Privacy Policy

1.Overview

Chinese Class Companion (知多少) is a reading-comprehension app for students learning Chinese, whether in a class or studying independently with a textbook, built by Bigger Impact Lab. It helps students study textbook passages and vocabulary by photographing classroom material, then working through it with pinyin, translation, and pronunciation practice.

This policy explains what information the app collects, how it's used, who it's shared with, and the choices available to students, parents, guardians, and teachers.

2.Who uses this app

Chinese Class Companion (知多少) is designed for anyone learning Chinese, whether enrolled in a school or college class or studying independently with a textbook. Most users are 13 or older, but some, particularly younger students in immersion or intensive Chinese programs, may be under the age of 13.

Because of this mix, we ask for a user's age when an account is created. Users under 13 are directed through a limited flow described in the Children's Privacy section below. It is listed on the App Store as an Education app, not under Apple's Kids Category.

3.Information we collect

• Account information: an email address and password, or an account identifier if signing in with Apple or Google.
• Photographed study material: photos of textbook passages and vocabulary lists that a student captures within the app, submitted for text extraction and translation.
• Voice recordings: short, self-recorded audio clips a student makes to compare their pronunciation against reference audio.
• Learning progress: which words a student has flagged as unknown, mastery status, and which chapters or passages have been completed.
• Basic device and usage information: device type, iOS version, and app version, used only for troubleshooting and keeping the app working correctly.

4.How we use this information

• To extract and translate text from photographed textbook material, so it can be displayed with pinyin and English translation toggles.
• To let a student compare their recorded pronunciation against reference audio.
• To track and display a student's own learning progress within the app.
• To maintain and troubleshoot the app.

We do not use this information for advertising, and we do not build behavioral or marketing profiles from it.

5.Subprocessors and third-party services

Chinese Class Companion (知多少) uses a small number of subprocessors to operate. We don't use third-party advertising networks or behavioral tracking SDKs. The subprocessors that handle personal information on our behalf are:

• Anthropic, PBC: processes photographed textbook pages and vocabulary lists to extract and translate text, and processes voice recordings for pronunciation features. Governed by Anthropic's own privacy and data-use terms.
• Railway Corporation: our backend hosting provider, which stores account information and learning progress data.
• Apple Inc.: for App Store distribution, optional Sign in with Apple, age verification signals used to determine account type at signup, and TestFlight during testing.

If we add or change a subprocessor, we'll update this list and revise the effective date at the top of this page.

6.Children's privacy

Chinese Class Companion (知多少) is used by a mix of students, most of whom are 13 or older, and some younger students, particularly those in immersion or intensive Chinese programs, who may be under 13.

To identify users under 13, we rely on the age-verification signals provided by the Apple App Store and Google Play at account setup, rather than asking a user to self-report their age. For users identified as under 13, we take the following approach:

• We collect only the information needed for the app's core study features, described above, and nothing beyond that.
• We do not use their information for advertising, do not build marketing profiles from it, and do not sell it.
• A parent or guardian may contact us at support@biggerimpactlab.com at any time to review, correct, or request deletion of a student's information.

7.Data retention

We retain account information and learning progress for as long as an account remains active. If a student, parent, or guardian requests account deletion, we delete the associated personal information within 30 days, except where retention is required for legal or security purposes.

8.Data security

We use reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect information stored by Chinese Class Companion (知多少), including encrypted transmission of data between the app and our backend. No method of storage or transmission is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9.No sale of personal information

We do not sell or rent personal information collected through Chinese Class Companion (知多少) to third parties.

10.Your rights

Students, parents, and guardians may request to:

• Access the personal information we hold about a student.
• Correct inaccurate information.
• Delete an account and associated personal information.

To make a request, contact us using the information below.

11.Changes to this policy

If this policy changes, we'll update the effective date at the top of this page. Significant changes affecting how children's information is handled will be communicated to teachers or parents where we have a way to reach them.

12.Contact us

Bigger Impact Lab
Email: support@biggerimpactlab.com