Privacy Policy

Last updated: 29 June 2026 · Effective: 29 June 2026

This Privacy Policy explains how KnowBud ("KnowBud", "we", "us") collects, uses, and protects your personal data when you use the KnowBud mobile app and related services (the "Service"). We are committed to handling your data responsibly and in line with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the UK GDPR.

1. Who we are (Data Controller)

KnowBud is the data controller for the personal data described in this policy. For any privacy question or to exercise your rights, contact us at privacy@knowbud.com. Our registered postal address is available on request.

2. The data we collect

Category	Examples
Account data	Email address; display name (optional); the identifier from your sign-in provider if you use Google or Apple sign-in.
Voice & audio	Microphone audio captured while you take a voice lesson, so we can understand what you say and respond. Audio is converted to text in real time.
Learning data	Lessons started and completed, progress, streaks, answers to in-lesson questions, and the topics you choose or create for your own journeys.
Learner profile (personalisation)	Facts you share during lessons that help us tailor content to you — for example your stated goals, interests, and background. We may infer interests from your activity.
Usage & device data	How you interact with the app, app/feature events, approximate session information, device and operating-system details, and diagnostic/crash data.
Subscription data	If you subscribe, your subscription status (managed by the app stores and our billing provider). We do not receive or store your full payment-card details.

You can use parts of the Service without an account. Creating an account lets us save your progress and, where you choose, sync it across your devices.

3. How and why we use your data (and our legal basis)

Purpose	Legal basis (GDPR Art. 6)
Deliver lessons, run the voice conversation, and operate the Service	Performance of a contract
Save your progress and sync it across your devices (account-based cloud storage)	Performance of a contract
Personalise your learning using your learner profile	Consent, or our legitimate interest in a useful product (you can opt out — see §9)
Maintain, secure, debug and improve the Service	Legitimate interests
Product analytics and understanding feature usage	Consent, where required by law
Send you service-related communications	Performance of a contract / legitimate interests
Meet legal and regulatory obligations	Legal obligation

4. AI-generated content

KnowBud's lessons and responses are generated by artificial intelligence. We work hard to ground the content in reliable sources, but AI-generated content can be incomplete or inaccurate and is not guaranteed to be 100% correct. KnowBud is for general learning only and is not professional, medical, legal, or financial advice — please verify anything important before relying on it.

5. Voice and microphone data

Voice lessons require microphone access. While you speak, your audio is streamed to our speech-to-text provider and transcribed so the Service can understand and respond. We use this audio and its transcript to operate the lesson and to maintain and improve quality. We retain audio and transcripts only as long as needed for these purposes (see §8). You can stop voice processing at any time by ending the session or revoking microphone permission in your device settings.

6. Who we share data with

We do not sell your personal data. We share it only with service providers ("processors") who help us run KnowBud, under contracts that require them to protect it and use it only on our instructions:

Provider	Purpose
Google Firebase	Authentication and account/data storage
Soniox	Speech-to-text transcription of voice input
Google (Gemini)	Generating lesson content and conversational responses
Daily.co	Real-time audio connection during lessons
Text-to-speech providers (cloud GPU/CPU)	Converting responses into the spoken voice
PostHog (EU)	Product analytics
Email delivery provider	Sending service emails
App stores & billing provider	Subscriptions and purchases
Hosting provider (EU data centre)	Running our servers and database

We may also disclose data where required by law, to protect our rights, or as part of a business transfer.

7. International transfers

Our core servers are hosted in the European Union. Some providers listed above process data outside the EU/UK (for example in the United States). Where data is transferred internationally, we rely on appropriate safeguards such as the European Commission's Standard Contractual Clauses or an applicable adequacy decision.

8. How long we keep data

Account, learning, and learner-profile data: while your account is active, and for a limited period afterwards, then deleted or anonymised.
Voice audio and transcripts: kept only as long as needed to run the lesson and to maintain quality, then deleted or anonymised.
Usage/diagnostic data: kept for a limited period for analytics and reliability.

We delete or anonymise data when it is no longer needed, when you delete your account, or when you ask us to (subject to any legal retention obligations).

9. Your rights

Under the GDPR/UK GDPR you have the right to: access your data; have it corrected; have it erased; restrict or object to its processing; data portability (receive a copy in a portable format); and, where we rely on consent, withdraw that consent at any time without affecting prior processing. You can opt out of personalisation and analytics. To exercise any right, email privacy@knowbud.com — we will respond within the time limits set by law. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

10. Personalisation and automated processing

We use your learning data and learner profile to personalise the content you see. This does not produce legal or similarly significant effects about you, and you can turn personalisation off. We do not use your data for automated decisions that would significantly affect you.

11. Security

We protect your data with measures including encryption in transit, access controls, and reputable infrastructure providers. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, but we work to protect your data and to address issues promptly.

12. Children

KnowBud is not directed to children. You must be at least 16 years old (or the minimum age of digital consent in your country) to use the Service. We do not knowingly collect data from children; if you believe a child has provided us data, contact us and we will delete it.

13. Deleting your data

You can request deletion of your account and associated personal data at any time by emailing privacy@knowbud.com. We will delete or anonymise your data, except where we must retain it to meet a legal obligation.

14. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. We will revise the "Last updated" date above and, for material changes, provide notice in the app. Continued use of the Service after changes take effect means you accept the updated policy.

15. Contact

Questions or requests about your privacy? Email privacy@knowbud.com.