Privacy Policy

1. Who we are

ChineseReads (chinesereads.com) is a web application for learning Mandarin Chinese through graded texts and vocabulary tools. This service is operated as a personal project.

2. What data we collect

We collect the following personal data when you register:

• Email address
• Name
• Preferred language
• Password (stored encrypted using BCrypt — we never store plain passwords)
• If you subscribe to PREMIUM: billing identifiers that link your account to your subscription (a Stripe customer ID and subscription ID). Your card details are entered directly on Stripe and are never stored by ChineseReads.
• If you arrived through a promotional link or used a discount code: the campaign code involved (e.g. the name of the collaborator who recommended us), used only to measure how well each collaboration works.

We also collect anonymous usage data through Google Analytics (only with your consent), including pages visited, time on site, and general device/browser information. IP addresses are anonymized before being sent to Google.

3. How we use your data

• To provide and maintain the ChineseReads service.
• To manage your account and personalize your experience.
• To analyze usage patterns and improve the application (only with consent).

We do not sell, rent, or share your personal data with third parties for marketing purposes.

4. Cookies

We use the following types of cookies:

• Essential cookies — necessary for authentication (JWT token stored in HttpOnly cookie). These cannot be disabled as the service cannot function without them.
• Analytics cookies — used by Google Analytics to collect anonymous traffic data. These are only set after you give your explicit consent.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by clearing your browser cookies or contacting us at the email address below.

5. Third-party services

ChineseReads uses the following third-party services:

• Stripe — to process subscription payments securely. Your card and payment details are handled by Stripe as the payment processor; ChineseReads does not receive or store full card numbers. Privacy policy: stripe.com/privacy
• Google Analytics — for anonymous traffic analysis. Privacy policy: policies.google.com/privacy
• DeepSeek API — to generate Chinese learning texts and to power the AI tutor (asking about words and context). Only the text you send is processed, no account or personal data. Privacy policy: deepseek.com/privacy
• Google Cloud Vision — to extract text from uploaded images. Images are processed and not stored. Privacy policy: cloud.google.com
• Google Cloud Text-to-Speech — to generate audio pronunciation of Chinese text, words and sentences. Only the Chinese text to be read aloud is sent, no personal data. Audio is generated on demand and not stored. Privacy policy: cloud.google.com
• Brevo — to send account emails (such as the welcome email when you register) and, only if you opted in, occasional learning tips and news. Your email address and name are shared with Brevo solely to deliver these messages; you can withdraw the optional consent anytime from your profile. Privacy policy: brevo.com/legal/privacypolicy

6. Data retention

Account data is retained as long as your account is active. You can request deletion of your account and all associated data at any time by contacting us. Analytics data is retained for 26 months as per Google Analytics default settings. Records related to payments and subscriptions may be kept for longer where necessary to comply with tax, accounting and anti-fraud obligations.

7. Your rights (GDPR)

Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), you have the right to:

• Access your personal data
• Correct inaccurate data
• Request deletion of your data
• Object to processing
• Data portability
• Withdraw consent at any time

To exercise these rights, contact us at: victorgarciallorente20@gmail.com

8. Contact

If you have any questions about this privacy policy, please contact us at: victorgarciallorente20@gmail.com