Dogear
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Privacy Policy

Effective date: July 12, 2026 · Last updated: July 12, 2026

This Privacy Policy explains how Dogear App (“Dogear,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, stores, shares, and protects information when you use the Dogear website at thedogearapp.com, our installable web app (PWA), and our iOS and Android mobile apps (collectively, the “Service”).

This page is maintained by Dogear App to answer common privacy questions about Dogear. It is not an independent certification. By using the Service, you agree to the practices described here.

1. Who we are (data controller)

The data controller for personal information processed through Dogear is Dogear App. You can reach us at support@thedogearapp.com for any privacy question, data access request, or deletion request.

2. Information we collect

We try to collect as little as possible. The categories below cover everything we handle.

2.1 Information you give us

  • Account information: email address, and — if you sign in with Google — your name and profile picture as returned by Google. A password (hashed) if you sign up with email.
  • Profile: optional display name, reader identity, daily reading anchor, daily goal, and yearly reading challenge target.
  • Reading content: books you add, reading progress and sessions, quotes and “dogears,” saved vocabulary words, memory stamps / private reflections, ratings, and favorites.
  • Imports: data you choose to import from Goodreads CSV exports or Kindle My Clippings.txt files. These are processed only to create entries in your library.
  • Images you scan: photos of book covers or pages that you submit to the AI scanner. Images are sent to our AI provider for text extraction and are not retained after processing.
  • Support communications: anything you send us by email or in-app feedback forms.

2.2 Information collected automatically

  • Device & log data: IP address, browser or OS version, device type, crash logs, and timestamps. Used to keep the Service running and secure.
  • Google Analytics (web only): on our public website (landing page and blog) we use Google Analytics 4 to understand aggregate traffic. GA4 uses cookies and may process a truncated IP address, device information, and pages viewed. Analytics is not loaded inside the authenticated app, the iOS app, or the Android app.
  • Essential storage: we use localStorage and similar mechanisms to keep you signed in and remember UI preferences (e.g., theme). These are not used for advertising.

2.3 Information we do not collect

  • We do not sell or rent personal information.
  • We do not use advertising SDKs, ad identifiers (IDFA / AAID), or cross-app tracking.
  • We do not access your contacts, calendar, SMS, call logs, microphone, precise location, or photo library beyond images you explicitly pick or capture for the scanner.

3. How we use your information

We use the information above only to:

  • Create and secure your account and authenticate sign-in.
  • Provide core features: library, reading progress, streaks, dogears, memory stamps, vocabulary, and imports.
  • Run the AI book-cover / page scanner and enforce fair-use scan quotas.
  • Respond to your support messages and process privacy requests.
  • Detect abuse, prevent fraud, and comply with legal obligations.
  • Measure aggregate website traffic on public pages (Google Analytics only).

We do not use your reading content, quotes, or reflections to train third-party AI models.

4. Legal bases (GDPR / UK GDPR)

  • Contract: to provide the Service you signed up for.
  • Legitimate interests: to secure the Service, prevent abuse, and understand aggregate web traffic.
  • Consent: where required (e.g., analytics cookies in regions that require prior consent). You may withdraw consent at any time.
  • Legal obligation: to respond to lawful requests.

5. Sharing and third-party processors

We share personal information only with service providers who help us run Dogear, under contractual confidentiality and data protection obligations:

  • Backend & authentication: our managed backend provider hosts the database, storage, and authentication (including “Sign in with Google”). Data is stored on servers in the region configured for the project.
  • AI text extraction: images submitted to the scanner are sent to our AI gateway provider solely to extract book titles, authors, and quotes. Images are not retained by the provider for training.
  • Google (Sign in with Google): if you choose this method, Google processes authentication and shares your basic profile with us. See Google's Privacy Policy.
  • Google Analytics 4 (public web only): see Google's Privacy Policy and GA opt-out.
  • App stores: Apple and Google process installation, in-app purchase (if enabled), and crash data under their own policies.

We do not sell personal information to any third party.

6. International data transfers

Our providers may process data in countries other than yours, including the United States and the European Union. Where required, transfers rely on Standard Contractual Clauses or equivalent safeguards.

7. Data retention

  • Account and reading data is kept for as long as your account is active.
  • Scanner images are processed in-memory and not persisted after text extraction.
  • Server and security logs are retained for a limited period (typically up to 90 days) for troubleshooting and abuse prevention.
  • When you delete your account, we delete your personal information within 30 days, except where we must retain limited records to comply with legal obligations or resolve disputes.

8. Your rights

Depending on where you live (including under GDPR, UK GDPR, and the California Consumer Privacy Act), you have the right to:

  • Access the personal information we hold about you.
  • Correct inaccurate information.
  • Delete your account and associated data.
  • Export your data in a portable format.
  • Object to or restrict certain processing.
  • Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.
  • Lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

To exercise any of these rights, email support@thedogearapp.com. You can also delete your account at any time from the Settings screen in the app.

9. Account deletion

You can request account and data deletion in two ways:

  1. Open the Dogear app → Settings → Delete account.
  2. Or email support@thedogearapp.com from the address associated with your account.

A public web version of this deletion instruction is available at thedogearapp.com/privacy#account-deletion (this page).

10. Children's privacy

Dogear is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact support@thedogearapp.com and we will delete it.

11. Security

We use industry-standard measures to protect your information, including encryption in transit (TLS/HTTPS), encryption at rest on our backend provider, row-level security policies so that each user can only access their own data, and short-lived authentication tokens. No system is perfectly secure — please use a unique password and keep your device up to date.

12. Mobile app permissions

The Dogear iOS and Android apps request permissions only when needed for a feature you triggered:

  • Camera: to capture a book cover or page for the AI scanner.
  • Photo library: to pick an existing photo for the scanner.
  • Microphone (optional): to dictate notes and quotes using on-device speech-to-text.
  • Notifications (optional): to remind you of your reading anchor.
  • Internet: required to sync with your account.

You can revoke any permission at any time in your device settings.

13. Google Play Data Safety & Apple Privacy Nutrition Labels

The categories we declare to Apple and Google are consistent with this policy. In summary:

  • Data linked to you: email, name, user-generated content (books, quotes, reflections), app activity.
  • Data not linked to you: aggregate diagnostics and, on the public website only, analytics.
  • Data used for tracking: none. We do not track you across other companies' apps or websites.
  • Data sold or shared for advertising: none.

14. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will update the “Last updated” date above and, where appropriate, notify you in the app or by email. Continued use of the Service after changes take effect means you accept the updated policy.

15. Contact us

Questions, requests, or complaints? Email support@thedogearapp.com. We respond to verified privacy requests within 30 days.