Privacy Policy
Last updated: December 15, 2025
Introduction
Ikhou ("we", "us", "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our language learning platform, browser extension, and related services (collectively, the "Service"). By using the Service, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.
Information We Collect
Information You Provide
• Account Information: Email address, username, and password when you create an account • Profile Information: Language preferences, learning goals, and study settings • Learning Content: Vocabulary lookups, flashcards, custom tutors, uploaded materials (PDFs, textbooks, URLs) • Study Data: Quiz responses, SRS review answers, and performance metrics • Payment Information: Billing details processed securely through our payment provider (Stripe) • Communications: Messages you send to our support team
Information Collected Automatically
• Usage Data: Features used, pages visited, buttons clicked, time spent studying • Device Information: Browser type, operating system, device identifiers • Log Data: IP address, access times, referring URLs • Extension Data: Websites where you use the lookup feature (domain only, not full URLs), words looked up, sentence context captured
Cookies and Similar Technologies
We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to maintain your session, remember your preferences, and analyze usage patterns. You can control cookies through your browser settings.
How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to: 1. Provide the Service: Deliver vocabulary lookups, SRS scheduling, AI tutoring, and quiz generation 2. Personalize Learning: Adapt content, difficulty, and recommendations to your progress 3. Improve the Service: Analyze usage patterns, fix bugs, and develop new features 4. Train AI Models: Improve our AI tutoring and mnemonic generation capabilities (see AI Training section below) 5. Communicate: Send service updates, respond to inquiries, and provide support 6. Process Payments: Handle subscriptions and billing 7. Ensure Security: Detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and security threats 8. Comply with Law: Meet legal obligations and respond to lawful requests
AI Training and Anonymization
How We Use Data for AI Training
To improve our AI tutoring, mnemonic generation, and quiz capabilities, we may use anonymized user interactions to train and refine our AI models.
What "Anonymized" Means
Before any data is used for AI training purposes, we apply the following anonymization processes: • Removal of Identifiers: Account IDs, usernames, email addresses, and all other personally identifiable information are stripped from the data • Content Generalization: Specific names, locations, or personal details that may appear in user-generated content are removed or replaced with generic placeholders • Aggregation: Where possible, data is aggregated across many users rather than used individually • Temporal Delay: Training data is collected only after a waiting period, further separating it from individual sessions
What Data May Be Used
• Quiz question/answer patterns (e.g., "User answered 'run' for the vocabulary prompt 'correr'") • Types of learning difficulties and how they were resolved • Mnemonic effectiveness patterns • Common error patterns and corrections • General usage patterns and learning behaviors
What Data Is Never Used
• Email addresses or account credentials • Payment or billing information • Content from uploaded personal documents (your textbooks and materials remain private) • Full URLs of websites you visit • Any data from users who opt out
Opting Out
You may opt out of having your anonymized data used for AI training at any time by: 1. Navigating to Settings > Privacy in your account 2. Disabling "Contribute to AI Improvement" Opting out will not affect your access to the Service or its features.
Data Sharing and Disclosure
Service Providers
We share data with third-party providers who assist in operating the Service: • Cloud Infrastructure: Hosting and database services • Payment Processing: Stripe for subscription billing • AI Services: Language model providers for tutoring features (data is processed per their terms and does not include your identity) • Analytics: Usage analytics to improve the Service
Legal Requirements
We may disclose information if required by law, legal process, or government request, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of Ikhou, our users, or others.
Business Transfers
In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, user information may be transferred. We will notify you of any such change.
Data Retention
• Active Accounts: We retain your data for as long as your account is active • Deleted Accounts: Upon account deletion, we remove your personal data within 30 days, except where retention is required by law • Anonymized Data: Anonymized data used for AI training is retained indefinitely as it cannot be linked back to you • Backups: Backup copies may persist for up to 90 days after deletion
Data Security
We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your information, including: • Encryption of data in transit (TLS) and at rest • Secure authentication and access controls • Regular security assessments • Employee training on data protection However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.
Your Rights
Depending on your location, you may have the following rights: • Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you • Correction: Request correction of inaccurate data • Deletion: Request deletion of your personal data • Portability: Request your data in a machine-readable format • Opt-Out: Opt out of AI training data contribution • Withdrawal of Consent: Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent To exercise these rights, contact us at contact@ikhou.com or use the relevant settings in your account.
Children's Privacy
The Service is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately.
International Data Transfers
Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have different data protection laws. We take appropriate safeguards to ensure your information remains protected.
Browser Extension Privacy
Our browser extension collects: • Lookup Data: Words you look up and their sentence context (stored locally and synced to your account) • Domain Information: The domain (not full URL) where lookups occur, for context in reviews • Offline Storage: Dictionary data stored locally for offline functionality The extension does not: • Track your general browsing activity • Collect data from pages where you don't use the lookup feature • Access passwords, form data, or other sensitive browser information • Inject advertisements or tracking scripts
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by: • Posting the updated policy on our website • Updating the "Last Updated" date • Sending an email notification for significant changes Your continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us: Email: contact@ikhou.com Document Version: 1.0