1. Summary
- Your imported documents (PDF/EPUB), reading progress, bookmarks, notes, and app settings are stored locally on your device.
- We collect an account email (and optional profile details) when you create an account or sign in with Google.
- When you use cloud (“premium”) voices, the text to be narrated is sent to our servers and our text-to-speech processing providers to generate audio.
- We process subscription and purchase records to provide and verify paid features. Payments are handled by Google Play — we do not receive your full payment card details.
- We collect usage analytics, diagnostics, and (for the free tier) advertising data to operate and improve the App.
- You can request deletion of your account and associated data at any time (see Section 9).
2. Who We Are (Data Controller)
The data controller responsible for your information is:
Apex Forge Tech Inc.
Langley, British Columbia, Canada
Email: info@apexforge.tech
3. Information We Collect
3.1 Information you provide
- Account information: email address and password (passwords are handled by our authentication provider and are not stored by us in plain text). If you sign in with Google, we receive your Google account email and basic profile information you authorize.
- Profile information: optional display name and avatar.
- Support communications: information you include when you contact us (for example, email content).
3.2 Your content
- Documents and books: PDF/EPUB files you import, along with extracted text, cover images, reading progress, bookmarks, notes, and statistics. This content is stored locally on your device (encrypted where supported) and is not uploaded to our servers for storage.
- Text sent for cloud narration: if you choose a cloud or premium voice, the portion of text to be narrated is transmitted over a secure connection to our backend and to our third-party text-to-speech processing provider(s) solely to generate the corresponding audio. If you use only the on-device (“local”) voice, your text is not transmitted for narration.
3.3 Purchases and subscriptions
- Subscription and transaction records (for example, product purchased, purchase token/receipt, subscription status, renewal dates) used to unlock and verify paid features. Payment is processed by Google Play Billing; we do not collect or store your full credit/debit card number.
3.4 Information collected automatically
- Device and technical information: device model, operating system version, app version, language, and similar technical identifiers.
- Usage analytics: in-app events such as books opened/completed, TTS usage, voices selected, screens viewed, features accessed, playback actions, and subscription views. Analytics events are associated with your account identifier but are designed to exclude the contents of your documents.
- Diagnostics / crash data: if enabled, crash reports and performance/diagnostic data to help us find and fix problems.
3.5 Advertising data (free tier)
- If you use the App without a qualifying subscription, we may display ads via Google AdMob. AdMob may access your device advertising identifier and related data to serve and measure ads. Where required (for example, in the EEA/UK), we request your consent before serving personalized ads and honor your choice.
4. How We Use Information
We use the information described above to:
- provide, maintain, and operate the App and its features (including local and cloud text-to-speech);
- create and manage your account and authenticate you;
- process and verify subscriptions and purchases, and prevent fraud and abuse;
- generate audio narration for the text you choose to convert;
- measure usage, understand engagement, and improve features and performance;
- display and measure advertising (free tier);
- provide customer support and respond to your requests;
- comply with legal obligations and enforce our terms.
Legal bases (where GDPR/UK GDPR applies): performance of a contract (providing the App), legitimate interests (securing and improving the App, analytics), consent (personalized ads and certain optional processing), and compliance with legal obligations.
5. How We Share Information
We do not sell your personal information. We share information only as described here:
- Service providers / processors who process data on our behalf, including: Supabase (authentication, account/profile data, subscription records, and usage analytics); Google (Google Sign-In, Google Play Billing, and Google AdMob); our cloud text-to-speech provider(s) (processing text you submit for cloud/premium narration); and a crash/diagnostics provider (for example, Sentry), if enabled.
- Legal and safety: when required by law, regulation, or legal process, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of our users, the public, or us.
- Business transfers: in connection with a merger, acquisition, financing, or sale of assets, subject to this Privacy Policy.
6. Third-Party Services
The App relies on third-party services that have their own privacy policies. Please review them:
7. Data Retention
- On-device data (documents, progress, settings) remains on your device until you delete it or uninstall the App.
- Account, subscription, and analytics data stored in our backend is retained for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the App.
- We may retain certain information after an account deletion request where necessary for legitimate purposes such as security, fraud prevention, dispute resolution, financial record-keeping, or compliance with legal obligations, after which it is deleted or anonymized.
8. Security
We use technical and organizational measures to protect your information, including encrypted transmission (TLS), secure storage of authentication tokens in the device keystore/keychain, and access controls on our backend. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
9. Your Choices and Rights
9.1 Account and data deletion
If you create an account, you can request deletion of your account and its associated data at any time:
- In the App: use the account deletion option in the App’s account/profile settings (where available); and/or
- By email: contact info@apexforge.tech with the subject line “Account Deletion.”
When we delete your account, we delete the personal data associated with it, except for information we are permitted or required to retain as described in Section 7. On-device content is removed by deleting it in the App or uninstalling the App.
9.2 Privacy rights
Depending on where you live (for example, the EEA/UK under GDPR, or California under the CCPA/CPRA), you may have rights to access, correct, delete, port, or restrict processing of your personal information, to object to certain processing, and to withdraw consent. You may exercise these rights by emailing info@apexforge.tech. We will not discriminate against you for exercising your rights. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.
9.3 Advertising and analytics choices
- You can reset or limit your device advertising identifier in your device settings.
- Where applicable, you can change your ads consent choices in the App.
- Subscribing to an ad-free tier removes ads.
10. Children’s Privacy
The App is not directed to children under the age of 13 (or the minimum age required in your jurisdiction), and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us at info@apexforge.tech and we will take appropriate steps to delete it.
11. International Data Transfers
We are based in Canada and use service providers that may store and process data in other countries, including the United States. Where required, we rely on appropriate safeguards (such as standard contractual clauses) for international transfers. By using the App, you understand that your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own.
12. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will post the updated version with a new “Last updated” date, and, where appropriate, provide additional notice. Your continued use of the App after an update means you accept the revised policy.
13. Contact Us
If you have questions or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your data, contact us at:
Apex Forge Tech Inc.
Email: info@apexforge.tech