Privacy policy

Effective date: 2 October 2026
Previous version effective 23 October 2025, last updated 16 April 2026

1. Introduction

Welcome to Chatlator, a messaging app that translates your conversations with the people you already know, so you can learn their language as you chat.

This privacy policy explains what personal information we collect when you use the Chatlator app or this website, how we use it, who we share it with and the choices you have.

Chatlator is provided by Chatlator Ltd, registered in England and Wales, company number 15645429, registered office 20 Wenlock Road, London N1 7GU. Chatlator Ltd is the controller of your personal information. You can contact us at support@chatlator.com.

2. Information we collect

We collect the information we need to run the app:

• Account details: your email address and password if you sign up with email (your password is stored by our sign-in provider in a protected form and is never visible to us), or the account identifiers and email address that Apple or Google share with us if you sign in with them.
• Profile information: your display name, an optional profile photo (if you sign in with Google, this may be your Google profile photo), your base language, the language you are learning and your app settings.
• Learning preferences: your level, who you are learning for (for example a partner or family) and, if you choose to tell us, how you heard about Chatlator.
• Messages and media: the text messages, photos and videos you send and receive, their translations, reactions, read receipts and typing indicators.
• Chati conversations: the messages you exchange with Chati, our AI tutor.
• Progress and activity: quiz answers and results, streaks, challenges and game scores, and the words you have practised.
• Invites: your referral code, and any invite or promo code you redeem. The first time you open the app, it checks your clipboard once for a six-character invite code, so an invite link you tapped before installing still works. Nothing else from your clipboard is kept or sent to us.
• Device and technical information: your push notification token, app version, device platform (iOS or Android), time zone, when you were last active, and crash reports with device and app details.
• Email information: delivery events for emails we send you, for example whether an email was delivered or bounced.
• Support communications: anything you send us when you contact us for help or feedback, and any reports you make about other users.

3. How we use your information

We use your information to:

• Run the chat, translation, Chati, quiz, challenge and game features
• Send you notifications about new messages and activity in the app
• Send you account emails, such as email verification
• Keep the app reliable, fix crashes and improve performance and security
• Review reports and keep Chatlator safe
• Provide customer support
• Tell you about updates and changes to this policy

We may also send you occasional emails about Chatlator. Every one of these includes a link to unsubscribe.

We never sell or rent your data to anyone.

We process your information to provide the service you have asked for (performance of our contract with you), for our legitimate interests in keeping Chatlator safe, secure and working well, to comply with legal obligations, and where required, with your consent.

4. Data storage and security

• Chatlator is built on Google Firebase. Your account, profile, messages and progress are stored in Google Cloud Firestore in London, United Kingdom (europe-west2).
• Photos and videos are stored in Google Cloud Storage in the United States (us-central1), and our server functions run in the United States (us-central1).
• Data sent between the app and our servers is encrypted in transit.
• Passwords are handled by Firebase Authentication and are never visible to us.
• Access to personal information is limited to the people who need it for maintenance, support and safety.

Some of our service providers process data outside the UK, including in the United States. Where they do, we rely on appropriate safeguards for international transfers under UK data protection law.

5. Third-party services

We use trusted providers strictly to run Chatlator:

We share only what each provider needs to do its job.

Payments: Chatlator does not currently sell in-app purchases or subscriptions. Premium access is given through invite and promo codes, and we never receive your payment card details.

Text-to-speech in the app uses your device's built-in speech engine.

This website does not use cookies or analytics.

6. Safety, reporting and content control

Chatlator includes tools that let you report or block other users if they send inappropriate, offensive or harmful content. You can find out how on our support page.

When content is reported to us through the app or by emailing support@chatlator.com, we will:

• Review the report
• Take action within 24 hours
• Remove any content that breaks our rules
• Block, suspend or permanently remove the user responsible
• Take steps to prevent repeat abuse

When you block someone, your chat with them is removed from your chats list. You can unblock them at any time in settings.

Content that breaks our rules is deleted unless we need to keep it for fraud, abuse or security investigations or because the law requires it. In that case we keep it for a maximum of 30 days.

Chatlator does not allow harassment, hate speech, bullying, illegal activity, impersonation, explicit content or any other harmful behaviour.

7. Your rights

Under UK data protection law you have the right to:

• Ask for a copy of your personal information
• Ask us to correct information that is wrong
• Ask us to delete your information
• Object to or ask us to restrict how we use your information
• Ask for your information in a portable format
• Withdraw your consent, where we rely on it

To use any of these rights, email support@chatlator.com. You can delete your account at any time in the app (see section 11).

If you are unhappy with how we handle your information, you can complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk.

8. Children's privacy

Chatlator is for people aged 16 or older. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 16. If you believe a child under 16 is using Chatlator, please contact us and we will delete their account.

9. Contact us

For any privacy questions or requests, contact Chatlator Ltd at support@chatlator.com.

10. Updates

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. We will post updates in the app and on this page, with the effective date shown at the top.

11. Account deletion

You can delete your account at any time in the app: open your chats list, tap the settings icon, scroll to the bottom and tap Delete Account. If you can't use the app, email support@chatlator.com with the subject line Delete My Account from the email address linked to your account.

When your account is deleted:

• Your account, profile, profile photo, settings and progress are permanently deleted.
• Your conversation with Chati, including any photos in it, is permanently deleted.
• Your referral code and push notification token are deleted.
• Messages, photos and videos you sent in chats with other people stay in those chats, so their history is intact, and show as sent by a deleted user.
• If you invited someone who then joined, a record of that invite is kept so the same person can't redeem a second invite code.
• If you have unsubscribed from our emails, we keep your email address on a suppression list so we don't email you again.

After deletion, your data cannot be recovered. Full details are on our account deletion page.