Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

We collect information in the following categories:

1.1 Account Information

When you create an account, we collect your name, email address, and password (stored in hashed form). If you sign in with Google or Apple, we receive your name, email address, and (from Google) profile picture from that provider. If you use Apple's "Hide My Email", we receive only the private relay address Apple gives us.

1.2 Learning Data

As you use LingoLens, we store data related to your learning, including your word bank (words, their status, and translations), flashcard reviews and schedules, lesson and quiz results, streaks and experience points, your languages and learning goals, playlists and bookmarks, and your watch history and progress (the YouTube or Netflix video IDs you watch with LingoLens, how far you got, and the words you looked up in them).

1.3 Usage and Device Data

We automatically collect technical information such as browser or device type, operating system, app or extension version, IP address (used for security and approximate country-level location), and the date and time of your interactions with the Service. We also record first-party usage events on our own servers - for example which pages or screens you open, which features you use (such as starting a lesson or tapping a word), and errors you run into - together with a random identifier for your browser, app install, or extension install. We use these events to understand how LingoLens is used and where it breaks; they are not shared with advertisers.

1.4 Analytics and Session Recordings

On our website, if you accept analytics cookies, we use PostHog and Microsoft Clarity to measure usage and to record sessions - a replay of how you used a page (clicks, scrolling, and the pages you moved between) that helps us find confusing or broken parts of the site. Text you type into form fields is masked and never recorded, but other text shown on the page may appear in a recording. We do not record our administrative pages. If you reject analytics cookies, neither tool runs. See our Cookie Policy to change your choice.

1.5 Payment Information

Subscriptions bought on our website are processed by Stripe. Subscriptions bought in the iOS app are processed by Apple through the App Store; we use RevenueCat to keep track of those subscriptions. We never receive or store your full card number, CVV, or bank details. We receive and store what we need to manage your plan: a customer or transaction identifier, the plan you bought, its status and renewal date, and payment history (amounts and dates).

1.6 Browser Extension Data

The LingoLens browser extension works on YouTube and Netflix. It reads the subtitles of the video you are watching in your browser to show interactive captions and translations. Subtitle text and words are sent to our servers when a translation, definition, or lookup is needed, and your word bank and watch progress sync to your account. The extension records usage events only while LingoLens is in use (for example, captions turned on or the sidebar open) and does not track your general browsing, on those sites or anywhere else. If you uninstall the extension, your browser opens a page on our website that records the uninstall against the extension's random install identifier and lets you tell us why, if you wish.

1.7 Mobile App Data

The LingoLens mobile app collects the same account, learning, and usage data described above. If you allow notifications, the app schedules study and streak reminders on your device. The app may occasionally ask how you are finding LingoLens and, separately, may show Apple's standard prompt to rate the app; ratings are handled by Apple and we do not see who left one.

1.8 Feedback and Support

When you send us feedback - through a check-in form, an in-app feedback prompt, a "report a problem" button in a lesson, or email - we store what you send along with your account, so we can follow up and fix the issue.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide, maintain, and improve the Service
• Personalize your learning (e.g., word recommendations, lesson and chapter word lists, flashcard scheduling)
• Generate translations, definitions, and lesson content with AI models that run on servers we operate
• Process payments and manage your subscription
• Sync your learning data across the website, extension, and mobile app
• Send transactional emails (account verification, password resets, billing receipts) and, unless you opt out, occasional reminder and check-in emails about your learning
• Understand how the Service is used and fix problems
• Detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and security incidents
• Comply with legal obligations

We do not use your data to build advertising profiles, we do not serve third-party ads, and we do not sell your data or use it to train AI models for anyone else.

3. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We share data only in the following limited circumstances:

• Service providers: vendors that help us run the Service and access data only as needed to do so: Stripe and Apple (payments), RevenueCat (in-app subscription management), Resend (email delivery), Google and Apple (sign-in, if you choose them), and - only if you accept analytics cookies on our website - PostHog and Microsoft Clarity (analytics and session recordings).
• Translation and dictionary lookups:translations and AI-generated content are produced on servers we operate, not by third-party AI companies. To show definitions and pronunciations, individual words may be sent to Wiktionary and to Google's text-to-speech service. These requests contain the word only, not your identity or account information (the browser extension may contact Wiktionary directly from your browser).
• Legal requirements: We may disclose information if required by law, regulation, legal process, or enforceable government request.
• Business transfers: If LingoLens is acquired, merged, or sells assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you before your information becomes subject to a different privacy policy.

4. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the Service. Usage events are kept for up to 180 days, and session recordings are kept by our analytics providers for about 30 days. If you delete your account, your account and learning data are deleted immediately and removed from backups within 30 days, except where we are required to retain information for legal, tax, or compliance purposes (typically up to 7 years for financial records). Aggregated data that cannot identify you may be retained indefinitely.

5. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information, including encryption in transit (TLS/HTTPS), hashed passwords, secure authentication tokens, and access controls limiting access to personal data. Despite these measures, no system is 100% secure. If we become aware of a security breach that affects your personal information, we will notify you in accordance with applicable law.

6. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Correction: Update or correct inaccurate information via your account settings.
• Deletion: Delete your account and associated data from your profile page, or by contacting us.
• Export:Export your word bank from the browser extension's settings, or ask us for a copy of your learning data.
• Analytics: Accept or reject analytics cookies and session recordings at any time from our Cookie Policy page.
• Notifications: Turn off mobile reminders in the app or in your device settings.
• Opt out of emails: Unsubscribe from non-essential emails using the link in any of them. Transactional emails (security alerts, billing) cannot be opted out of.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at the address listed below. We will respond within 30 days (or sooner if required by law).

7. International Data Transfers

LingoLens is operated from the United States. If you access the Service from outside the United States, your information may be transferred to and processed in the United States or other countries where our service providers operate. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for such transfers, including standard contractual clauses where required.

8. Children's Privacy

LingoLens is not directed to children under the age of 13 (or the applicable minimum age in your jurisdiction). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we learn that we have collected information from a child below the applicable age, we will delete it promptly. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us.

9. Third-Party Services

The Service works alongside and links to third-party services (such as YouTube, Netflix, the App Store, and Stripe). We are not responsible for their privacy practices; please review their policies. Your use of YouTube and Netflix is governed by their own terms and privacy policies.

LingoLens uses YouTube API Services to provide video search, recommendations, and playback. Data handled through YouTube API Services is subject to the Google Privacy Policy, and your use of YouTube features is governed by the YouTube Terms of Service.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page and, if appropriate, notify you by email or through the Service. Your continued use of LingoLens after the changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your data rights, please contact us at:

Email: social@lingolens.us