Privacy Policy
Effective: July 30, 2026 · Last Updated: July 30, 2026
The short version
Hovercast collects information to run our platform and the events hosted on it. We do not sell your personal information. We do not process donations. We use a small number of trusted third-party services for billing, email, video delivery, and analytics.
The rest of this policy explains what we collect, why, who we share it with, and what rights you have.
1. Who We Are
Hovercast Inc. ("Hovercast," "We," "Us," or "Our") operates a live event streaming platform that enables organizations to create, manage, and broadcast events. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share, and protect personal information in connection with the Hovercast platform.
This Privacy Policy applies to:
Platform users: Organizations, Admins, Managers, Members, and Operators who use the Hovercast platform to create and manage events.
Event participants: Speakers and Viewers who attend events hosted on the Hovercast platform.
Website visitors: individuals who visit hovercast.com or related Hovercast web properties.
Contact us with privacy questions at: [email protected] or Hovercast Inc., 3838 N Ravenswood Ave, Suite 218, Chicago, IL 60613, United States.
2. Our Role: Controller and Processor
Hovercast plays two different privacy roles depending on whose data is involved. This distinction is important because it affects your rights and who is responsible for what.
When Hovercast is a Data Controller
For data about platform users (Organizations, Admins, Managers, Members), Hovercast determines why and how that data is used. This includes billing information, account data, login records, and product analytics. For this data, Hovercast is responsible for responding to your privacy rights requests.
When Hovercast is a Data Processor
For personal data of Event Participants (Speakers and Viewers) collected through events hosted by Organizations, Hovercast processes that data on behalf of the Organization. The Organization is the data controller for their Participants' data and is responsible for their own privacy obligations to those individuals. If you are a Viewer or Speaker and have a question about how a specific event host uses your data, contact that Organization directly.
3. What We Collect and Why
The table below summarizes what personal information Hovercast collects from each type of user, why we collect it, and who else receives it.
| Who | What We Collect | Why | Who Else Receives It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Organization / Admin | Name, email, organization name, billing address, Stripe payment token, login IP, device/browser, usage logs | Account management, authentication, billing, transactional email, product analytics | Stripe (billing); Resend (email); Google Analytics + PostHog (analytics); GCP (hosting) |
| Manager | Name, email, login IP, usage logs | Account access and permissions, product analytics | Google Analytics + PostHog; GCP (hosting) |
| Member | Name, email, login IP | Account access | Google Analytics + PostHog; GCP (hosting) |
| Operator | Name, email, event settings and metadata | Event creation, management, streaming coordination | LiveKit (video conferencing); Cloudflare Stream; Amazon IVS (stream delivery); YouTube (if streaming enabled); GCP (hosting); Resend (transactional email) |
| Speaker | Name, email (via invitation or raise-hand acceptance); audio/visual content in Backstage (private, accessible to Operator and co-Speakers only); audio/visual content during live broadcast | Event participation; pre-broadcast tech check and staging (Backstage); A/V stream transmission to live audience | LiveKit (video conferencing); Cloudflare Stream; Amazon IVS (stream delivery); YouTube (if streaming enabled); GCP (hosting) |
| Viewer | Display name (optional); where RSVP enabled: first/last name, email address, ZIP code, phone number (optional), Operator-configured custom fields; chat/Q&A/reactions, IP address, device/browser | Event participation, moderation, aggregate analytics; Hovercast product communications (RSVP email only) | Operator (via RSVP export and registration webhook); LiveKit (video conferencing); Cloudflare Stream; Amazon IVS (video player); YouTube (if public stream); GCP (hosting); Resend (RSVP confirmation email) |
Viewers:
Hovercast does not require Viewers to create an account or provide any information to attend an event without RSVP. Where an Operator has enabled an RSVP page, Viewers who register provide their first and last name, email address, and ZIP code. Phone number and any Operator-configured custom fields are optional. Hovercast may send Viewers product communications using RSVP email addresses; Viewers may unsubscribe at any time. RSVP data is accessible to the Operator and may be transmitted to Operator-configured webhook endpoints in real time. Hovercast is not responsible for how Operators use RSVP data they access or receive.
Payment data:
Hovercast uses Stripe for payment processing. Hovercast does not store or have access to full payment card numbers. Stripe handles card data directly and provides Hovercast with a payment token. See Stripe's privacy policy at stripe.com/privacy.
4. How We Use Your Information
4.1 To Provide and Operate the Platform.
We use personal information to create and maintain accounts, authenticate users (including via Google Single Sign-On, which provides your Google account name and email address to Hovercast), enable event creation and broadcasting, deliver video streams via Cloudflare Stream, send event notifications and invitations via Resend, and process subscription payments via Stripe.
4.2 To Communicate with You.
We use contact information to send transactional messages (account confirmations, password resets, event reminders, billing receipts) and, where you have not opted out, product updates and announcements relevant to your use of Hovercast. Transactional messages are sent via Resend. You may opt out of non-transactional communications at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in any such email or by contacting us at [email protected].
Where a Viewer has registered for an event via an RSVP page and provided their email address, Hovercast may also use that email address to send product updates, announcements, and other communications about the Hovercast platform. By submitting an RSVP form on a Hovercast event page, the Viewer agrees to this use of their email address. Viewers may unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in any Hovercast email.
4.3 To Improve the Platform.
We use aggregated and de-identified usage data, collected through Google Analytics and PostHog, to understand how the platform is used, identify areas for improvement, and develop new features. We do not use these analytics tools to build personal profiles for advertising or to sell data about individual users.
4.4 To Enforce Our Terms and Protect the Platform.
We may use personal information to detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and violations of our Platform Terms of Service and Community Guidelines, to investigate security incidents, and to enforce our rights under applicable law.
4.5 To Comply with Law.
We may process or retain personal information as required by applicable law, including to respond to lawful requests from government authorities, to comply with tax and financial record-keeping requirements, and to meet our obligations under applicable U.S. law.
5. Who We Share Your Information With
Hovercast does not sell personal information. We share personal information only in the circumstances described below.
5.1 Third-Party Service Providers.
We share personal information with a limited set of trusted service providers who help us operate the platform. Each provider receives only the data necessary for their specific function and is contractually required to protect it. The table below lists our current service providers:
| Service | Purpose | Data Shared | Privacy Policy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe | Payment processing | Billing address, payment token (card numbers handled by Stripe directly) | stripe.com/privacy |
| Resend | Transactional email | Name, email address | resend.com/legal/privacy-policy |
| Google Analytics | Product analytics (internal) | Aggregated, de-identified usage data | policies.google.com/privacy |
| PostHog | Product analytics (internal) | Aggregated, de-identified usage data | posthog.com/privacy |
| LiveKit | Video conferencing (Speaker room and Backstage) | Audio/visual content during Events (Operators, Speakers, Viewers) | livekit.io/legal/privacy-policy |
| Cloudflare Stream | Video encoding and delivery | Audio/visual content during Events (Operators, Speakers, Viewers) | cloudflare.com/privacypolicy |
| Amazon IVS (AWS) | Ultra-low latency video player on event pages | Event video stream; Viewer IP address and device/browser data collected by the embedded IVS player | aws.amazon.com/privacy |
| YouTube (Google) | Live stream distribution (if enabled) | Event A/V content; governed by YouTube TOS | policies.google.com/privacy |
| Google Cloud Platform | Infrastructure and hosting | All platform data (US region, us-central1) | cloud.google.com/terms/cloud-privacy-notice |
| ActBlue | Donation platform (political) | Link-out only. Hovercast may receive event-level summary data (totals) for reporting. | actblue.com/privacy |
| GoodChange | Donation platform (charitable) | Link-out only. Hovercast does not send Viewer data to GoodChange. | See GoodChange privacy policy |
| Registration Webhook (Operator-configured) | Real-time RSVP data delivery to Operator endpoint | Registrant name, email, phone number, ZIP code, custom field responses, registration source | Operator-specified URL (Operator's servers or third-party systems; Hovercast does not control these endpoints) |
5.2 Organizations and Operators.
Event Content generated by Speakers and Viewers (including chat messages, Q&A submissions, and reactions) is visible to and accessible by the Organization and Operator hosting the Event. Organizations may export event data — including RSVP registrant lists (in CSV format), chat transcripts, and analytics data — for their own record-keeping and reporting purposes. Organizations may also configure a registration webhook to receive RSVP registration data (including name, email address, phone number, ZIP code, and custom field responses) in real time at an Operator-specified endpoint. Hovercast is not responsible for the security of Operator-configured webhook endpoints or for how Organizations handle Participant data they access, export, or receive via webhook.
5.3 Donation Platform Data.
Hovercast integrates with ActBlue (for political organizations) and GoodChange (for charitable organizations) via a link-out mechanism. Hovercast does not transmit Viewer personal information to ActBlue or GoodChange. When a Viewer clicks a donation link, they leave the Hovercast platform and are subject to the destination platform's privacy policy. Hovercast may receive event-level summary data (such as total donation counts and amounts) from ActBlue for reporting purposes. This summary data is used only to provide Organizations with fundraising analytics.
5.4 Legal Requirements and Safety.
We may disclose personal information if we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to: comply with a legal obligation or lawful government request; protect the rights, property, or safety of Hovercast, our users, or the public; prevent or investigate possible wrongdoing in connection with the platform; or enforce our Terms of Service.
5.5 Business Transfers.
If Hovercast is involved in a merger, acquisition, sale of assets, or similar transaction, personal information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify affected users if personal information becomes subject to a materially different privacy policy as a result.
5.6 With Your Consent.
We may share personal information for other purposes with your consent.
6. Data Retention
We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this policy, including to provide the Services, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. Our general retention practices are:
Account data: retained for the life of the account and for up to three years after account closure, to support audits, legal compliance, and dispute resolution.
Billing records: retained for seven years to comply with tax and financial record-keeping requirements.
Event recordings: retained based on the Organization's Subscription Plan. Recordings are available for download during the Subscription Period and for a specified period after. See your subscription details for specifics. After the retention period, recordings are deleted.
Event participation data (chat, Q&A, IP logs): retained for the duration of the event and for a reasonable period thereafter for moderation and analytics purposes. Aggregate analytics data may be retained indefinitely in de-identified form.
Viewer display names: session-based and not retained after the event ends, except to the extent captured in an event recording or aggregated analytics.
7. Security
Hovercast uses commercially reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect personal information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. The platform is hosted on Google Cloud Platform (us-central1 region) with video delivery via Cloudflare Stream. We use industry-standard encryption for data in transit and implement access controls to limit who within Hovercast can access personal information.
No method of transmission or storage is completely secure. While we work to protect your data, we cannot guarantee that unauthorized access will never occur. If you believe your account has been compromised, contact us immediately at [email protected].
8. Children's Privacy
8.1 Platform Users.
The Hovercast platform is available to Organizations and their designated users who are at least 18 years old. Hovercast does not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under 18 in connection with platform accounts.
8.2 Event Viewers.
Hovercast events are publicly accessible and Hovercast does not verify the age of Viewers. Hovercast does not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. The Hovercast platform and Services are not directed at children under 13. If you are under 13, do not access or use the Services.
Because Hovercast collects IP addresses from all users accessing event pages (including Viewers who may be under 13), and IP addresses may constitute personal information under applicable law, Hovercast operates under the following COPPA compliance approach: we do not condition participation on the disclosure of more personal information than is reasonably necessary, we do not use Viewer data for targeted advertising, and we delete any personal information we discover was collected from a child under 13 as quickly as practicable.
8.3 Operator Responsibility.
Organizations and Operators who host events are responsible for ensuring that their events are appropriate for their intended audience and for complying with applicable child privacy laws in connection with their events. If an Operator intends to host events directed at children under 13, they should contact Hovercast before doing so.
9. California Residents: CCPA Rights
If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) provide you with specific rights regarding your personal information.
9.1 What We Collect and How We Use It.
Section 3 of this policy describes the categories of personal information we collect, the sources from which we collect it, and the purposes for which we use it. Categories of personal information we collect include: identifiers (name, email, IP address); commercial information (subscription and billing records); internet or other electronic network activity (usage logs, device and browser information); and audio or visual data (for Speakers during Events).
9.2 We Do Not Sell or Share Personal Information.
Hovercast does not sell personal information and does not share personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising purposes as defined under California law. We share personal information with service providers as described in Section 5, which does not constitute a "sale" or "sharing" under the CCPA.
9.3 Your California Privacy Rights.
California residents have the following rights with respect to their personal information:
Right to Know: you may request information about the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you, the categories of sources, our purposes for collecting it, and the categories of third parties with whom we have shared it.
Right to Delete: you may request that we delete personal information we have collected from you, subject to certain exceptions (such as data needed to complete transactions, comply with legal obligations, or detect security incidents).
Right to Correct: you may request that we correct inaccurate personal information we hold about you.
Right to Opt Out of Sale/Sharing: because we do not sell or share personal information for advertising purposes, there is nothing to opt out of. If this changes, we will update this policy and provide an opt-out mechanism.
Right to Non-Discrimination: we will not discriminate against you for exercising any CCPA rights.
9.4 How to Submit a CCPA Request.
To exercise your California privacy rights, submit a request to [email protected] with "CCPA Request" in the subject line. We will verify your identity before responding and will respond within 45 days. We may extend the response period by an additional 45 days when reasonably necessary with prior notice. We will not charge a fee for reasonable requests; we may charge a fee for manifestly unfounded or excessive requests.
10. Your Rights and Choices
Regardless of where you are located, you have the following choices regarding your personal information:
Account information: you may review and update your account information at any time by logging into your Hovercast account.
Marketing emails: you may opt out of non-transactional marketing emails at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in any such email or emailing [email protected].
Access and deletion: you may request access to or deletion of personal information we hold about you by contacting [email protected]. We will respond within a reasonable time and may need to verify your identity before fulfilling the request.
Cookies and analytics: you may adjust your browser settings to limit cookies. Note that restricting cookies may affect the functionality of the platform.
We process personal information for the purposes described in this policy. We do not use personal information for automated individual decision-making that produces legal effects.
11. Third-Party Links and Services
Hovercast events may include links to third-party websites and platforms, including donation platforms (ActBlue and GoodChange) and streaming platforms (YouTube). When you leave the Hovercast platform by clicking such a link, the third party's own privacy policy governs. Hovercast is not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party platforms. We encourage you to review the privacy policy of any third-party site before providing personal information.
12. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the "Last Updated" date at the top. If we make material changes to how we collect or use personal information, we will notify platform users via email or through the platform prior to the change taking effect. Your continued use of the Services after the updated policy takes effect constitutes acceptance.
13. Contact Us
For privacy questions, requests, or concerns, contact us at:
Hovercast Inc.
Attn: Privacy
3838 N Ravenswood Ave, Suite 218
Chicago, IL 60613
[email protected]
We will respond to privacy requests within a reasonable time. For California-specific requests, see Section 9.4 for response timelines.
See also: Platform Terms of Service · Viewer Terms of Service · Community Guidelines