Privacy Policy

Effective Date: October 26, 2024
Last Updated: August 28, 2026

1. Introduction

Sir Types-A-Lot ("we," "our," or "the App") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you use our language learning keyboard application.

We believe in complete transparency about our data practices and have designed our app with privacy as a core principle.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Account Information

  • User ID: A unique identifier created by Firebase Authentication
  • Authentication Status: Whether you're signed in
  • Subscription Status: Your current subscription tier and expiration

2.2 Usage Information

  • Translation Requests: Text you choose to translate or analyze
  • Language Preferences: Your selected source and target languages
  • API Usage Metrics: Number of requests and tokens used for fair usage tracking
  • Timestamps: When you use translation features
  • Crash Data: Stack traces, device state, and error logs for app stability

2.3 Settings and Preferences (Stored Locally)

  • Language selections
  • Pronunciation preferences (word, syllable, letter, or phrase)
  • Personalization prompts for translation style
  • Keyboard layout preferences

2.4 Subscription Information

  • Transaction IDs from Apple App Store
  • Subscription tier and status
  • Purchase and expiration dates
  • Regional pricing information (country code only)

3. How We Use Your Information

3.1 To Provide Core Services

  • Process your translation and language analysis requests
  • Generate phonetic guides and pronunciation assistance
  • Create custom lesson groups based on your preferences
  • Manage your subscription and allocated usage credits

3.2 To Ensure Fair Usage

  • Track API usage to enforce monthly quotas
  • Prevent abuse through rate limiting
  • Allocate credits based on your subscription tier

3.3 To Maintain Security

  • Verify legitimate app usage through App Check
  • Prevent unauthorized access to our services
  • Monitor for suspicious activity

4. Data Processing and Storage

4.1 Processing Methods

  • Standard Translations: Processed entirely on your device using Apple's on-device translation frameworks. These never leave your phone.
  • Persona/AI Translations: Processed by Google Vertex AI to apply specific stylistic tones. These requests are transmitted securely via our Cloud Functions.
  • We do not store your translated text permanently on any server.

4.2 Local Storage

  • Your preferences and settings remain on your device
  • Generated lessons are saved locally in your app's documents
  • Cached data is temporary and cleared on app restart

4.3 Server Storage

  • Usage metrics stored in Firebase Firestore
  • Only accessible by you and necessary for service operation
  • No personal information beyond user ID is stored

5. Data Sharing

We do NOT:

  • Sell your personal information
  • Share data with advertisers
  • Use your data for marketing
  • Track your behavior across apps
  • Collect location data
  • Store your email address (except for authentication)

We ONLY share data with:

  • Google Vertex AI: Only when using Persona-enhanced features (text only)
  • Firebase Services: For authentication and data storage
  • Firebase Crashlytics: To identify and fix app crashes (crash reports only, no PII)
  • Apple: For subscription management (they handle all payments)

6. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures:

  • All communications use HTTPS encryption
  • App Check verification for API security
  • Firebase Authentication with secure token management
  • Strict database access rules (you can only access your own data)
  • Rate limiting to prevent abuse
  • Regular security monitoring

7. Your Rights and Controls

You have the right to:

  • Use the app without signing in (limited features)
  • Sign out at any time to disconnect cloud features
  • Delete your account and associated data
  • Control what text you send for translation
  • Adjust all privacy-related settings locally

8. Data Retention

  • Usage History: Retained while your account is active
  • Rate Limiting Data: Automatically deleted after 6 hours
  • Security Logs: Kept for 24 hours for monitoring
  • Local Data: Persists until you delete the app
  • Account Data: Removed upon account deletion

9. Children's Privacy

Our app does not knowingly collect information from children under 13. The app is designed for general language learning and requires no age-specific data.

10. International Data Transfers

If you use Persona/AI features, those specific requests are processed by Google Cloud services, which may involve data centers in various countries. Standard translations remain locally on your device. All transfers comply with applicable data protection laws.

11. No Tracking or Analytics

We do not use:

  • Google Analytics or similar marketing/behavioral analytics services
  • Advertising identifiers
  • Cross-app tracking
  • Behavioral analytics
  • Location services
  • Cookies or web tracking

Note: We DO use Firebase Crashlytics solely for stability monitoring to fix crashes. This data is not used for marketing or tracking user behavior.

12. Changes to This Policy

We will notify you of any material changes to this Privacy Policy through the app. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Contact Us

For privacy concerns or questions about this policy, please contact us via our support page.

14. Transparency Commitment

We believe you have the right to know exactly what happens with your data. Our app:

  • Only collects what's necessary for functionality
  • Gives you control over your information
  • Never monetizes your personal data
  • Maintains open communication about our practices

15. Compliance

This privacy policy complies with:

  • Apple App Store Guidelines
  • General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
  • California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
  • Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)

By using Sir Types-A-Lot, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy.

16. macOS Desktop Edition

16.1 Scope of this supplement

This section extends this universal Privacy Policy to the Sir Types-A-Lot macOS desktop edition. The mobile-edition disclosures above remain unchanged. Users in the EEA or United Kingdom should also read the GDPR and UK GDPR Privacy Policy.

16.2 Local data and credentials

The desktop edition stores practice quests, typing progress, keyboard and audio settings, translation settings, remote-translation consent, and any enabled translation cache on your Mac. Downloaded Quest Store content is also stored locally. Firebase refresh tokens and credentials for user-configured translation servers are stored using macOS Keychain. Keychain items can remain after the application is removed unless you sign out or remove them from Keychain.

16.3 Translation on macOS

The Mac App Store edition can translate text through Apple’s Translation framework. Apple’s operating-system service performs that translation and macOS may download Apple-managed language resources. Tetradex does not receive the source text through this translation path.

You can also configure Ollama or another OpenAI-compatible translation server. Before source text is sent to a configured destination, the application displays that destination and asks for consent. If you approve it, the application may send the source text, source and target languages, translation instructions, selected model, and any authentication credential required by that server. The destination operator’s privacy and retention policies apply. Changing the destination requires new consent, and you can revoke consent in Translation settings.

The Mac App Store edition does not install Ollama, download ONNX translation models, or download executable translation functionality. Remote servers must be installed or operated separately.

16.4 Quest Store and authentication

When the Quest Store feature is enabled, the desktop edition restores an existing Firebase Authentication session or creates an anonymous Firebase user during startup. You may remain anonymous or sign in using email and password or Google. Firebase processes the user ID, authentication provider, and email address when one is supplied. Signing out of a registered account removes that local session and returns the application to a new anonymous session.

The Quest Store obtains public catalogs and images from Cloudflare R2. Secure quest downloads send a Firebase ID token, a Firebase App Check token, and the application’s mutual-TLS credential to the Sir Types-A-Lot download service. Downloaded quests and their supported metadata, images, enrichments, and compatibility information are saved in the local Quest Library.

16.5 Search, security, and network data

Quest Store searches send the search terms, storefront language, and a random stable installation identifier to Sir Types-A-Lot services hosted by Cloudflare. The identifier supports rate limiting and service protection. Firebase, Google, Cloudflare, Apple, and any server that you configure can also receive ordinary network metadata such as IP address, request time, request path, and protocol information. These providers process information according to their service and security retention practices.

16.6 Desktop retention and controls

Local data remains until you delete it through available application controls or remove the application’s data. Credentials remain until they are replaced, removed, or cleared by signing out where supported. Remote-translation consent remains until you revoke it or change the destination. Firebase account records remain until deletion; to request account or associated server-data deletion, contact Sir Types-A-Lot support. A remote translation server’s operator controls information retained by that server.

16.7 Services not used by the desktop edition

The macOS desktop edition does not integrate Firebase Analytics, Firebase Crashlytics, RevenueCat, Superwall, Google Vertex AI, advertising services, or cross-app tracking. These statements apply only to the desktop edition and do not replace the platform-specific mobile disclosures above.