Privacy Policy

Effective date: June 9, 2026

This Privacy Policy describes how the Learn Chinese News iOS app and this website (learnchinese.dlaisoft.com), operated by David Lai ("I", "me"), handle your information. The short version: the app has no accounts, collects no personal information, and keeps your study data on your device.

1. Information the app does NOT collect

• No account registration, sign-in, or personal profile.
• No name, email address, phone number, or contacts.
• No location data.
• No advertising identifiers, no ads, and no third-party analytics or tracking SDKs.

2. Data stored on your device

Your preferences (such as pinyin display and Simplified/Traditional script choice) and your saved vocabulary list are stored only on your device. They are never uploaded. Deleting the app deletes this data.

3. Data processed by the backend

When you open an article, the app sends the article's URL (or the URL you pasted) to my server, which fetches the article text, translates it, and extracts vocabulary using an AI model running on Amazon Web Services (AWS). This processing is transient:

• Requests are not linked to any account or personal identifier.
• Article content is held briefly in a short-lived cache (about 5 minutes) to avoid reprocessing, then discarded. Articles are never stored long-term or republished.
• Standard server logs (such as IP address, timestamp, and requested URL) may be retained for a limited period for rate limiting, abuse prevention, and troubleshooting.

4. Read-aloud and pinyin

The read-aloud voice uses the speech synthesis built into iOS, and pinyin annotation and Simplified/Traditional conversion run entirely on your device. None of these features send your text or audio to a cloud speech service.

5. Support form

If you contact me through the form on this website, the name (optional), email address, and message you provide are emailed to me so I can respond. They are used only to handle your request and are not shared with anyone else or used for marketing. If you'd like a past support message deleted, ask me from the same email address and I'll delete it.

6. Third-party services

• Amazon Web Services (AWS) hosts the backend and this website, and provides the AI model used for translation (Amazon Bedrock).
• News publishers: headlines and articles are fetched from publishers' public RSS feeds and websites. Opening their content is subject to their own terms and privacy policies.
• Apple: if you download the app from the App Store, Apple's own privacy policy applies to the download and any purchase.

I do not sell, rent, or share your information with third parties for their own purposes.

7. Children

The app and website are not directed at children under 13, and I do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

8. Changes to this policy

If this policy changes, the updated version will be posted on this page with a new effective date.

9. Contact

Questions about this policy? Use the form on the Support page.