Introduction
Verbalise, operated by CambridgeSol ("we," "our," or "us"), is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you use our vocabulary learning mobile application.
Information We Collect
Personal Information
- Email Address: Used for account creation and authentication
- Profile Name: Your chosen display name within the app
- Learning Progress: Your vocabulary learning data, test scores, and completion status
Automatically Collected Information
- Device Information: Device type, operating system version
- Usage Data: App interactions, features used, time spent
- Performance Data: App crashes and errors (via Sentry)
How We Use Your Information
- Provide Services: Deliver vocabulary learning features and track your progress
- Authentication: Secure account access via Firebase Authentication
- Progress Sync: Store and sync your learning progress across devices via Firebase Firestore
- Improve App: Analyze usage patterns to enhance user experience
- Subscription Management: Process and manage Pro subscription via RevenueCat
Data Storage and Security
- User data is stored securely using Firebase Firestore
- Local data is stored on your device using SQLite
- Authentication is handled by Firebase Authentication with industry-standard encryption
- We implement reasonable security measures to protect your information
Third-Party Services
We use the following third-party services:
- Firebase (Google): Authentication and data storage
- RevenueCat: Subscription and payment processing
- Sentry: Error tracking and monitoring (limited for children under 13)
Each service has its own privacy policy governing how they handle your data.
Note for Parents: For users under 13, we minimize third-party data collection and disable analytics services that collect personal information.
Your Rights
You have the right to:
- Access your personal data
- Request correction of inaccurate data
- Request deletion of your account and data
Children's Privacy (COPPA Compliance)
Verbalise is suitable for children under 13, and we are committed to complying with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
Parent Account Model
How it works:
- Parents or guardians create accounts using their own email address
- Parents verify their identity through a parental gate (math verification) during signup
- Parents create one child profile during the signup process
- The child profile requires explicit parental consent
Parental Consent
For child profiles:
- Parents provide consent when creating the child profile during signup
- Parents verify they are the legal guardian during account creation
- Parents can review information collected about their child
- All consent records are stored with timestamps for compliance
Information We Collect from Children
With parental consent, we collect only the minimum necessary information:
- Child's Name or Nickname: For personalization within the app (not shared publicly). Parents can use a nickname instead of the child's real name
- Learning Progress: To track vocabulary learning and provide educational features
- Device Information: Basic technical data for app functionality
We do NOT collect from children:
- Email addresses (parent's email is used for all account management)
- Child's age or date of birth
- Full names, addresses, or phone numbers
- Photos or videos
- Location data
- Social media information
- Any personally identifiable information beyond the name/nickname
How We Use Children's Information
Information collected from children is used solely for:
- Providing educational vocabulary learning features
- Saving learning progress within the app
- Enabling core app functionality
- Improving educational content (in aggregate, anonymous form only)
Third-Party Services for Children
For child profiles:
- We disable analytics and user tracking services
- We minimize data sharing with third-party services
- We only use essential services (Firebase for authentication and data storage)
- We do not display any advertising
- We do not use behavioral tracking
Parental Rights and Controls
Parents or guardians can:
- Review all information collected about their child
- Request deletion of their child's profile and data by contacting us
- Refuse further collection or use of their child's information
- Request account termination at any time
To exercise these rights, contact us at: support@cambridgesol.co.uk
Data Security for Children
We implement enhanced security measures for child profiles:
- Parent email is required for all account access and password resets
- No public profiles or social features for children
- Child profiles cannot be accessed without parent account credentials
- Regular security audits
- Encrypted data transmission and storage
- Minimal data retention (learning progress only)
Data Retention
We retain your data as long as your account is active. Upon account deletion, we will remove your personal data within 30 days.
Changes to Privacy Policy
We may update this policy from time to time. We will notify users of significant changes via the app or email.
Contact Us
For privacy concerns or data requests, contact us at:
Compliance
This app complies with:
- UK GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)
- Google Play Developer Program Policies
- Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)
