terms of Service for contribution permissions and commercial-use conditions.