Updated October 5, 2026.
ORC Margin Tone Mail Notifier is a private utility used by Margin Tone to manage its publication mailbox. It alerts the operator to incoming mail, helps assess messages and editorial submissions, and supports authorized replies. It is not a public email service and does not invite readers to connect their accounts.
Privacy notice
This notice covers the mail utility, not every service on the Margin Tone website. The utility accesses the connected publication mailbox only after its operator authorizes access through Google.
Information accessed and why
Background synchronization uses Gmail message identifiers, history records, labels and headers such as sender, recipient, subject and date to detect new mail and recover messages missed while the computer was offline. Google Cloud Pub/Sub delivers mailbox-change notices. Local records track which notifications have already been handled.
A separate Gmail read permission allows ORC to retrieve message bodies and relevant conversation history for triage, editorial work and other authorized requests. Attachment metadata is listed; attachment contents are retrieved when needed for an authorized task. Send permission allows replies within the operator’s instructions. The utility does not request permission to delete messages or change Gmail labels or settings.
AI processing and service providers
Message text, relevant headers and task-related attachments may enter the operator’s ORC session and be processed by its configured AI services, including OpenAI. The operator can review that session. This processing helps summarize mail, identify requests, prepare responses and perform authorized editorial work; it is not confined to the local computer. Gmail and Google Cloud provide mail access and change notifications. Information included in an authorized reply is sent to its intended recipient.
The utility does not sell Google user data or use it for advertising targeting. Google user data is used for the mailbox-management and editorial functions described here, not to train a generalized AI model. Service-provider processing is subject to the operator’s applicable service arrangements. The utility’s use and transfer of information received from Google APIs must adhere to the Google API Services User Data Policy, including its Limited Use requirements.
Storage and retention
Authorization credentials and the listener’s queue and tracking state are encrypted using Windows account protection on the operator’s computer. Message text, attachments and working records used in a task may also be retained in the ORC session or local editorial files; these are separate from the encrypted credential store. Relevant service providers may retain processing records under their applicable terms. There is no automatic deletion period configured for all ORC task records. The operator can remove records when they are no longer needed, subject to legitimate editorial, security and recordkeeping needs.
Routine reads do not mark mail as read or remove it from Gmail. A narrowly matched notice that one Margin Tone article links to another may be logged locally without an AI notification. Uncertain notices continue through normal handling. Removing a local notification is not deleting the original email.
Control and contact
The mailbox operator can stop the local utility and revoke its access in Google Account third-party connections. Revoking access prevents future authorized access but does not itself erase copies already retained in task records or Gmail. For questions or requests concerning retained correspondence, contact margin.tone.editors@gmail.com. Do not send passwords or security codes.
