1. Introduction
ReadBorn ("we", "our", "us") is a children's literacy application that helps kids learn to read by using voice recognition to bring illustrated creatures to life. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect information when you use our mobile app and web dashboard.
2. Information We Collect
- Reading Progress: Words read, reading accuracy scores, creatures hatched, and quest completion data.
- Voice Data: Audio from speech recognition is processed on-device using Apple's Speech framework. Voice audio is not transmitted to or stored on our servers. Only the recognized text is used to check reading accuracy.
- Camera (Augmented Reality): After a creature hatches, an optional augmented-reality view uses your device camera to show the animated creature in your surroundings. This is a live preview only. We do not take, save, or upload any photo or video, and no camera imagery ever leaves your device. A parent can shorten or disable this feature in Settings, and if camera permission is declined the app simply shows a static image instead.
- Subscription Information: Purchase history is managed by Apple (via App Store) and processed on-device through StoreKit. We do not directly process or store payment card details.
- Anonymous Usage Analytics: To understand how the app is used and improve it, we collect anonymous usage events (for example, which screens are opened, onboarding steps reached, the answers a parent selects during onboarding (such as age range, reading level, and reading goals, stored as anonymous categories), and whether a reading session was completed), along with limited technical context such as app version, platform, and App Store country, and basic diagnostic information if the app hits an error (an error message and the app code location, containing no personal information). These events are tagged with a random app-generated identifier that is not linked to any name, email, account, or device identifier. We do not collect your child's name or voice through analytics. This data is sent only to our own servers (no third-party analytics services) and is used solely to improve the app. You can turn this off at any time in the app under Settings.
- Optional Parent Email: During onboarding a parent may optionally enter their email address to receive reading tips and our newsletter. This is entirely optional and can be skipped. When provided, the email is stored on our own servers solely to send these messages, is treated as a parent (not child) contact, and is never linked to the anonymous usage analytics or to a child's profile. We do not sell it or share it for advertising. Contact us to have it removed at any time.
3. Children's Privacy (COPPA)
ReadBorn is designed for children. We comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and similar regulations:
- We do not collect personal information from children under 13 without parental consent.
- We do not serve behavioral advertising to children.
- We do not share children's personal data with third parties for marketing.
- Voice recognition data is processed on-device and not stored.
- Anonymous usage analytics are collected solely to support the internal operations of the app (to understand usage and improve it). The random app-generated identifier is never used for behavioral advertising, to build a profile to target a child, or to identify or contact a child, and it is not combined with any other personal information. A parent can turn analytics off at any time in Settings.
4. How We Use Information
- To provide the reading experience and track progress locally on your device.
- To process subscriptions and in-app purchases via Apple StoreKit.
- To understand how the app is used and improve it, using anonymous usage analytics only. We do not use this data for advertising or to build a profile about any individual.
5. Third-Party Services
- Apple: App Store for distribution, in-app purchases (via StoreKit, processed on-device), and on-device speech recognition.
6. Data Storage, Retention, and Your Choices
Your child's reading progress, pets, settings, and voice data stay on your device and are not uploaded to our servers. The only information sent to our servers is the anonymous usage analytics described above (which is not linked to your child's name or identity) and, if a parent chooses to provide it, the optional parent email. We retain raw analytics events for up to 180 days and then delete them.
You stay in control: you can turn analytics off at any time under Settings, and you can use "Reset Usage Data" in Settings to delete the anonymous data collected from your device and start a fresh anonymous identifier. You can also delete all on-device data by deleting the app, or contact us to request deletion.
7. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify users of significant changes via the app or email. Continued use of ReadBorn after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
8. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your data rights, please contact us at: [email protected]