Privacy Policy

HelloClass provides real-time transcription and translation of classroom instruction. We believe in minimal data collection and maximum privacy—especially for students.

1. Student Privacy & COPPA

HelloClass is designed from the ground up to protect children's privacy. We comply with COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act) and support FERPA compliance for schools.

• No student accounts: Students simply select a language and join with a room code. No registration required.
• Anonymous participation: Students appear only as "Student (Spanish)", "Student (French)", etc. No personal identifiers are displayed or stored.
• Ephemeral sessions: All session data is deleted immediately when a classroom closes. No transcripts, history, or tracking across sessions.
• No commercial use: We never sell student data or use it for advertising.

FERPA Compliance

HelloClass does not create or store education records. Session content is ephemeral—when a room closes, everything is cleared. Schools requiring a Data Processing Agreement may contact us.

2. Information We Collect

From Teachers

• Account credentials (email/password) for authentication
• Display name chosen for classroom sessions
• Classroom content (messages/speech) for real-time translation

From Students

• Language preference only—nothing else

Automatically Collected

• IP addresses and basic technical info for security and diagnostics
• Session cookies for teacher login (no tracking cookies)

Audio & Speech Recognition

When teachers use speech-to-text, audio is processed in your browser using your browser's speech recognition (e.g., Chrome's Web Speech API). We never store audio recordings on our servers. Only the recognized text is transmitted for translation.

3. How We Share Data

We do not sell your data. We share data only to provide the service:

• Translation providers: Text is sent to services like Google Translate or Microsoft Azure for translation, governed by their privacy policies.
• Hosting providers: Our servers run on trusted cloud providers (e.g., Render) who may have access to server logs.
• Within sessions: All participants see the teacher's messages and translations. Teachers see only student language preferences (e.g., "Student (Spanish)").

We may disclose information if required by law or to protect safety.

4. Data Storage & Retention

• No transcript storage: Session content exists only in memory during active sessions.
• Automatic deletion: When a room closes or becomes inactive (~10 minutes), all messages and participant data are immediately cleared.
• Server logs: Technical logs (IP addresses, timestamps, errors) may be retained up to 30 days for debugging.
• Teacher accounts: Account data is retained until you delete your account or it becomes inactive.

5. Security

• Encryption: All data transmitted over encrypted connections (HTTPS/WSS).
• Access controls: Rooms require valid codes; teacher accounts are password-protected.
• Minimal data: By design, we store as little as possible to reduce risk.
• No audio storage: Audio is processed in your browser, never on our servers.

No service can guarantee complete security. Avoid sharing highly sensitive information during sessions.

6. Your Rights & Choices

• Students: Can leave sessions anytime. No account or personal info required.
• Teachers: Can manage account settings, close rooms, and request account deletion.
• Cookies: Manage via browser settings. Disabling may affect teacher login but not student participation.
• Regional rights: Depending on your location, you may have additional rights under GDPR, CCPA, or other laws. Contact us to exercise these.

7. Tips for Teachers

• Avoid sensitive info: Don't share addresses, phone numbers, or health information during sessions.
• Protect room codes: Share only with intended participants.
• Close sessions: Explicitly close rooms when finished to immediately clear all data.

8. Policy Updates & Contact

We may update this policy periodically. Material changes will be reflected in the "Last Updated" date. Continued use constitutes acceptance.

Questions? Email us at contact@helloclass.tech