Privacy Policy

PRIVACY POLICY — openTalk 1. What this policy covers This policy explains what personal data openTalk collects, why, how it's used, and what choices you have. It applies to Clients and Tutors alike. 2. Data we collect - Account data: name, email, phone number, birth date, gender, profile photo. - Profile data: native language, languages you're learning and your level, interests, profession, a short bio. - Location data: your approximate location to show nearby tutors, and precise location during an active session so you and the other person can see yourselves approaching the meeting point and so arrival can be detected automatically. - Identity verification data (Tutors only): a photo of a government ID (passport or national ID) and a short introduction video, used to manually verify a Tutor's identity before approval. - Payment data: handled directly by Stripe. openTalk does not receive or store full card numbers — only a card's brand, last 4 digits, and expiration, plus Stripe's tokenized reference to it. - Communications: messages sent through the in-app chat between a Client and a Tutor, and support tickets you submit. - Safety data: safety reports, panic-button activations, and strikes on your account. - Usage data: session history, reviews given and received, referral activity. 3. How we use this data - To operate the marketplace: match Clients with nearby Tutors, process bookings and payments, and enable in-app chat. - To verify identity and eligibility: confirm a Tutor is who they say they are before approval, and confirm both sides meet the platform's age and conduct requirements. - To keep sessions safe: power the panic button and live-location view during a session, investigate safety reports, and apply strikes or bans when warranted. - To communicate with you: booking confirmations, safety alerts, and support responses, by push notification and email. - To comply with legal obligations, such as retaining transaction records. 4. Who your data is shared with - The other party in a booking sees your name, profile photo, and profile info — not your ID document, payment details, or precise location outside of an active session. - Stripe processes payments and, for Tutors, payouts; openTalk does not have access to your full card or bank details. - Twilio delivers phone verification codes via WhatsApp or SMS. - Moderators and admin staff can access reports, strikes, and (for Tutors) ID/video verification data as needed to review applications and safety reports. - We do not sell your personal data to third parties. 5. Data retention We keep account and transaction data for as long as your account is active and afterward as needed to meet legal and accounting obligations. Deleting your account (available anytime from the Profile tab) removes your personal data and profile, except what the law requires us to retain, such as records of completed transactions. 6. Your choices and rights - You can review and update most of your profile information directly in the app. - You can delete your account at any time from the Profile tab. - You can choose the app's display language (English or Spanish) from Profile → Preferences. - Location access, camera/photo access, and push notifications are all requested through your device's permission system and can be changed at any time in your device settings. 7. Data security Identity documents and payment information are stored and transmitted using industry-standard encryption and access controls. Access to sensitive verification data is limited to the systems and staff that need it to operate or moderate the platform. 8. Children's privacy openTalk is restricted to users 18 and older. We do not knowingly collect data from anyone under 18. 9. Changes to this policy We may update this policy from time to time. Material changes will be reflected here with an updated version, and continuing to use openTalk after a change constitutes acceptance of the revised policy. 10. Contact Questions about this policy or your data can be sent through the in-app support ticket system, available from the Profile tab.