Privacy Policy

Last updated 28 September 2026. Once Upon a Now is an invitation-only storytelling app for families, operated from the owner's Mac. Contact yellowbeard@gmail.com with privacy questions or requests.

What the app handles

• Cloudflare Access handles email sign-in for the protected story app. The operator can see the email addresses allowed to sign in.
• The app sets a long-lived device cookie so each browser has its own bookshelf. It stores story text, character and scene details, generated drawings, and spoken audio on the owner's Mac.
• When someone uses the microphone, the audio is sent to the app and then to Google's Gemini service to understand the words. The app does not intentionally save the microphone recording as a separate file; words and story events may be saved in the book.
• Gemini also receives story details needed to generate story actions, pictures, voices, and a suitability check before a YouTube upload.
• If someone sends a book to YouTube, the app makes a video and sends it to the connected YouTube channel. The video, title, and description are then handled under YouTube's own privacy settings and policies.

Why this happens

These details let the app keep a bookshelf for each device, make and read stories, check a proposed video, and upload it when requested. The app does not use stories or recordings for advertising.

Who receives information

Cloudflare provides sign-in and delivery of the protected website. Google Gemini processes story requests and microphone audio. Google YouTube receives a video only when someone chooses to upload a book. Those services may process data under their own terms and privacy policies.

Keeping and removing stories

Stories and generated files remain on the owner's Mac while the app is used. Moving a book to the app's shredder removes it from the shelf but keeps a recoverable copy. To request permanent removal of a book or ask about stored data, email yellowbeard@gmail.com. A YouTube video must also be removed from the channel separately.

Children and families

A parent or guardian should supervise use of the app, especially before a story goes to YouTube. Please do not put a child's real full name, address, school, phone number, or other personal details into a story. The automated check can make mistakes.

Changes

This page may be updated as the app changes. The date above shows the latest version.