Truth. Reliability. Understanding.
Last updated: September 4, 2026
The Strategic Owl is built to provide civic tools without advertising surveillance. We do not sell personal information, use advertising networks, or track people across apps and websites. This policy explains the limited information used to operate optional app features.
Subscriber email. A paid subscriber may voluntarily enter the email associated with an Owl or Substack subscription. The app sends that email to a protected Supabase function to confirm access against active subscription or approved-user records. A validated email may be stored on the device so access does not need to be rechecked on every screen.
Ask the Owl submissions. Authorized subscribers may submit a topic and an optional audience take. The topic, optional text, access source, status, and related timestamps are stored in Supabase so the administrator can review, research, complete, or archive the request. For email-validated subscribers, the associated subscriber email may be stored. For Apple subscribers, requests are associated with a randomly assigned app account identifier rather than an Apple Account email.
Anonymous app identifier. Supabase assigns the app session a random account identifier. It is used to associate Helpful reactions, optional saved quiz history, Ask the Owl submissions, and verified Apple subscription access with the same app profile. It is not an advertising identifier and is not used for cross-app tracking.
Media Influence Quiz. The quiz can be completed without saving anything to the server. An authorized subscriber may affirmatively choose to save a result. When saved, the app stores the ten responses, calculated score, result label, quiz version, consent version, date, and random participant identifier. The quiz record does not store the subscriber email. Saved responses may involve civic or political opinions. Results are retained for up to 12 months and can be deleted from within the app. Aggregated, non-identifying statistics may be used to understand overall response patterns.
Helpful reactions. When a user marks an Owl post Helpful, Supabase stores the post reference and random app identifier. This prevents duplicate reactions and allows the app to display totals.
Administrator publishing. Photo-library access is available only within protected administrator tools. It allows the administrator to select optional Owl Feed or profile images for upload to Supabase Storage. Regular users are not asked to provide photos.
The app does not collect payment-card numbers, bank information, contacts, microphone recordings, precise location, health information, advertising identifiers, or browsing history. A ZIP code entered in Candidate Check is processed in the app against downloaded civic data and is not saved by The Strategic Owl.
Apple In-App Purchase. Owl Access may be purchased through Apple’s In-App Purchase system. Apple processes payment and does not provide The Strategic Owl with payment-card information or the subscriber’s Apple Account email address. To confirm access, restore purchases, and maintain subscription status, the app and its secure services process Apple-signed transaction information, transaction identifiers, subscription status, expiration information, and a random app account identifier. This information is used only to verify Owl Access, restore access on an eligible device, and respond to subscription events such as renewal, expiration, refund, or revocation.
Stripe and Substack. Owl subscriptions may also be processed on Stripe-hosted pages, and Substack subscriptions are managed by Substack. The Strategic Owl does not receive or store payment-card information. Stripe or Substack may provide an email address, subscription status, customer reference, and related subscription information so paid access can be validated. Their handling of information is governed by their own privacy policies.
The app uses limited third-party infrastructure to provide its features:
The app also opens user-selected external resources, including official election websites, House.gov, campaign websites, Instagram, and research tools. Once opened, those services operate under their own privacy policies.
Information described in this policy is used only to operate app features, validate subscriber access, maintain security, display saved history and reaction totals, manage submitted topics, and produce aggregated statistics. It is not used for third-party advertising, targeted advertising, or data-broker profiling.
Deleting an app account. A confirmed subscriber can delete their app account and associated app data directly in the app through Profile → Account & Data → Delete App Account & Data. This permanently deletes the current app profile, saved quiz history, Ask the Owl requests, Helpful reactions, and the app’s subscription-access link.
Deleting an app account does not automatically cancel an active Apple, Stripe, or Substack subscription. Apple subscriptions can be managed through Apple Account subscription settings. Stripe and Substack subscriptions must be managed through the provider that bills the subscriber.
Questions or privacy requests are welcome.
Email:
[email protected]
Website:
https://thestrategicowl.com
The principle remains simple: collect less, explain clearly, and never turn the audience into the product.