Last updated: January 23, 2026
1. Overview
We value privacy and are committed to protecting Personal Information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, retain, and safeguard Personal Information when you use the Platform, including when you create an account, browse teacher profiles, send messages, book lessons, or make a purchase. By accessing or using the Platform, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.
2. Scope
This Privacy Policy applies to Personal Information we collect on or through the Platform. It does not apply to third-party websites, services, or platforms that we do not control (for example, payment processors or video-conferencing providers). Their privacy practices are governed by their own policies.
3. Key Definitions
“Personal Information”: Information that identifies, relates to, describes, is reasonably capable of being associated with, or could reasonably be linked (directly or indirectly) with a particular individual or household.
“Sensitive Personal Information”: Certain legally protected categories of data (for example, account login credentials, government ID numbers used for verification, precise geolocation, and similar categories as defined under applicable law).
“Student”: A learner who uses the Platform (including an adult learner).
“Parent/Guardian”: A parent or legal guardian acting on behalf of a minor.
“Teacher”: An independent contractor who offers tutoring services through the Platform.
“Minor/Child”: A person under 18. References to “children under 13” relate to U.S. COPPA requirements.
4. Notice at Collection (Summary)
We collect Personal Information to operate the Platform, process payments, facilitate bookings, provide customer support, improve our services, and keep our community safe. We do not sell Personal Information. We do not use or disclose Sensitive Personal Information for purposes other than those permitted by applicable law and reasonably necessary to provide the Service.
5. Personal Information We Collect
Depending on how you use the Platform, we may collect the following categories:
Account & Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number (if provided), password/login credentials, user role (Student/Parent/Teacher), and related account settings.
Billing & Transaction Information: Billing address, transaction history, purchase details, and payment status. Payment card numbers are processed by our payment processors (e.g., Stripe) and are not stored by us in full.
Identity & Verification Information (Teachers): Government-issued ID or similar verification data if you choose or we require identity verification. We limit access and retention of this information. We do not use or disclose Sensitive Personal Information (such as government IDs) for purposes other than to perform the identity verification services reasonably expected, or as permitted by law.
Profile & Media Content: Profile photo, teacher intro videos, profile descriptions, teaching credentials you provide, and related content you choose to post.
Messages & Communications: Messages sent through the Platform (including Better Messages), support tickets, and communications with us.
Scheduling & Lesson Data: Booking details, availability, lesson history, lesson notes shared through the Platform, and basic learning progress notes (if entered by Teachers).
Technical & Usage Data: IP address, browser type, device identifiers, operating system, pages viewed, referral URLs, and approximate location derived from IP address.
Cookies & Similar Technologies: Identifiers stored in cookies or similar technologies for functionality, security, and analytics (see Section 8).
6. Sources of Personal Information
We collect Personal Information from:
• You (including when you create an account, book lessons, message, or contact support).
• Teachers and Students (for example, lesson notes or progress updates shared on the Platform).
• Payment processors (limited confirmations such as payment success/failure, transaction IDs, and fraud signals).
• Your device and browser (automatic technical data).
• Service providers that help us operate the Platform (see Section 7).
7. How We Use Personal Information
• Provide and operate the Service (account access, bookings, lesson delivery workflows).
• Process transactions, prevent fraud, and provide receipts/records.
• Facilitate communications between Teachers and Students within the Platform.
• Customer support, dispute handling, and platform administration.
• Safety & moderation (e.g., enforcing Community Guidelines, detecting abuse, and investigating suspected policy violations such as off-platform contact sharing or circumvention)
• Improve and maintain the Platform (analytics, debugging, performance monitoring).
• Legal compliance, enforcing our agreements, and protecting rights and safety.
• Advertising & Measurement. If we enable advertising or measurement tools (e.g., conversion tracking), we may use cookies or similar technologies to measure campaign performance and improve our marketing, subject to your choices and applicable law.
8. Cookies, Analytics, and Similar Technologies
We use cookies and similar technologies to keep you logged in, remember preferences, secure the Platform, and understand usage patterns. You can control cookies through your browser settings. If you disable cookies, some features may not function properly. We may use analytics tools to understand how the Platform is used and to improve performance. We do not use third-party advertising networks to target ads to children.
Do Not Track (DNT) Signals: Our Platform does not currently respond to browser ‘Do Not Track’ signals, as there is no industry standard for how these signals should be interpreted.
9. How We Share Personal Information
We may share Personal Information in the following circumstances:
With Teachers/Students (within the Service): To enable bookings and tutoring services. For example, Teachers see booking details and relevant student-provided learning information; Parents may access their child’s booking and learning notes.
With Service Providers: Vendors that help us operate the Platform (hosting, email delivery, customer support tooling, analytics, security monitoring, payment processing). They may access Personal Information only to perform services for us and must protect it.
For Legal and Safety Reasons: To comply with law, respond to lawful requests, protect rights and safety, investigate fraud/abuse, or enforce our Terms and policies.
Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, restructuring, or sale of assets, subject to appropriate safeguards.
We do not sell Personal Information. We do not share Personal Information for cross-context behavioral advertising in a manner that would be considered a “sale” or “sharing” under California law.
10. Data Retention
We retain Personal Information only as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, including providing the Service, maintaining business records, resolving disputes, enforcing agreements, and complying with legal obligations. Retention periods may vary by data type and legal requirements.
11. Data Security
We use administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect Personal Information. No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials.
12. International Transfers
We are based in the United States and may process and store Personal Information in the United States or other locations where we or our service providers operate. By using the Service, you understand that your information may be transferred to and processed in jurisdictions that may have different data protection laws.
13. California Privacy Rights (CCPA/CPRA)
If you are a California resident, you may have rights regarding your Personal Information, subject to verification and certain legal exceptions. These may include the right to know/access, delete, correct, and to opt out of the sale/sharing of Personal Information (we do not sell/share). You may also have the right to limit the use and disclosure of Sensitive Personal Information as provided by law.
How to exercise rights: Email privacy@chienmilesaway.com with your request. We may need to verify your identity and, if applicable, your authority to act on another person’s behalf.
Non-discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising your privacy rights.
14. Children’s Privacy (COPPA and Minors)
We take children’s privacy seriously. The Platform is intended for use by Parents/Guardians and Students. If we have actual knowledge that we collected Personal Information online from a child under 13 without verifiable parental consent, we will take steps to delete that information.
Key rules:
• Children under 13 must use the Platform only through a Parent/Guardian account and with verifiable parental consent where required.
• We do not permit third-party advertising networks to collect data on child-directed areas of the Platform.
• Parents/Guardians may review, delete, or request that we stop further collection/use of their child’s Personal Information by contacting us.
Important: This Privacy Policy addresses data practices. Separate terms (Terms of Service, Community Guidelines, and any required parental consents for participation or recordings) may apply to lessons involving minors.
15. Communications
We may send service-related notices (such as booking confirmations, receipts, security alerts, and policy updates). Where permitted, we may also send marketing communications; you can opt out of marketing emails using the unsubscribe link in those emails.
16. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will post the updated policy on the Platform and update the Effective Date above. Your continued use of the Service after the update constitutes acceptance of the updated policy, to the extent permitted by law.
17. Contact Us
Questions or requests: tutor@chienmilesaway.com.