Privacy Policy - Language Cafe

Introduction

Language Cafe ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application Language Cafe (the "App") available on iOS and Android platforms.

Please read this privacy policy carefully. By using the App, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree with the terms of this privacy policy, please do not access the App.

Information We Collect

1. Personal Information You Provide

We collect information you voluntarily provide when creating and using your account:

Account Information: Email address and/or phone number (sign-in credentials are handled securely by Firebase Authentication)
Profile Information: First name, last name, username, profile picture, cover photo, bio/self-introduction
Demographic Information: Date of birth (to verify age eligibility), gender (optional)
Language Information: Languages you speak (with proficiency levels), languages you are learning
Location Information: Country/region you select (this is NOT precise/GPS location)
Social Connections: Users you follow, users who follow you

2. Content You Create

We collect content you create while using the App:

Posts: Text posts, images, comments, replies, and likes
Messages: 1:1 messages and chat messages in rooms/cafes
Community Content: Posts, comments, and activity in communities you join
Voice Rooms (Cafes): Information about rooms you create or join (topic, language, scheduling, participation)
Reading & Articles: Articles you read or contribute, uploaded documents, and reading progress (when you use reading features)
Support: Support tickets and messages you send to our support team

3. Automatically Collected Information

When you use our App, we automatically collect:

Device Information: Device type, operating system, app version, language settings, and identifiers (such as Advertising ID on Android and, where permitted, IDFA on iOS)
Usage & Analytics: Screens viewed, feature interactions, rooms joined, and time spent (for product improvement and reliability)
Diagnostics: Crash reports and performance/diagnostic data (for stability and debugging)
Log Data: IP address and access times may be processed by our infrastructure providers for security and abuse prevention

4. Voice and Audio

Important: Language Cafe uses voice chat functionality for language practice. When you participate in a voice room:

Your voice is transmitted in real-time to other participants in the room
We do NOT record or store your voice conversations
Voice data is processed through our third-party provider (Agora) for real-time transmission only
Once the voice room ends, no audio data is retained

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

Provide Services: Create and manage your account, enable voice room participation, facilitate community features
Personalize Experience: Match you with language partners, recommend relevant rooms and communities
Connect Users: Use your country/region to suggest learners in similar time zones (NOT precise location)
Communication: Send notifications about room activity, community updates, and important announcements
Safety & Security: Detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and policy violations
Improve Services: Analyze usage patterns to enhance features and fix issues
Legal Compliance: Comply with applicable laws and regulations

Age Requirements and Minor Safety

Minimum Age: Language Cafe is available to users aged 13 and older. Users under 13 are not permitted to create accounts.

Users Aged 13-17: We take additional precautions for minor users:

Rooms/cafes can be flagged for "Sensitive Topics" or "Under 18" audiences to set expectations
Users under 18 cannot create or join rooms/cafes flagged for sensitive topics
Content warnings are displayed for sensitive topics
Parents/guardians may contact us to request information about their child's account
We encourage parents to discuss online safety with their children

If you believe a user under 13 has created an account, please contact us immediately at support@languagescafe.com.

Third-Party Services

We use trusted third-party services to operate our App. These services have their own privacy policies and data practices:

Firebase (Google)

We use Firebase for:

Firebase Authentication: Secure user authentication (email, phone, Google Sign-In, Apple Sign-In)
Cloud Firestore: Database storage for user profiles, posts, and app data
Firebase Cloud Functions: Server-side processing
Firebase Cloud Messaging: Push notifications
Firebase Storage: Storing uploaded media (such as profile images and shared content)
Firebase Analytics: Understanding app usage to improve features
Firebase Crashlytics: Crash reporting and diagnostics
Firebase Realtime Database: Online status/presence features

Firebase Privacy Policy: https://firebase.google.com/support/privacy

Agora

We use Agora for real-time voice communication:

Enables voice chat functionality in voice rooms
Processes voice data in real-time (NOT recorded or stored)
Provides connection quality monitoring

Agora Privacy Policy: https://www.agora.io/en/privacy-policy/

Google Sign-In

If you choose to sign in with Google, we receive your Google account email, display name, and profile picture. We do not access your Google contacts, calendar, or other Google services.

Apple Sign-In

If you choose to sign in with Apple, we receive your Apple ID email (which may be a relay email if you choose to hide your email) and display name.

Analytics

We use analytics and diagnostics to understand how users interact with our App and to fix issues. This may include identifiers and device/usage data as described above.

Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do NOT sell your personal information.

We may share your information in the following circumstances:

With Other Users: Content you choose to share (such as posts, comments, and community activity) is visible to other users. Some areas of the app are public by design, so please avoid sharing sensitive personal information in public content.
Service Providers: Third-party services that help us operate the App (as listed above)
Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or government request
Safety: To protect the rights, safety, and property of our users and the public
Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets

Data Security

We implement appropriate security measures to protect your information:

Encryption of data in transit (HTTPS/TLS)
Encryption of sensitive data at rest
Secure password hashing
Regular security assessments
Access controls and authentication
Firebase Security Rules to protect database access

However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Data Retention

Active Accounts: We retain your data as long as your account is active
Deleted Accounts: When you delete your account, we delete your personal data within 30 days
Backup Systems: Data may persist in backup systems for up to 90 days
Legal Obligations: Some data may be retained longer if required by law
Anonymized Data: Aggregated, anonymized data that cannot identify you may be retained indefinitely

Your Rights and Choices

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

Access: Request a copy of your personal data
Correction: Update or correct inaccurate information through your profile settings
Deletion: Delete your account and associated data (see our Account Deletion page)
Data Portability: Request your data in a portable format
Opt-Out: Opt out of marketing communications in notification settings
Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for optional data processing

To exercise these rights, contact us at support@languagescafe.com.

International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have different data protection laws. By using the App, you consent to the transfer of your information to these countries.

We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your information in accordance with this privacy policy.

California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights:

Right to know what personal information we collect and how it's used
Right to delete your personal information
Right to opt-out of the sale of personal information (we do NOT sell your data)
Right to non-discrimination for exercising your rights

European Privacy Rights (GDPR)

If you are in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have additional rights:

Right to access your personal data
Right to rectification of inaccurate data
Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten")
Right to restrict processing
Right to data portability
Right to object to processing
Right to withdraw consent
Right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new privacy policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date. We will also notify you through the App for significant changes.

You are advised to review this privacy policy periodically for any changes. Changes are effective when posted on this page.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this privacy policy or our data practices, please contact us:

Data Protection Officer

For privacy-related inquiries, you may contact our data protection team at support@languagescafe.com.