Vefna privacy policy
Vefna is an Android app that helps you learn a language by reading books with words from that language woven into the text. This policy explains what information Vefna collects, how it's used, who it's shared with, and how to delete it.
Vefna is run by Vefna (ABN [to be added]), a business based in Victoria, Australia ("we" and "us" in this policy). If you have a question about this policy or your information, email vefna.app@gmail.com.
In short
- You need an account to use Vefna. Sign-in is handled by Clerk, and our own server never stores your email address or password.
- Your books, vocabulary and reading progress are stored on our server in Australia.
- To weave a page, the text of that page is sent to an AI service run by Google, Alibaba Cloud or OpenAI.
- We don't show ads, sell your information, or use analytics or tracking.
- You can delete your account and everything in it at any time, from the app or by email.
What we collect
Your account
When you create an account, you give an email address and a password, and you can choose a username. If you sign in with Google instead, Google shares your name and email address. Accounts are run by Clerk, the sign-in service Vefna uses. Clerk stores these details, and it also collects technical information such as your IP address and device details, as set out in Clerk's privacy policy.
Our own server receives only an account ID from Clerk. It doesn't store your name, email address or password.
Books you add
The book files you add (EPUB, PDF or plain text), the text taken from them, and the woven pages Vefna creates from that text. Your books are visible only to you. Vefna also offers a small library of public-domain books; when you add one, it's stored in your library like any other book.
Your learning
The words you've learned and how well you know each one, where you're up to in each book, and your settings, such as how many new words to introduce and which AI model to use.
How much you use the AI
For each page that's woven: the time, the AI model used, how much text was processed, and what it cost. We use this to apply the daily usage allowance and to limit how quickly requests can be made.
Reports you send
If you report a page from the reader, the report is sent from your own email app to our contact address. It includes the page's text, the reason you chose, and identifiers for the book and page, along with your email address and anything you add. We use it only to look into the problem.
Technical information
Everything the app sends to our server passes through Cloudflare, which protects the server from attacks and sees your IP address while doing so. Our server keeps operational logs, such as error reports and the size and outcome of file uploads, so we can keep the service working.
When the app opens, it checks Expo's update service for app updates. That check sends the app's version and platform, and a random identifier for your installation of the app. The identifier isn't derived from your account or from any hardware identifier on your device. As with any online service, Expo also sees your IP address; see Expo's privacy policy.
What we don't collect
Vefna doesn't ask for your location, contacts or photos. It doesn't use advertising identifiers, analytics or tracking tools.
How we use it
- To run your account and sign you in.
- To store your books and progress and make them available to you.
- To create woven pages using an AI service (see How AI is used).
- To apply usage limits and keep the service secure.
- To respond when you contact us.
We don't use your information for advertising, and we don't send marketing emails. Clerk sends the emails you need to use your account, such as sign-up and password-reset codes.
How AI is used
When you open a page that hasn't been woven yet, Vefna sends that page's text to an AI service, along with the list of words you already know and instructions for the weaving. The service sends back the woven version. Your name, email address and other account details are not sent.
Which service is used depends on the AI model chosen in Settings. What each provider does with the text is set out in its own terms, which we've linked so you can check:
- Google's Gemini API (Gemini and Gemma models). We use the paid service. Under the Gemini API Additional Terms, Google doesn't use prompts and responses from paid services to improve its products. It logs them for a limited period, solely to detect and prevent misuse, and may store them transiently or cache them in any country where Google or its agents have facilities.
- Alibaba Cloud Model Studio (Qwen models), in Alibaba Cloud's Singapore region. Under its data retention policy, Alibaba Cloud doesn't use inputs and outputs to train, fine-tune or improve its models, and by default keeps prompts and responses from model calls for no longer than 30 days. Content flagged by its safety filtering may be kept longer.
- OpenAI's API (GPT models). Under OpenAI's data controls, data sent to the API isn't used to train OpenAI's models unless an organisation chooses to opt in, and we haven't. OpenAI may keep API inputs and outputs for up to 30 days to monitor for abuse, or longer if the law requires it. Cached prompt data expires within 24 hours.
We don't use your books or your information to train AI models. These providers can change their terms. If one does in a way that affects this policy, we'll update this page.
Who we share it with
We share information only with the service providers that run Vefna, and only what each one needs:
- Clerk (United States and other countries): sign-in and accounts. Privacy policy
- Microsoft Azure (Australia): the server that stores your library, and its backups. Privacy statement
- Cloudflare (worldwide network): security and delivery for our server and this website. Privacy policy
- Google, Alibaba Cloud and OpenAI: weaving pages with AI. Their terms are linked under How AI is used.
- Expo (United States): app updates. Privacy policy
We'll also disclose information if the law requires it. We don't sell your information to anyone.
Information sent overseas
Some of these providers store or process information outside Australia, including in the United States and Singapore, and Google and Cloudflare may process it in other countries where they operate. Privacy laws in those countries may differ from Australia's. By using Vefna, you agree to your information being handled this way.
How we protect it
- All connections between the app and our server are encrypted (HTTPS).
- Backups are kept in private storage that isn't publicly accessible.
- We never see or store your password; Clerk handles it.
No system is completely secure. If a security breach affects your information, we'll tell you.
Keeping and deleting your information
We keep your information for as long as you have an account. To delete it, open Settings in the app and tap Delete account. Without the app, email vefna.app@gmail.com from the email address you sign in with and ask us to delete your account; we'll do it within 30 days. There's more detail on the account deletion page.
When you delete your account:
- Your books, woven pages, vocabulary, progress, settings and usage records are deleted from our server straight away.
- Your Clerk account is deleted.
- Copies remain in our server backups for up to 14 days, after which those backups are deleted.
- Text already sent to an AI service is kept by that provider only as described in How AI is used.
You can also delete a single book, or words you know, in the app without deleting your account. That removes them from our server the same way. See the account deletion page.
Getting a copy or correcting it
You can change most of your information yourself in the app: rename or delete books, change your settings, and edit the words you know.
You can also ask for a copy of the information we hold about you, or ask us to correct it, by emailing vefna.app@gmail.com. We'll reply within 30 days, and there's no charge. To protect your account, we may ask you to write from the email address you sign in with.
Complaints
If you're unhappy with how we've handled your information, email us first and we'll respond within 30 days. If you're not satisfied with our response, you can complain to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at oaic.gov.au.
This website
This website doesn't use cookies, analytics or tracking, and it doesn't load anything from other websites. Cloudflare hosts it and may record basic information about requests, such as IP addresses, to keep it secure.
Changes to this policy
If we change this policy, we'll update this page and the date at the top. If a change significantly affects how your information is used, we'll let you know before it takes effect.
Contact
Vefna (ABN [to be added]), Victoria, Australia
vefna.app@gmail.com