Privacy Policy

1. Privacy Policy Uses

This Privacy Policy explains how Popular ("we," "our," or "us") collects, uses, discloses, and protects your personal information when you use our mobile application and related services. This policy applies to all users of the Popular app, which helps users improve conversation, social, and speaking skills through AI-powered role-playing, lessons, gamification, and community features.

By using Popular, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our services.

2. User Information

We collect various types of information to provide and improve our services:

2.1 Account Information

• Name, email address, and password
• Profile information and preferences
• Account creation date and authentication data

2.2 Conversation and Interaction Data

• AI conversation role-playing recordings and transcripts
• Social interaction recordings and tracking data
• Speaking practice sessions and performance metrics
• Voice recordings (if you enable voice features)
• Conversation history and patterns

2.3 Learning and Progress Data

• Lesson completion and progress
• Performance scores and assessments
• Learning materials accessed and engagement metrics
• Daily challenges completed
• Skill levels and achievements unlocked

2.4 Gamification Data

• Streaks and daily activity
• Virtual pet level-up progress
• Leaderboard rankings and scores
• Achievements and badges earned
• Pledges and commitments made
• Pairing and matching data (for social features)

2.5 Community and Social Data

• In-app community posts, comments, and interactions
• Daily scheduled session participation
• User-generated content shared within the app
• Social connections and friend lists

2.6 Device and Technical Information

• Device type, operating system, and version
• Unique device identifiers
• IP address and network information
• App usage statistics and crash reports
• Location data (if you grant location permissions)

3. Collection of Information

We collect information through various methods:

• Directly from you: When you create an account, complete your profile, participate in conversations, complete lessons, or interact with community features
• Automatically: Through app usage, including conversation recordings, interaction tracking, and performance analytics
• From third parties: Such as analytics providers, authentication services, and cloud storage providers
• Through permissions: When you grant access to your microphone, camera, location, or other device features

4. Use of Information

We use the collected information for the following purposes:

• Service Delivery: To provide AI conversation role-playing, lessons, and learning materials tailored to your needs
• Progress Tracking: To monitor your skill development, track streaks, manage virtual pet progression, and maintain leaderboards
• Personalization: To customize your learning experience, recommend relevant content, and match you with appropriate pairings
• Gamification: To manage achievements, daily challenges, levels, and reward systems
• Community Features: To facilitate in-app community interactions, daily scheduled sessions, and social connections
• Improvement: To analyze usage patterns, improve our AI models, enhance app functionality, and develop new features
• Communication: To send you updates, notifications about daily challenges, session reminders, and respond to your inquiries
• Safety and Security: To detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and ensure platform safety
• Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes

5. Disclosure of Information

We may share your information in the following circumstances:

• Service Providers: With third-party vendors who perform services on our behalf, such as cloud storage, analytics, AI processing, and customer support (these providers are contractually obligated to protect your data)
• AI and Machine Learning: Conversation data may be processed by AI service providers to improve role-playing features and learning algorithms
• Community Features: Your username, profile information, and public achievements may be visible to other users in leaderboards and community features
• Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or government regulation, or to protect our rights and safety
• Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets (with notice to users)
• With Your Consent: When you explicitly authorize us to share your information

We do not sell your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes.

6. Use of Tracking Technologies

We use various technologies to collect and store information:

• Cookies and Similar Technologies: To remember your preferences, maintain sessions, and analyze usage patterns
• Analytics Tools: To understand how users interact with our app, identify popular features, and improve user experience
• Device Identifiers: To recognize your device and provide consistent service across sessions
• Local Storage: To store app data, preferences, and cached content on your device

You can control certain tracking through your device settings, though this may affect app functionality.

7. US Considerations

If you are located in the United States:

• We comply with applicable US privacy laws, including state-specific regulations (e.g., California Consumer Privacy Act - CCPA)
• California residents have additional rights, including the right to know what personal information is collected, the right to delete personal information, and the right to opt-out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell personal information)
• You may request access to or deletion of your personal information by contacting us
• We do not discriminate against users who exercise their privacy rights

8. Europe Considerations

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom, or Switzerland:

• We process your personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and applicable data protection laws
• Legal Basis: We process your data based on: (1) your consent, (2) performance of a contract, (3) legitimate interests, and (4) legal obligations
• Data Transfers: If we transfer your data outside the EEA, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place (e.g., Standard Contractual Clauses)
• Data Retention: We retain your data only as long as necessary for the purposes outlined in this policy, or as required by law
• You have enhanced rights under GDPR, as detailed in Section 9 below

9. User Rights

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

• Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information (subject to legal and operational requirements)
• Portability: Request transfer of your data to another service provider in a structured format
• Objection: Object to processing of your personal information for certain purposes
• Restriction: Request restriction of processing in certain circumstances
• Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent
• Opt-Out: Opt-out of certain data collection and processing activities

To exercise these rights, please contact us at privacy@bepopular.com. We will respond to your request within 30 days (or as required by applicable law).

Note: If you delete your account, we will delete or anonymize your personal information, except where we are required to retain it for legal, regulatory, or legitimate business purposes. Some information, such as anonymized analytics data, may be retained.

10. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your personal information:

• Encryption of data in transit and at rest
• Secure authentication and access controls
• Regular security assessments and updates
• Limited access to personal information on a need-to-know basis
• Secure storage of conversation recordings and sensitive data

However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your data, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

11. Children's Privacy

Popular is not intended for users under the age of 13 (or 16 in the EEA). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately, and we will delete such information.

12. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide our services and fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy, unless a longer retention period is required by law. Specifically:

• Account information is retained while your account is active and for a reasonable period after deletion
• Conversation recordings and interaction data are retained to provide learning insights and may be anonymized after account deletion
• Analytics and aggregated data may be retained indefinitely in anonymized form
• Legal and regulatory requirements may necessitate longer retention periods

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of material changes by:

• Posting the updated policy on this page with a new "Last updated" date
• Sending you an email notification (if you have provided an email address)
• Displaying an in-app notification

Your continued use of Popular after such changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

14. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us: