Legal

Introduction

HalfThought is an SMS-first AI accountability coach that helps you stay on track through reminders and supportive conversations. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your information when you use our service.

SMS and WhatsApp Opt-In

User-Initiated Communication Only: We never reach out to you first. All communication begins when you send the first message to HalfThought via SMS or WhatsApp.

When you send your first message, you will receive the following opt-in message:

Explicit Opt-In Required: You must reply "YES" to confirm you want to receive messages. Messaging consent is separate from service access—you can use HalfThought without opting into SMS messages.

Once you opt in by replying YES, you will receive:

• AI coaching responses to your messages
• Reminder confirmations when you schedule tasks
• Follow-up reminders at the times you specify
• Timezone and preference confirmation messages

Opt-Out: You can stop receiving messages at any time by replying "STOP" to any message. We will immediately stop sending you messages and will only resume if you initiate contact again.

Data We Collect

We collect the following information to provide our service:

• Phone Number: Your phone number in E.164 format (e.g., +1234567890) is used as your unique identifier and to send/receive messages
• Messages: All SMS and WhatsApp messages you send and receive, including reminder text, AI coaching conversations, and confirmations
• Timezone: Your IANA timezone (e.g., "America/New_York") to schedule reminders in your local time
• Preferences: Your coach tone preference and locale settings to personalize responses
• Reminders: Scheduled reminder details including original text, run time, and status

Data Storage

Your data is stored securely in Amazon DynamoDB with the following retention policies:

• Messages: Automatically deleted after 90 days via DynamoDB TTL (Time To Live) feature
• User Profile: Retained until you request deletion or opt out
• Reminders: Retained until completed or canceled, then deleted according to message retention policy

We do not store your data indefinitely. The 90-day TTL ensures that message logs are automatically purged, helping protect your privacy while maintaining service functionality.

How We Use Your Data

We use your data solely to:

• Provide the AI coaching and reminder service
• Parse and understand your reminder requests
• Schedule and send reminders at the times you specify
• Improve AI response quality and accuracy
• Enforce daily reminder caps and rate limits

We do not: sell your data, share it with third parties for marketing purposes, or use it for any purpose other than providing the HalfThought service.

Mobile Contact Information Sharing: We do not share mobile contact information with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. All other categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties.

Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access: Request a copy of all data we have about you
• Deletion: Request that we delete your account and all associated data
• Opt-Out: Stop receiving messages at any time by replying "STOP"
• Correction: Update your timezone, locale, or coach tone preferences via the dashboard

To exercise these rights, contact us at the email address provided below or use the opt-out instructions in any message.

Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your data, including: encryption in transit and at rest, access controls, and regular security audits. Your phone number and messages are treated as sensitive personal information and are protected accordingly.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your rights, please contact us at: hello@halfthought.com