Privacy Policy for UWord - English Dictionary App

Last Updated: October 6, 2025

Introduction

Welcome to UWord ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring you have a positive experience while using our English Dictionary application. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application.

Information We Collect

Information You Provide to Us

• User-Generated Content: Words you add, custom definitions, translations, personal notes, and example sentences
• Learning Progress: Game scores, achievement data, learning streaks, daily challenge results, and word learning progress
• Preferences: Theme settings (light/dark mode), language preferences, auto-play pronunciation settings, and notification preferences

Automatically Collected Information

• Device Information: Device type, operating system version, and app version
• Usage Data: Features used, game sessions, study patterns, and app performance metrics
• Local Storage: All data is stored locally on your device using SQLite database and AsyncStorage

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide and maintain the dictionary and learning features
• Track your learning progress and generate personalized statistics
• Deliver achievement notifications and daily challenges
• Improve app performance and user experience
• Customize the app interface based on your preferences
• Enable offline functionality

Data Storage and Security

Local Storage

• Primary Storage: All your data is stored locally on your device using SQLite database
• No Cloud Storage: By default, we do not upload your data to any external servers
• Encryption: Sensitive data is stored securely on your device
• Data Persistence: Your data remains on your device and is not shared with third parties

Security Measures

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your information:

• Secure database implementation with input validation
• Error handling and data integrity checks
• Regular security audits
• No unauthorized data transmission

Third-Party Services

Free Dictionary API

• We use the Free Dictionary API (https://dictionaryapi.dev/) to fetch word definitions and pronunciations
• When you search for a word, we send the word to this API to retrieve its definition
• The API does not collect or store personal information
• No user identification data is sent with API requests

Translation Services

• Translation data is fetched from external APIs to provide multi-language support
• Only the searched word is transmitted; no personal data is included
• We support translations in: Turkish, Spanish, German, Chinese, Russian, Hindi, Portuguese, Arabic, and Japanese

Text-to-Speech

• We use the device's native text-to-speech functionality (Expo Speech API)
• Audio processing occurs locally on your device
• No audio data is transmitted or stored externally

Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do NOT:

• Sell your personal information to third parties
• Share your learning progress or user-generated content with advertisers
• Use your data for marketing purposes
• Track your location
• Access your contacts, photos, or other unrelated device data

We MAY share information only in the following circumstances:

• Legal Requirements: If required by law, regulation, or legal process
• Protection of Rights: To protect our rights, privacy, safety, or property
• Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets (with prior notice)

Export and Import Features

• Data Export: You can export your word lists, learning progress, and preferences to a JSON file
• Data Portability: Exported data belongs to you and can be imported back into the app
• No Automatic Uploads: Export files are stored locally unless you manually share them
• User Control: You have full control over when and how to export/import data

Children's Privacy

UWord is intended for general audiences and does not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 years of age. If we discover that we have inadvertently collected information from a child under 13, we will delete it immediately. If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us.

Your Rights and Choices

You have the following rights regarding your data:

Access and Control

• View Your Data: Access all your stored words, definitions, and learning progress within the app
• Modify Data: Edit or delete any word, definition, or translation you've created
• Export Data: Export all your data to a JSON file for backup or transfer
• Delete Data: Remove individual words or clear all data from the app

Settings and Preferences

• Theme Selection: Choose light, dark, or system theme
• Language Selection: Select your preferred interface language from 9 supported languages
• Auto-Play Settings: Enable or disable automatic pronunciation playback
• Notification Control: Manage achievement and reminder notifications

Data Deletion

To delete your data:

1. Individual Words: Navigate to the word detail screen and select "Delete"
2. All Data: Use the Settings screen to reset the app (this will delete all local data)
3. Uninstall: Uninstalling the app will remove all locally stored data from your device

Data Retention

• Local Storage: Data is retained on your device until you manually delete it or uninstall the app
• No Remote Storage: We do not retain data on external servers (unless cloud sync is enabled in future versions)
• User Control: You have complete control over data retention periods

Future Features

Planned Cloud Sync (Not Yet Implemented)

If we implement cloud synchronization in the future:

• We will update this Privacy Policy before enabling cloud features
• Users will need to explicitly opt-in to cloud sync
• We will use secure authentication (e.g., Firebase Auth)
• Data will be encrypted during transmission and storage
• Users will retain the option to use the app offline-only

Social Features (Not Yet Implemented)

If we add social features:

• Sharing achievements will be optional
• You can control what information is visible to others
• User-generated content sharing will require explicit consent
• You can opt-out of social features at any time

International Data Transfers

Currently, UWord operates entirely on your local device. If we implement cloud features in the future, we will:

• Ensure appropriate safeguards for international data transfers
• Comply with GDPR, CCPA, and other applicable privacy laws
• Provide notice about data transfer practices
• Offer options for data localization where required

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make changes:

• We will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
• Significant changes will be communicated through in-app notifications
• Continued use of the app after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy
• You can review the Privacy Policy at any time within the app

California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights:

• Right to Know: Request disclosure of personal information we collect
• Right to Delete: Request deletion of your personal information
• Right to Opt-Out: Opt-out of the sale of personal information (Note: We do not sell personal information)
• Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising your rights

European Privacy Rights (GDPR)

If you are in the European Economic Area, you have additional rights:

• Right of Access: Obtain confirmation of data processing and access to your data
• Right to Rectification: Correct inaccurate personal data
• Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your data ("right to be forgotten")
• Right to Data Portability: Receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format
• Right to Object: Object to processing of your personal data
• Right to Restriction: Request restriction of processing

Compliance and Audit

We are committed to:

• Regular security audits of our data handling practices
• Compliance with applicable privacy laws and regulations
• Transparent communication about our data practices
• Continuous improvement of our privacy and security measures

Acknowledgment

By using UWord, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy and agree to its terms. If you do not agree with this policy, please do not use our application.

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