Privacy Policy

At TuffTalk ("we", "our", or "us"), we respect your privacy and are committed to protecting the personal information you share with us. This Privacy Policy explains how our mobile application collects, uses, processes, and protects your information when you use TuffTalk, including our use of third-party Artificial Intelligence (AI) services.

1. Information We Collect

When you use TuffTalk, we collect and process the following categories of information:

• Voice & Microphone Audio: During active roleplay practice calls and voice dictation, TuffTalk accesses your device's microphone with your explicit, affirmative permission. Voice audio is streamed in real-time to facilitate interactive conversational simulation. Raw microphone audio is processed in-flight and is never permanently stored, recorded, or sold.
• Spoken Transcripts & Conversation Data: The spoken words exchanged during your drill are transcribed in real-time to allow conversational responses and post-rep coaching feedback. Transcripts are stored locally on your device.
• Persona & Situation Content: The descriptions, names, professional relationships, conversation goals, and scenario parameters you enter or dictate to customize your roleplay drill. This data is stored locally on your device.
• Coaching Metrics & Performance Data: Composure, assertiveness scores, pacing metrics, and coaching feedback generated from your practice sessions.
• Device & Diagnostic Information: Non-personally identifiable diagnostic data, crash logs, and app performance metrics to maintain stability and low-latency audio streaming.
• Subscription & Purchase Information: In-app purchases and subscriptions are processed directly through Apple's App Store and RevenueCat. We do not receive, store, or process your credit or debit card numbers.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information strictly for the following operational and feature purposes:

• To power real-time, bidirectional voice roleplay conversations with dynamic AI counterparts.
• To analyze roleplay transcripts and deliver tactical speech coaching scorecards ("What to say instead", assertiveness metrics, emotional composure feedback).
• To generate custom counterpart personas and scenario suggestions based on your situation descriptions.
• To maintain your practice history, streak tracking, and level progression locally on your device.
• To diagnose audio streaming latency, fix bugs, and provide technical support.

3. Third-Party AI Services & Subprocessors

To deliver low-latency voice interactions, organic conversational cadence, and intelligent feedback, TuffTalk transmits necessary data to vetted third-party service providers:

• Google Cloud / Google Gemini AI (Google LLC): Real-time audio streaming (Gemini Live API), voice speech comprehension, persona extraction, and post-call feedback evaluation.
• Firebase (Google LLC): Cloud Functions and diagnostic crash logging.
• Apple StoreKit & RevenueCat: Subscription management, in-app purchase verification, and receipt validation.
• Formspree: Customer support and inquiry processing.

Equal Protection Confirmation: We confirm that all third-party AI service providers we share personal data with—specifically Google LLC (Google Cloud / Google Gemini AI)—are contractually and legally bound to provide the same or equal protection of user personal data as set forth in this Privacy Policy. User voice audio, conversation transcripts, and personal scenario details are processed solely to facilitate active conversational roleplay and coaching, and are NOT used to train, retrain, or improve third-party foundation AI models.

4. In-App User Permission & AI Data Sharing (Guidelines 5.1.1(i) & 5.1.2(i))

In accordance with Apple App Store Guidelines, TuffTalk requires your explicit permission before transmitting any personal data or audio to third-party AI services:

• Pre-Transmission Disclosure: Before any voice data is streamed or processed by Google Gemini AI, the app presents a clear disclosure outlining what data is sent, who receives it, and how it is protected.
• Explicit Consent: You must affirmatively grant permission (by selecting "Agree & Allow AI Processing") before any roleplay session or AI parsing commences.
• Control & Revocation: You may revoke microphone permissions at any time via your iOS device settings (Settings > TuffTalk > Microphone), which immediately halts all voice audio streaming. You can also view and review your AI privacy disclosures at any time within the app under Account Settings.

5. Data Storage, Security & Retention

All communications between the TuffTalk app and cloud services are encrypted using industry-standard Transport Layer Security (TLS/HTTPS and secure WebSockets). Raw audio streams are ephemeral and processed in real time; they are discarded immediately upon conclusion of the conversation rep. Your practice transcripts, saved personas, and stats remain stored locally on your device.

6. Children's Privacy

TuffTalk is not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child, please contact us immediately.

7. Your Privacy Rights & Data Deletion

You have complete control over your data. You may delete all locally stored personas, scenarios, transcripts, and practice history at any time by clearing app data or uninstalling the application. To request deletion of any support inquiries or associated records, please contact us through our Support Portal.

8. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date.

9. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy or our AI data handling practices, please contact us at:

• Support Portal: https://tufftalk.app/support (or submit directly via our Formspree Support Form)
• Website: https://tufftalk.vercel.app
• Application: TuffTalk for iOS