Privacy Policy Overview
Welcome to KickLang! This Privacy Policy explains how KickLang ("we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, discloses, and safeguards your information when you use our mobile application and related services (collectively, the "Service").
By using our Service, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our Service.
KickLang is a competitive language learning platform that enables users to learn languages through real-time competitions. We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring you have a positive experience on our platform.
Key Privacy Principles
- Transparency: We clearly explain what data we collect and how we use it.
- Data Minimization: We only collect data necessary to provide and improve our Service.
- Security: We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your data.
- User Control: You have rights over your personal data, including access, correction, and deletion.
- No Sale of Data: We do not sell your personal information to third parties.
Information We Collect
We collect several types of information to provide and improve our Service. The information we collect depends on how you interact with our platform.
Information You Provide Directly
| Data Type | Description | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Account Information | Email address, username, password | Account creation and authentication |
| Profile Data | Display name, profile picture, bio | Personalization and social features |
| Language Preferences | Native language, target languages | Customized learning experience |
| Payment Information | Processed by app stores (Apple/Google) | Premium subscription management |
| Communications | Support requests, feedback | Customer support and improvement |
Information Collected Automatically
| Data Type | Description | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Device Information | Device type, OS version, unique identifiers | App compatibility and troubleshooting |
| Usage Data | Features used, session duration, interactions | Service improvement and analytics |
| Learning Data | Progress, scores, competition results, streaks | Track progress and provide achievements |
| Performance Data | Response times, error logs, crash reports | App stability and bug fixes |
| Network Information | IP address, connection type | Security and service delivery |
Third-Party Authentication Data
If you sign in using Google, Apple, or Facebook, we may receive:
- Basic profile information (name, email, profile picture)
- Account identifier from the authentication provider
- Any additional information you authorize during sign-in
Note: We do not collect sensitive personal information such as racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious beliefs, health data, or biometric data.
How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for various purposes to provide, maintain, and improve our Service.
Service Delivery
- Create and manage your account
- Provide personalized language learning content
- Match you with other users for real-time competitions
- Track your learning progress and achievements
- Display your position on leaderboards
- Process premium subscriptions and in-app purchases
Communication
- Send important service announcements and updates
- Respond to your inquiries and support requests
- Send push notifications about learning reminders (if enabled)
- Notify you about competition invitations and results
- Provide promotional communications (with your consent)
Service Improvement
- Analyze usage patterns to improve user experience
- Develop new features and learning content
- Conduct research and analytics
- Test and troubleshoot new features
- Monitor and improve app performance
Safety and Security
- Detect and prevent fraud, cheating, and abuse
- Verify user identities and prevent fake accounts
- Enforce our Terms of Service and community guidelines
- Protect against security threats and unauthorized access
- Comply with legal obligations
Legal Basis (GDPR): We process your data based on: (a) your consent, (b) contract performance, (c) legal obligations, and (d) legitimate interests in operating and improving our Service.
How We Share Your Information
We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information only in the following circumstances:
With Other Users
- Public Profile: Your username, profile picture, and learning statistics may be visible to other users on leaderboards and in competitions.
- Competition Results: Your scores and rankings in competitions are shared with participants.
- Friend Features: If you add friends, they can see limited profile information.
With Service Providers
We work with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our Service:
- Cloud Hosting: Google Cloud Platform, Firebase for data storage and processing
- Analytics: Tools to understand app usage and improve performance
- Payment Processing: Apple App Store and Google Play Store handle all payments
- Push Notifications: Firebase Cloud Messaging for notification delivery
- Customer Support: Tools to manage and respond to support requests
For Legal Reasons
We may disclose your information when required:
- To comply with applicable laws, regulations, or legal processes
- To respond to lawful requests from public authorities
- To protect the rights, privacy, safety, or property of KickLang, our users, or the public
- To detect, prevent, or address fraud, security, or technical issues
Business Transfers
If KickLang is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any change in ownership or uses of your personal information.
Important: We never sell your personal data to advertisers or data brokers. Any data sharing is strictly limited to providing and improving our Service.
Data Storage and Security
We take the security of your data seriously and implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect it.
Data Storage
- Location: Your data is primarily stored on secure servers provided by Google Cloud Platform and Firebase.
- Retention: We retain your data for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide services. After account deletion, we may retain certain data for legal compliance.
- Backups: Regular backups are maintained to prevent data loss.
Security Measures
- Encryption: Data in transit is encrypted using TLS/SSL protocols. Sensitive data at rest is encrypted.
- Access Controls: Strict access controls limit who can access your data within our organization.
- Authentication: Secure authentication mechanisms protect your account.
- Monitoring: We monitor our systems for security threats and vulnerabilities.
- Regular Audits: We conduct regular security assessments and updates.
Data Retention Periods
| Data Type | Retention Period |
|---|---|
| Account Information | Until account deletion + 30 days |
| Learning Progress | Until account deletion |
| Transaction Records | 7 years (legal requirement) |
| Analytics Data | 26 months (anonymized) |
| Support Communications | 3 years after resolution |
Security Incident: In the event of a data breach that affects your personal information, we will notify you and relevant authorities as required by applicable law.
Your Privacy Rights
Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information. We are committed to honoring these rights for all our users.
Right to Access
Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
Right to Rectification
Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
Right to Erasure
Request deletion of your personal data ("right to be forgotten").
Right to Restrict
Request limitation of processing your personal data.
Right to Portability
Receive your data in a portable, machine-readable format.
Right to Object
Object to processing based on legitimate interests or marketing.
Automated Decisions
Right not to be subject to solely automated decision-making.
Withdraw Consent
Withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on consent.
How to Exercise Your Rights
- In-App Settings: Update profile information, manage notifications, and delete your account directly in the app.
- Email Request: Contact us at support@kicklang.com with your request.
- Verification: We may need to verify your identity before processing requests.
- Response Time: We will respond to requests within 30 days (or as required by law).
Regional Rights
- EU/EEA (GDPR): Full data subject rights as outlined above. You may lodge a complaint with your local supervisory authority.
- California (CCPA): Right to know, delete, and opt-out of sale (we don't sell data). No discrimination for exercising rights.
- Brazil (LGPD): Similar rights to GDPR including data portability and deletion.
- Other Regions: We extend core privacy rights to all users regardless of location.
Children's Privacy
Protecting children's privacy is especially important to us. KickLang is designed for users aged 13 and older.
Age Restrictions
- Users must be at least 13 years old to create an account.
- Users between 13-18 should have parental or guardian consent.
- We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.
Parental Controls
Parents or guardians of users under 18 may:
- Review information collected from their child
- Request deletion of their child's account and data
- Refuse further collection or use of their child's information
- Contact us with questions about children's privacy
COPPA Compliance: If we discover that we have collected personal information from a child under 13 without parental consent, we will take steps to delete that information promptly. Please contact us at support@kicklang.com if you believe a child under 13 has provided us with personal information.
Cookies and Tracking Technologies
We use various technologies to collect and store information when you use our Service.
Technologies We Use
- Device Identifiers: Unique identifiers assigned to your device for analytics and functionality.
- Local Storage: Store preferences and cached data on your device for better performance.
- Analytics SDKs: Tools like Firebase Analytics to understand app usage patterns.
- Crash Reporting: Tools to detect and diagnose app crashes and errors.
Purpose of Tracking
| Category | Purpose | Can Disable? |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | Core functionality, authentication, security | No (required) |
| Performance | App performance monitoring, crash reporting | Limited |
| Analytics | Usage patterns, feature popularity | Yes |
| Advertising | Personalized ads (free tier only) | Yes |
Your Choices
- Device Settings: Adjust privacy settings on your iOS or Android device to limit tracking.
- App Tracking Transparency (iOS): You can opt-out of cross-app tracking.
- Ad Personalization: Disable personalized ads in app settings or device settings.
- Premium Subscription: Subscribe to remove all advertising from the app.
Third-Party Services
Our Service integrates with various third-party services. Each has their own privacy practices.
Authentication Providers
- Google Sign-In: Google Privacy Policy
- Apple Sign-In: Apple Privacy Policy
- Facebook Login: Meta Privacy Policy
Infrastructure & Analytics
- Firebase (Google): Authentication, database, analytics, and cloud messaging
- Google Cloud Platform: Server infrastructure and data processing
- RevenueCat: Subscription management and analytics
Advertising Partners
For users on the free tier, we may display ads from:
- Google AdMob: Mobile advertising network
Premium subscribers do not see any advertisements.
Payment Processing
- Apple App Store: Handles iOS in-app purchases and subscriptions
- Google Play Store: Handles Android in-app purchases and subscriptions
We do not directly collect or store your payment card information. All payment processing is handled securely by Apple and Google.
Note: We encourage you to review the privacy policies of third-party services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external services.
International Data Transfers
KickLang operates globally, and your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own.
Transfer Safeguards
- Standard Contractual Clauses: We use EU-approved contractual terms for data transfers.
- Data Processing Agreements: Contracts with service providers include privacy and security obligations.
- Security Measures: Technical safeguards protect data during international transfers.
By using our Service, you consent to the transfer of your information to countries that may have different data protection laws than your country of residence.
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 other factors.
How We Notify You
- Material Changes: We will notify you via email or in-app notification for significant changes.
- Minor Updates: Non-material changes will be reflected with an updated "Last Updated" date.
- Review Opportunity: We encourage you to review this policy periodically.
Your continued use of the Service after any changes to this Privacy Policy constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.
Privacy Questions or Concerns?
We're committed to protecting your privacy. If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please reach out.
support@kicklang.com