Privacy Policy

Lingo Tales Privacy Policy
Last updated: June 23, 2026

Overview
Lingo Tales ("Lingo Tales," "we," "our," or "us") provides a story-driven language learning app that includes personalized reading, vocabulary tools, messaging, social features, premium subscriptions, and optional advertising-supported experiences. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, when we share it, and the choices available to you.
By using Lingo Tales, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

Who We Are
Developer: Lingo Tales
Support contact: `ludwig@lingo-tales.com`
Website: `https://www.lingo-tales.com`

Scope
This Privacy Policy applies to:
- The Lingo Tales iOS app- Related support interactions- Backend systems and cloud services used to operate the app
This Privacy Policy does not apply to third-party services that you access independently through links, external websites, or products not controlled by Lingo Tales.

Information We Collect
We collect information in the following categories.

1. Account and profile information
When you create or use an account, we may collect:
- Name or display name- Username or handle- Email address- Sign-in provider information- Profile photo- Bio- Target language, native language, interface language, CEFR level, and learning preferences- Age or age-band information and related age-assurance or parental-control settings- Country, hometown, and onboarding interests or archetype selections

2. Learning and progress data
To provide the app’s core learning experience, we may collect:
- Stories generated, opened, read, completed, or favorited- Logged words, vocabulary lists, word history, and review activity- Challenge and quiz activity- Streaks, progression counters, achievements, laurels, and other in-app milestones- Subscription entitlement state and daily usage allowances

3. User-generated content
If you use social, messaging, or creator features, we may collect:
- Messages you send in the app- Voice messages and audio clips- Photos and videos you upload- Social posts, comments, reactions, and group content- Story remixes, prompts, and other content you submit for creation or collaboration- Feedback form submissions and optional screenshots you choose to send to support

4. Purchases and subscription data
If you purchase premium access, we may receive:
- Subscription product identifiers- Entitlement status- Purchase and renewal state- Restore-purchase and billing-related status returned by Apple
We do not receive your full payment card information from Apple.

5. Location and place information
If you enable location-based story features, we may collect:
- Current location coordinates and related accuracy information from your device- Place details derived from your current location or from a place you search for or pin manually, such as place name, city, region, country, country code, and time zone- Saved story-setting locations, favorites, and recent location selections associated with your account
Location-based story features are optional. You can choose not to enable location access and instead enter or edit a place manually where the feature allows it.

6. Device, usage, and diagnostics information
To operate, secure, and improve the app, we may collect:
- App version, build number, iOS version, and device model- Push notification tokens and notification preference settings- Product interaction data, such as feature use and in-app activity- Crash information, performance data, and related diagnostics- Device- or app-generated identifiers used for app operations, abuse prevention, support, or analytics

7. Advertising and consent information
If you use the ad-supported experience, we may collect or receive:
- Consent choices related to personalized advertising- Advertising-related usage and request metadata- Information needed by advertising and attribution services to load, measure, limit, or personalize ads where permitted

8. Information from sign-in and platform providers
If you sign in with Apple or Google, we may receive information made available by that provider, such as your email address, display name, and account identifier necessary to authenticate you.

How We Use Information
We use information for the following purposes:
- To create and manage accounts- To authenticate users and keep accounts secure- To deliver personalized stories, vocabulary tools, challenges, and other learning features- To tailor story prompts and settings using your current area or a place you choose in Writer's Room- To save and reuse story-setting locations connected to your account- To support messaging, friend, and community features- To sync progress across sessions and devices- To process and restore subscriptions- To provide support, troubleshoot issues, and respond to feedback- To monitor performance, prevent abuse, investigate fraud, and improve reliability- To measure feature usage and improve the product- To show ads in the free experience and manage advertising consent where applicable- To comply with legal obligations and enforce our terms and community rules

AI and Content Generation
Lingo Tales uses cloud-based model providers and backend services to generate or enhance certain experiences, including stories, tutoring responses, and premium audio features. Content you submit for those features may be sent to trusted service providers solely to process your request and operate the feature.
Do not submit sensitive personal information in free-form prompts, messages, stories, or support requests unless it is necessary for your use of the service.

When We Share Information
We do not sell personal information in the traditional sense. We may share information in the following circumstances:
- With cloud infrastructure, storage, authentication, messaging, analytics, crash reporting, customer support, and security providers that help us operate the app- With advertising, attribution, and consent-management providers to support the free ad-supported experience- With Apple, for subscriptions, purchases, and platform functionality- With sign-in providers such as Apple or Google when you choose those login methods- With other users, when you choose to publish a profile, message, post, comment, co-create, or otherwise share content inside the app- If required by law, legal process, or valid governmental request- To protect the rights, safety, security, and integrity of Lingo Tales, our users, or the public- As part of a merger, acquisition, financing, or transfer of some or all business assets, subject to applicable law

Public and Social Features
Some features are social by design. If you enable social discovery, public posting, messaging, or profile visibility:
- Your username, display name, profile photo, bio, posts, messages, and other shared content may be visible to other users according to your settings- Content you share with other users may remain visible to those users even after you edit or remove certain account details- Group conversations and community spaces may involve information shared with multiple participants
Please use care when sharing personal information in any public or semi-public area of the app.

Advertising
Lingo Tales may display ads in the free experience. We use consent and advertising tools to decide whether personalized advertising can be shown where allowed by law and platform policy.
Depending on your region, you may be able to change advertising consent choices inside the app. You can also use Apple device settings to manage tracking permissions where applicable.

Analytics and Diagnostics
We use analytics, crash reporting, and diagnostics information to understand app usage, measure feature performance, reduce bugs, improve stability, and plan future improvements.

Push Notifications
If you allow notifications, we may use your device’s push token and stored notification preferences to send alerts related to messages, social activity, progress, reminders, and product functionality. You can change notification permissions in iOS Settings and in the app’s notification settings.

Location Features and Maps
If you enable location in Writer's Room, Lingo Tales requests access to your device location while you use the app. We may use current location coordinates, place details, and selected map pins to make stories feel more grounded in the place you choose.
Location search, map display, and reverse-geocoding may rely on Apple services and related platform functionality. You can turn off location permission at any time in iOS Settings, and you may still be able to use manual place selection where available.

Data Retention
We retain information for as long as reasonably necessary to:
- Provide the app and its features- Maintain account records and subscriptions- Resolve disputes and support requests- Enforce agreements and community safeguards- Meet legal, tax, accounting, or security obligations
Retention periods vary by data type and context. Some data may be deleted promptly when no longer needed, while other data may be retained longer where required for security, fraud prevention, legal compliance, or limited operational needs.

Account Deletion and Your Choices
You can request deletion of your Lingo Tales account from within the app through Settings. When your account is deleted, we delete or de-identify personal information associated with your account from our active systems, including saved story-setting locations and user content tied to your account, except where retention is required or permitted by law.
You may also have the ability to:
- Edit your profile details in the app- Change personalization choices- Change ad privacy choices where offered- Control notification permissions- Restore or manage subscriptions through Apple
For privacy or deletion questions, contact `ludwig@lingo-tales.com`.

Children and Age-Related Controls
Lingo Tales includes age-related settings and may restrict some social or messaging features for younger users. If you believe a child provided personal information in violation of applicable law, contact us so we can investigate and take appropriate action.
If your release will be made available to children under applicable digital consent ages, have counsel review this policy and the app’s age-gating flow before launch.

International Data Transfers
Your information may be processed and stored in countries other than the one where you live. Those countries may have different data protection laws. When we transfer personal information across borders, we take steps designed to protect it as required by applicable law.

Security
We use reasonable technical, administrative, and organizational measures designed to protect information against unauthorized access, loss, misuse, or alteration. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Third-Party Services
Lingo Tales relies on third-party service providers to operate the app. These may include providers for:
- Authentication- Cloud database and storage- Push messaging- Crash reporting and analytics- Advertising and consent management- Subscription and payment platform services- AI-powered content generation
Those providers process information under their own terms and privacy commitments when acting as independent controllers, or under service agreements when acting on our behalf.

Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the "Last updated" date above. If changes are material, we may provide additional notice inside the app, on our website, or through other appropriate means.

Contact Us
For privacy questions, support, or account deletion help, contact:
- Email: `ludwig@lingo-tales.com`- Website: `https://www.lingo-tales.com/legal/support`