Privacy, in plain English.

Who we are

Read & Explain is provided by Coffee & Fun LLC. This notice covers the Read & Explain iPhone and iPad app and readandexplain.com.

For questions or a privacy request, contact us through support. Apple, OpenAI, Microsoft, and the providers delivering our infrastructure also process information as described below and under their applicable terms.

Your reading library

The app saves readings, extracted text, explanations, and their source photos in its local storage on your device. Reading preferences are also stored locally. We do not provide cloud library storage or automatic syncing between your devices.

Local files use Apple’s device file protection. Your device backup settings may include app data in backups. Copies you export, share, or back up are outside the app’s local library.

Deleting a reading removes it and its saved photo from the local library. It does not remove the original from Apple Photos, device backups, or copies shared elsewhere.

Photos & AI processing

When you select a photo, it remains in the app until you choose to process it. Tapping the action for Read it or Explain it sends the selected image to our API, hosted on Amazon Web Services, and then to OpenAI to extract text or produce an explanation.

Our API processes the request and returns the result. It does not write your photos or reading results to an application database or S3 storage. We have a signed zero-data-retention agreement with OpenAI covering this AI processing. Its terms govern retention of the content sent for these requests.

OpenAI states that API inputs and outputs are not used for model training by default, unless the API customer opts in. Its data controls describe the scope and exceptions for Zero Data Retention, including safety review of certain image inputs. Read OpenAI’s current API data controls for details.

Only send content you are comfortable sharing with the processing service and have permission to use. AI can misread text or produce an inaccurate explanation; check important details against the photo.

Listening & Immersive Reader

The app’s Listen feature uses Apple’s built-in speech synthesis. Read & Explain does not send that reading to our AI API to play it aloud. Voice availability and downloads depend on your Apple device and language settings.

Microsoft Immersive Reader is optional. Opening it shares the selected reading and its title with Microsoft so that service can display and process the text. It requires an internet connection. The app opens it in a nonpersistent web view.

We have a signed zero-data-retention agreement with Microsoft for Immersive Reader. Microsoft also states that Immersive Reader does not store customer data. See Microsoft’s Immersive Reader privacy information and the Microsoft Privacy Statement.

Apple subscriptions

Apple handles your purchase, payment method, renewals, and cancellations. We do not receive your full payment-card details.

The app sends signed subscription transaction information to our API. We verify it with Apple to check the product, app, environment, expiration, and entitlement, then issue a temporary access token. This processing includes transaction identifiers and subscription status so paid features can be provided.

See Apple’s privacy information for the information Apple processes. Subscription controls are available through your Apple Account.

Usage limits & service protection

We keep short-lived request counts to apply the daily membership allowance and protect the service from misuse. These counters use a keyed, scrambled version of a subscription identifier or IP address. They do not contain your photos, reading results, raw transaction identifier, or raw IP address.

Counters are stored with AWS and scheduled for automatic deletion one day after their counting window ends. Automatic cleanup may take additional time. A new daily allowance starts at midnight UTC regardless of when cleanup finishes. These records are used for service delivery and protection, not advertising.

Website, support & diagnostics

This website does not use advertising pixels, analytics services, cookie-based tracking, or embedded third-party media. Its fonts and images are served with the site. The interactive reading sample uses fixed example text, makes no AI request, and does not save your choices.

Servers delivering the site and API necessarily process technical information such as IP addresses, request timing, and browser or device information. Infrastructure providers may maintain operational and security logs under their own retention settings.

Our application API logs a generated request identifier, the route name, response status, and result code to troubleshoot failures. Its logging code does not log photo contents, request bodies, or authorization headers.

If you email support, we receive your email address and anything you include. We use that information to respond, troubleshoot, and follow up on your request. Please avoid sending private photos, passwords, or payment information unless there is a specific, agreed need.

Use, sharing & retention

We process information to provide the features you request, verify membership, answer support questions, maintain reliability, and protect the service. We do not sell your photos or readings, use them for targeted advertising, or build an advertising profile from them.

Information is shared with the providers needed for those purposes: AWS for the API, OpenAI for AI processing, Microsoft when you open Immersive Reader, Apple for subscriptions, and the hosting and email services used to deliver the website and support. We may also disclose information if required by law or to protect the service and people using it.

Our zero-data-retention agreements cover OpenAI processing and Microsoft Immersive Reader. They do not change how your local library, device backups, subscription records, or support and diagnostic records are stored.

The local library remains until you remove it or the app’s data. Support correspondence and diagnostic records are kept as needed to resolve issues, protect the service, and meet applicable obligations. Infrastructure logs and backups follow the relevant provider and account retention settings.

Providers may process information in the United States and other countries. Their applicable contractual and privacy protections govern those transfers.

Your choices & requests

You choose which photo to process and whether to open Immersive Reader. You can change camera and photo permissions in Apple Settings, delete saved readings, and manage your subscription through Apple. Canceling membership does not automatically delete saved readings.

You can ask us about information we hold, request access or correction, or request deletion of information you sent to us. Depending on where you live, you may also have rights to obtain a copy, restrict or object to processing, withdraw consent where processing relies on it, or raise a complaint with your privacy regulator. We may need to verify your request before acting on it. We cannot remotely access or delete your local reading library.

Parents, guardians, and educators should avoid including a child’s identifying information in a photo. If you believe a child’s personal information was sent to us and needs attention, please contact us.

Changes to this notice

As Read & Explain develops, we may update this notice to reflect changes in features or data handling. The date at the top identifies the latest revision. Material changes will be communicated as required by applicable law.

For technical protections and reporting a vulnerability, visit our security page.