Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

We collect the following types of information:

• Account information: Email address, name, and password (hashed) when you register
• Profile data: Nationality, city, identity type, arrival date, allergies, and personal info you choose to provide
• Usage data: Pages visited, features used, session duration, and device information (screen size, language, browser)
• Content: Messages sent to China Buddy, photos uploaded to Smart Camera, voice recordings for translation, and community posts
• Location: GPS coordinates only when you explicitly grant permission for nearby recommendations

2. How We Use Your Information

• Provide and improve the Service (AI responses, translations, recommendations)
• Personalize your experience (language preference, saved cards, chat history)
• Send verification emails for account registration and password reset
• Monitor performance and fix technical issues
• Prevent abuse and enforce our Terms of Service

3. Third-Party Services

To deliver our features, we work with trusted third-party service providers in the following categories:

• AI language processing: Your messages and text are processed by AI service providers to generate responses and translations
• Speech services: Voice recordings are processed by speech recognition and synthesis providers to enable voice features
• Email delivery: Your email address is shared with our email service provider to send verification codes and notifications
• Image services: Search queries are sent to image providers to display relevant visual content

These providers act as data processors on our behalf and are contractually obligated to protect your data. We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal data to any third party.

4. Data Storage and Transfer

Your data is stored on secure cloud servers in the Asia-Pacific region. Account data, community posts, and usage analytics are stored in encrypted databases. Voice recordings and photos are processed in real-time and are not permanently stored on our servers after processing.

If you access the Service from outside the Asia-Pacific region, your data may be transferred across international borders. By using the Service, you consent to such transfers. We take appropriate measures to ensure your data is protected in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

5. Data Retention

We retain your account data for as long as your account remains active. Chat history and camera scan results are stored locally on your device and are not synced to our servers. If you wish to delete your account and all associated data, contact us at support@smooth-cn.com, and we will process your request within 30 days.

6. Your Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Access: View your personal data in the Profile section of the app
• Correction: Edit your profile information at any time
• Deletion: Request deletion of your account and personal data
• Portability: Request a machine-readable copy of your personal data
• Objection: Object to certain processing of your data
• Withdrawal of consent: Withdraw consent for optional data processing at any time

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at support@smooth-cn.com.

7. Cookies and Local Storage

We use browser local storage to save your preferences, authentication session, and app settings. We do not use third-party advertising or tracking cookies. Usage analytics are collected through our own first-party system to improve the Service.

8. Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your data, including encrypted data transmission (HTTPS/TLS), hashed password storage, and access controls. However, no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. Children's Privacy

SmoothCN is not directed at children under 13 years of age (or the applicable age of consent in your jurisdiction). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or applicable laws. We will notify you of material changes through the app or via email. Your continued use of the Service after such notification constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact

For privacy-related inquiries or to exercise your data rights, contact us at support@smooth-cn.com.