Flow Chat ("Flow Chat", "we", "us", or "our") helps people have real-time, translated conversations. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and the choices you have. By using Flow Chat, you agree to the practices described here.
Contents
1. Information we collect
We collect the following categories of information:
Account information
- Email address, when you sign in with a passwordless email link.
- Basic profile information (name, email address, profile photo) when you sign in with Google Sign-In.
- A unique account identifier, even if you use the app anonymously without creating an account.
- A display name and, optionally, a profile photo you choose to upload.
Conversation & session content
- Audio you record while using live translation, transcribed speech, and translated text.
- Chat messages, session metadata (participants, languages selected, session start/end times).
Device & usage information
- Approximate usage minutes, subscription/free-tier status, and app diagnostics needed to run the app (e.g. crash logs, performance data) via Firebase.
- Device identifiers used for app security (Firebase App Check) and ad delivery/measurement (see Advertising & analytics).
Permissions you may grant
| Permission | Why we ask |
|---|---|
| Microphone | To capture your voice for live speech-to-text and translation. |
| Speech recognition | To convert your speech into text using Apple's, Google's, or OpenAI's speech-to-text services (see Voice, speech & translation data). |
| Camera | To scan QR codes so you can quickly join a session. We do not store camera images. |
| Photo library | To let you choose a picture to use as your profile photo. |
| Contacts | To let you pick people to invite to a session. Contacts stay on your device — we only send the invite you choose to send and do not upload your address book. |
All of these permissions are optional except microphone access, which is required for live translation. You can change any permission at any time in your device's Settings app.
2. How we use your information
- Provide, operate, and maintain the translation and chat features of the app.
- Create and secure your account, and sync your sessions and preferences across devices.
- Track free-tier usage minutes and manage your Pro subscription entitlement.
- Send you account-related emails (e.g. sign-in links) and respond to support requests.
- Detect, prevent, and address fraud, abuse, and technical issues.
- Show ads to free-tier users and measure their effectiveness (only with your consent, where required by law).
- Improve the app's reliability, features, and translation quality.
We do not sell your personal information, and we do not use your conversation content to train third-party advertising profiles.
3. Voice, speech & translation data
Flow Chat supports several translation and speech engines, and the way your voice and text are processed depends on the mode you select in Settings:
- On-device translation (default): Text translation is performed on-device using Google ML Kit. Translated text does not leave your device for this mode.
- Apple Speech: Speech-to-text may be processed on-device or by Apple's servers, subject to Apple's own privacy practices.
- Google Gemini (via Firebase AI Logic): When enabled, audio or text is sent securely to Google's Gemini API to produce a transcription and/or translation.
- OpenAI speech services: When enabled, audio is sent securely to OpenAI's API to produce a transcription.
- Live session streaming: During a live multi-person session, audio is streamed over an encrypted connection to our translation backend (hosted on Google Cloud Run) solely to generate real-time transcriptions and translations for session participants.
Audio and transcripts processed through these engines are used only to generate the transcription/translation response and are not retained by us for other purposes beyond the operational logs described in Data retention. Our third-party speech and translation providers process this data under their own privacy terms and, where applicable, under our data processing agreements with them, and do not use it to train models for their own general-purpose products.
4. Who we share information with
We share information only as necessary to operate the app, and never for third-party marketing purposes:
- Firebase (Google): Authentication, Firestore database, Cloud Storage, Cloud Functions, App Check, and Analytics/Crashlytics-style diagnostics.
- Google ML Kit, Google Gemini API, and Apple Speech: To provide on-device or cloud-based translation and speech recognition, as described above.
- OpenAI: To provide speech-to-text transcription when that engine is selected.
- Google AdMob & Google User Messaging Platform: To display ads to free-tier users and manage your advertising consent choices.
- Apple: To securely process Pro subscription payments through In-App Purchase. We do not receive or store your payment card details.
- Google Cloud Run: To host the real-time translation backend used during live sessions.
We may also disclose information if required by law, to protect the rights and safety of Flow Chat, our users, or others, or in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets (with notice to you as required by law).
5. Advertising & analytics
Free-tier use of Flow Chat is partly supported by ads served through Google AdMob. Flow Chat does not request Apple's App Tracking Transparency permission or access the advertising identifier for cross-app tracking. Ads may still use contextual signals and non-tracking measurement needed to serve and improve free-tier features.
6. Subscriptions & payments
Flow Chat Pro is a paid subscription processed through Apple's In-App Purchase system. We store your subscription status and expiration date, synced from Apple, to unlock Pro features, but payment card details are handled directly by Apple and are not stored on our servers.
7. Data retention
- Account data is retained while your account is active and is deleted, along with your profile and session history, when you delete your account in Settings.
- Live session audio streamed for real-time translation is processed transiently and is not stored after the session ends.
- Chat/session text and translation history are retained until you delete a session or your account.
- Diagnostic and usage logs are retained only as long as necessary for security, debugging, and fraud prevention, and are periodically purged.
8. Security
We use industry-standard safeguards to protect your information, including encryption in transit (TLS) for network requests, Firebase Authentication and security rules to restrict access to your data, and Firebase App Check to help prevent abuse of our backend services. No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.
9. Your rights & choices
Depending on where you live, you may have the right to:
- Access, correct, or delete the personal information we hold about you.
- Request a copy of your data in a portable format.
- Withdraw consent for optional features (microphone, contacts, camera, photo library) at any time via your device Settings.
- Delete your account and associated data directly from the app's Settings screen.
- Object to or restrict certain processing, where applicable law provides this right.
To exercise any of these rights, contact us using the details in Contact us.
10. Children's privacy
Flow Chat is not directed to children under 13 (or the minimum age required by your country), and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it.
11. International data transfers
We and our service providers (including Google and OpenAI) may process and store information in the United States and other countries where they operate infrastructure. Where required, we rely on appropriate safeguards, such as standard contractual clauses, for these transfers.
12. Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will update the "Effective date" above and, where appropriate, notify you in the app. Continued use of Flow Chat after an update means you accept the revised policy.
13. Contact us
If you have questions or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal information, contact us at team@software4you.dev.