Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to AptyRead! This Privacy Policy explains how APTYOU SERVICES PRIVATE LIMITED ("AptyRead," "we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, discloses, and protects your information and your child's information when you use our mobile application ("App"), website (www.aptyread.ai), and related services (collectively, the "Services").

AptyRead is designed for young children. We are committed to protecting children's privacy and comply with applicable children's privacy laws, including the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) in the United States.

By using our Services, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this Privacy Policy, please do not use our Services.

2. Information We Collect

We collect minimal information necessary to provide our educational services. We do not collect more information than is reasonably necessary for your child to participate in our educational activities.

2.1 Information Collected from Parents/Guardians

Account Information:

• Email address or phone number (for account creation and authentication)
• Authentication method (Google Sign-In, Apple Sign-In on iOS devices, or Phone OTP via Firebase)
• Account credentials (managed securely through Firebase Authentication)

Payment Information:

• Purchase transactions are processed through Apple App Store or Google Play Store
• We do not collect, store, or process credit card information directly
• Payment information is handled by Apple or Google according to their privacy policies
• We receive purchase confirmations and transaction IDs for account management

Communication Information:

• Email address for account-related communications
• Support requests and feedback you provide to us

2.2 Information Collected from Children

Child Profile Information:

• Child's first name (which can be any name - does not need to be real name)
• Child's age (for age-appropriate content delivery)

Learning Progress Data:

• Lesson completion status and progress
• Scores and performance on activities
• Time spent on lessons and activities
• Learning milestones and achievements
• Review scores and practice results
• Topics completed and mastery levels

Usage Data:

• App usage statistics (sessions, duration, features used)
• Device information (device type, operating system, app version) for troubleshooting
• Error logs and crash reports (for app improvement)

Audio Data (Temporary Processing Only):

• When your child practices pronunciation, audio recordings are temporarily processed using Google Speech-to-Text API
• These audio recordings are NOT permanently stored
• Audio is processed in real-time for pronunciation feedback only
• Audio data is not saved to our servers or associated with your child's profile

2.3 Information We Do NOT Collect

We do NOT collect:

• Last names or full names of children
• Physical addresses or location data
• Social media accounts or profiles
• Contact information from children
• Photos or videos of children
• Behavioral tracking for advertising purposes
• Information from third-party social networks (except Google Sign-In or Apple Sign-In for parent authentication)

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect solely for the following purposes:

3.1 Service Provision

• Provide and maintain the AptyRead educational platform
• Authenticate users and secure accounts
• Enable access to purchased course levels
• Track learning progress and personalize the educational experience
• Deliver educational content (lessons, videos, activities)
• Provide pronunciation feedback through speech recognition

3.2 Educational Purposes

• Track your child's learning progress across lessons and levels
• Generate progress reports for parents
• Personalize learning paths based on performance
• Identify areas where additional practice may be needed
• Provide educational recommendations

3.3 Account Management

• Process purchases and manage course access
• Send account-related communications (purchase confirmations, important updates)
• Respond to support requests and inquiries
• Manage account settings and preferences

3.4 Service Improvement

• Analyze app usage to improve educational content
• Fix bugs and technical issues
• Enhance app functionality and user experience
• Conduct research and analytics (aggregated and anonymized)

3.5 Legal and Safety

• Comply with legal obligations
• Protect the safety and security of our users
• Prevent fraud and abuse
• Enforce our Terms of Service

We do NOT use your information or your child's information for:

• Advertising or marketing to children
• Selling data to third parties
• Creating profiles for advertising purposes
• Sharing with third parties for commercial purposes

4. Children's Privacy (COPPA Compliance)

AptyRead is designed for young children. We take children's privacy seriously and comply with applicable children's privacy laws.

4.1 COPPA Compliance (United States)

If you are located in the United States, we comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). This means:

Parental Consent:

• We require verifiable parental consent before collecting any personal information from children under 13
• Parental consent is obtained through our Parental Gate mechanism during account registration
• Parents must create an account and provide consent before a child profile can be created
• We maintain records of parental consent as required by COPPA

Minimal Data Collection:

• We only collect information that is reasonably necessary for your child to participate in our educational activities
• We do not collect more information than is necessary for the educational purpose
• We do not condition a child's participation on providing more information than necessary

No Marketing to Children:

• We do not display advertisements to children
• We do not use children's information for advertising purposes
• We do not allow behavioral advertising targeting children

Parental Rights:

• Parents can review their child's personal information at any time
• Parents can request deletion of their child's information
• Parents can refuse to permit further collection or use of their child's information
• Parents can revoke consent at any time

Data Sharing:

• We do not share children's personal information with third parties for marketing purposes
• We only share information with service providers necessary to operate our platform (see Section 5)
• We do not sell children's personal information

4.2 Additional Protections

No Social Features:

• Children cannot communicate with other users
• Children cannot share personal information with others
• No chat, messaging, or social networking features

Parental Controls:

• All purchases and account settings require parental authentication
• Parents have full control over their child's account and data
• Parents can monitor their child's progress and activity

Content Safety:

• All content is age-appropriate and educational
• No user-generated content from children
• No external links that could expose children to inappropriate content

5. Data Sharing and Third-Party Services

We do not sell, rent, or share your personal information or your child's personal information with third parties for their marketing purposes.

5.1 Service Providers

We use the following third-party services to operate our platform. These services are necessary for providing our educational services:

Firebase and Firestore (Google):

• Purpose: Authentication, database storage, and backend services
• Data Shared: Account information, child profiles, learning progress
• Privacy Policy: https://firebase.google.com/support/privacy
• Data Location: May be stored on Google servers globally

Google Speech-to-Text API:

• Purpose: Real-time pronunciation feedback and speech recognition
• Data Shared: Temporary audio recordings (processed in real-time, not stored)
• Privacy Policy: https://cloud.google.com/speech-to-text/docs/data-logging
• Data Location: Processed on Google servers, not permanently stored

Bunny CDN:

• Purpose: Content delivery (videos, audio, images)
• Data Shared: Content delivery only (no personal information)
• Privacy Policy: https://bunny.net/legal/privacy/
• Data Location: Content cached on CDN servers globally

Apple App Store / Google Play Store:

• Purpose: Payment processing for in-app purchases
• Data Shared: Purchase transactions, account identifiers
• Privacy Policy: Apple: https://www.apple.com/privacy/, Google: https://policies.google.com/privacy
• Data Location: Managed by Apple/Google

5.2 Data Sharing Limitations

We do NOT:

• Sell personal information to third parties
• Share personal information for advertising purposes
• Allow third parties to use personal information for their own purposes
• Share children's information with third parties except as necessary for service provision

We only share information:

• With service providers necessary to operate our platform
• When required by law or legal process
• To protect the safety and security of our users
• With your explicit consent

5.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or government regulation, or if we believe disclosure is necessary to:

• Comply with legal obligations
• Protect the rights, property, or safety of AptyRead, our users, or others
• Prevent fraud or abuse
• Respond to government requests

6. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information and your child's information.

6.1 Security Measures

Encryption:

• All data transmission is encrypted using HTTPS/TLS
• Data at rest is encrypted using industry-standard encryption methods
• Authentication credentials are securely hashed and stored

Access Controls:

• Access to personal information is restricted to authorized personnel only
• Employees and contractors are required to maintain confidentiality
• Access is granted on a need-to-know basis only

Infrastructure Security:

• We use Firebase (Google Cloud) for secure data storage
• Google Cloud Platform implements robust security measures
• Regular security audits and monitoring

Account Security:

• Strong authentication requirements (Google Sign-In, Apple Sign-In, or Phone OTP)
• Parental gate mechanisms to protect children's accounts
• Secure session management

6.2 Security Limitations

While we implement strong security measures, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, but we are committed to protecting your information using industry best practices.

6.3 Data Breach Notification

In the unlikely event of a data breach that may affect your personal information, we will:

• Notify affected users as required by applicable law
• Provide information about the nature of the breach
• Explain steps we are taking to address the breach
• Offer guidance on steps you can take to protect yourself

7. Data Retention

We retain your information only for as long as necessary to provide our services and comply with legal obligations.

7.1 Active Accounts

• We retain account information and learning progress for as long as your account is active
• Data is retained to provide ongoing access to purchased courses
• Progress data is retained to maintain learning continuity

7.2 Account Deletion

• You can request deletion of your account at any time (see Section 9.4)
• Upon account deletion, we will delete:
  • Account information
  • Child profiles
  • Learning progress data
  • Consent records
• Deletion is typically completed within 48 hours of your request

7.3 Legal Retention Requirements

Purchase Records:

• Purchase transaction records are retained for accounting and tax purposes
• Purchase records may be retained for up to 7 years as required by law
• Purchase records are anonymized (personal identifiers removed) after the retention period

Consent Records:

• COPPA consent records are retained as required by law
• Consent records may be retained for compliance and audit purposes

Aggregated Data:

• We may retain aggregated, anonymized data that cannot identify individual users
• Aggregated data is used for analytics and service improvement

7.4 Expired Course Access

• When a purchased course level expires, access to content is revoked
• Progress data may be retained for a limited period to allow for repurchase
• We reserve the right to delete expired progress data after a reasonable retention period

8. Your Rights and Choices

You have certain rights regarding your personal information and your child's personal information.

8.1 Access Rights

You have the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you and your child
• Review your child's learning progress and data
• Request a copy of your data in a portable format

How to Exercise:

• Access your account information through the App's Settings screen
• View your child's progress through the Parent Dashboard
• Request a data export by contacting support@aptyread.ai

8.2 Correction Rights

You have the right to:

• Correct inaccurate or incomplete information
• Update your account information
• Modify your child's profile information

How to Exercise:

• Update information directly through the App's Settings screen
• Contact support@aptyread.ai for assistance with corrections

8.3 Deletion Rights

You have the right to:

• Request deletion of your account and all associated data
• Request deletion of your child's information
• Withdraw consent for data collection

How to Exercise:

• Delete your account through the App's Settings screen or Help & Support screen
• Visit www.aptyread.ai/delete-account
• Contact support@aptyread.ai with your deletion request

Note: Account deletion is permanent and irreversible. Deletion will revoke access to purchased courses, and no refunds will be provided except as required by law.

8.4 Opt-Out Rights

You can opt-out of:

• Marketing emails (if any are sent in the future)
• Non-essential data collection (though this may limit app functionality)

How to Exercise:

• Unsubscribe from emails using the unsubscribe link
• Adjust app settings to limit data collection
• Contact support@aptyread.ai to opt-out of specific data uses

8.5 COPPA Rights (United States)

If you are located in the United States, you have additional rights under COPPA:

• Review: You can review your child's personal information at any time
• Delete: You can request deletion of your child's information
• Refuse: You can refuse to permit further collection or use of your child's information
• Revoke Consent: You can revoke your consent at any time

8.6 GDPR Rights (European Union)

If you are located in the European Union, you have additional rights under GDPR:

• Right to Access: Access your personal data
• Right to Rectification: Correct inaccurate data
• Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your data
• Right to Restrict Processing: Limit how we use your data
• Right to Data Portability: Receive your data in a portable format
• Right to Object: Object to certain types of data processing

To exercise GDPR rights, contact support@aptyread.ai.

9. Account Management

9.1 Parent Accounts

• Only parents/guardians (18+) can create accounts
• Parents control all account settings and purchases
• Parents can create multiple child profiles under one account
• Each child profile is separate with individual progress tracking

9.2 Child Profiles

• Child profiles are created and managed by parents
• Children cannot create accounts or profiles independently
• Children cannot make purchases or change account settings
• All child activity is visible to parents through the Parent Dashboard

9.3 Account Deletion

You can delete your account and all associated data at any time through:

• In-App: Settings screen or Help & Support screen within the AptyRead App
• Website: Account deletion page at www.aptyread.ai/delete-account
• Email: Contact support@aptyread.ai with your account deletion request

Upon deletion:

• All account data, child profiles, and progress will be permanently removed
• Access to purchased courses will be revoked
• Deletion is irreversible and cannot be undone
• Purchase records may be retained for legal/accounting purposes (anonymized)

10. International Users and Data Transfers

10.1 Primary Markets

AptyRead is primarily designed for users in India and GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries. However, our Services are accessible globally.

10.2 Data Location

• Your information may be stored and processed on servers located in India, the United States, or other countries where our service providers operate
• Data may be transferred to and processed in countries with different data protection laws than your country of residence
• By using our Services, you consent to the transfer of your information to these countries

10.3 Data Protection Laws

We comply with:

• COPPA (United States) - Children's Online Privacy Protection Act
• GDPR (European Union) - General Data Protection Regulation
• Information Technology Act, 2000 (India) - Indian data protection laws
• Google Play Families Policy - App store requirements

If you are located in a region with specific data protection laws, we will comply with those laws to the extent applicable.

11. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

11.1 Cookies

Our App does not use traditional web cookies. However, we may use similar technologies for:

• Authentication and session management
• App functionality and preferences
• Analytics and service improvement

11.2 Analytics

We use Firebase Analytics to understand how our App is used. Analytics data is:

• Aggregated and anonymized
• Used to improve our educational services
• Not used for advertising purposes
• Not shared with third parties for marketing

11.3 No Behavioral Advertising

• We do not use tracking technologies for advertising
• We do not allow third-party advertising networks
• We do not create behavioral profiles for advertising
• Children are not exposed to advertising

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or for other reasons.

12.1 Notification of Changes

We will notify you of significant changes by:

• Updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this Privacy Policy
• Posting a notice in the App
• Sending an email to registered users (for material changes)

12.2 Continued Use

Your continued use of our Services after changes to this Privacy Policy constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

12.3 Material Changes

For material changes that affect how we collect, use, or share children's information:

• We will obtain new parental consent as required by COPPA
• We will provide clear notice of the changes
• Parents can refuse consent and delete their account if they do not agree

13. Compliance and Legal Framework

13.1 Regulatory Compliance

We are committed to complying with applicable privacy and data protection laws, including:

• COPPA (United States): Children's Online Privacy Protection Act
• GDPR (European Union): General Data Protection Regulation
• Information Technology Act, 2000 (India): Indian data protection framework
• Google Play Families Policy: App store requirements for family apps
• Apple App Store Guidelines: App store requirements

13.2 Industry Standards

We follow industry best practices for:

• Data security and encryption
• Privacy by design principles
• Minimal data collection
• Transparent privacy practices
• Parental control and consent

13.3 Third-Party Compliance

We ensure that our service providers comply with applicable data protection laws and maintain appropriate security measures.

14. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or how we handle your information, please contact us:

APTYOU SERVICES PRIVATE LIMITED
15/367, Kurumbathur, Thirunavaya
Malappuram, Kerala, India - 676301

Email:

• Privacy inquiries: support@aptyread.ai
• General inquiries: contact@aptyread.ai

Website: www.aptyread.ai

Response Time:

• We aim to respond to privacy inquiries within 30 days
• For urgent matters, please indicate "URGENT - Privacy Request" in your email subject line

15. Additional Information

15.1 One-Time Purchase Model

AptyRead uses a one-time purchase model, not subscriptions. This means:

• You purchase individual course levels separately
• There are no recurring charges or automatic renewals
• Payment information is processed through app stores, not stored by us
• Purchase records are retained for accounting purposes only

15.2 No Advertising

• AptyRead does not display advertisements to children or parents
• We do not use personal information for advertising purposes
• We do not allow third-party advertising networks
• Our revenue comes solely from course purchases, not advertising

15.3 Educational Purpose

All data collection and use is limited to providing and improving our educational services. We do not use data for commercial purposes unrelated to education.