Privacy Policy

We collect information you provide directly to us when you create an account or use our services, including:

• Account information — name, email address, and password
• Profile information — learning language level (HSK), country, and birthday
• Learning data — study progress, quiz results, vocabulary practice history, and review records
• Payment information — subscription status and transaction records (payment details are processed by Apple App Store or Google Play and are not stored on our servers)

We also automatically collect certain technical information when you use the app, including device type, operating system version, app version, and crash logs for diagnostic purposes.

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide, maintain, and improve the Bamboo Chinese app and its features
• Personalize your learning experience using spaced-repetition algorithms and adaptive curriculum
• Track and display your learning progress, streaks, and achievement statistics
• Process subscription purchases and manage your premium membership status
• Send transactional emails such as account verification and password reset
• Respond to your support requests and feedback
• Detect and prevent fraud, abuse, or violations of our Terms of Service

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share your information only in the following limited circumstances:

• Service providers — We work with trusted third-party services (e.g., Apple, Google) solely to deliver our app functionality. These parties are contractually obligated to keep your data confidential.
• Legal requirements — We may disclose your information if required by law, regulation, or valid legal process.
• Business transfers — In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your data may be transferred, subject to the same privacy protections.

We will never share your personal information with advertisers or data brokers.

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

• All data transmissions between the app and our servers are encrypted using HTTPS/TLS
• Passwords are stored using one-way cryptographic hashing and are never stored in plain text
• Access to production systems and databases is restricted to authorized personnel only

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

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide our services. Specifically:

• Account and learning data is retained for the duration of your account lifetime
• If you delete your account, we will delete or anonymize your personal data within 30 days, except where we are required to retain certain records for legal or compliance purposes
• Aggregated, anonymized analytics data may be retained indefinitely as it cannot be linked back to any individual

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

• Access — Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
• Correction — Request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete data
• Deletion — Request that we delete your account and personal data
• Portability — Request your data in a structured, machine-readable format
• Restriction — Request that we restrict certain processing activities
• Objection — Object to the processing of your data in certain circumstances

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at bug@bambooreading.com. We will respond to your request within 30 days.

The Bamboo Chinese mobile app does not use browser cookies. We use the following technologies to improve your experience:

• Local storage — We store your authentication token and preferences locally on your device to keep you signed in and remember your settings
• Cached content — Audio and image files are cached locally to reduce data usage and improve performance

We do not use third-party advertising trackers or behavioral analytics platforms.

Bamboo Chinese is not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without verifiable parental consent.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child under 13 has provided us with personal information without your consent, please contact us at bug@bambooreading.com and we will promptly delete the information.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. When we make changes, we will:

• Update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page
• Notify you via an in-app notice or email for material changes

Your continued use of Bamboo Chinese after any changes to this Privacy Policy constitutes your acceptance of the updated terms. We encourage you to review this page periodically.

When you delete your account through the app, all personal data associated with your account — including your profile, learning progress, purchase history, and support tickets — will be permanently deleted from our servers within 30 days. This action is irreversible.

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have the following rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

• Right to access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
• Right to rectification: Request correction of inaccurate data
• Right to erasure: Request deletion of your personal data
• Right to restriction: Request that we limit processing of your data
• Right to data portability: Receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format
• Right to object: Object to processing of your data for certain purposes

To exercise these rights, contact us at bug@bambooreading.com.

California residents have the right to: know what personal information is collected, know whether it is sold or disclosed, opt out of the sale of personal information, access their personal information, and receive equal service and price regardless of exercising privacy rights.

We do not sell personal information to third parties. To submit a request, contact us at bug@bambooreading.com.

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal information, please reach out to us. We are committed to resolving any privacy-related concerns promptly.

You can contact our privacy team at: bug@bambooreading.com