Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to Tandem ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting the privacy and security of our users, including students, teachers, and guardians. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information when you use our AI-powered teaching and learning platform.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Account Information

When you register for Tandem, we collect:

• Full name
• Email address
• Password (encrypted and securely stored)
• Role (student, teacher, or guardian)
• School affiliation (if applicable)

2.2 Educational Data

We collect educational data necessary for the platform's functionality:

• Quiz responses and scores
• Practice question attempts
• Learning progress and mastery levels
• XP (experience points), badges, and streaks
• Reflection journal entries (student-submitted)
• Feedback submissions

2.3 Technical Information

We automatically collect certain technical data:

• IP address
• Browser type and version
• Device information
• Access times and dates
• Pages viewed and actions taken

3. How We Use Your Information

We use collected information for the following purposes:

• Educational Services: To provide personalized learning recommendations, generate quizzes, track progress, and deliver gamified learning experiences
• Account Management: To create, maintain, and secure your account
• Communication: To send important updates, weekly guardian digests, and respond to support requests
• Platform Improvement: To analyze usage patterns, identify bugs, and enhance platform features
• Compliance: To meet legal obligations and safeguarding requirements

4. AI and Data Processing

4.1 AI-Powered Features

Tandem uses artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance learning. Our AI features:

• Generate personalized quiz questions
• Provide learning recommendations based on mastery data
• Generate reflection prompts and feedback
• Create weekly guardian summaries

4.2 AI Compliance and Limitations

What Our AI Does NOT Do:

• We do not perform emotional profiling or behavioral analysis
• We do not predict student wellbeing or mental health
• We do not make predictions about student behavior or at-risk status
• We focus solely on curriculum-based, educational recommendations

5. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your data only in the following circumstances:

• With Your School: Teachers and school administrators may access student progress data
• With Guardians: Guardians can view their linked students' progress, quiz results, and achievements
• Service Providers: We use trusted third-party services (e.g., AI providers, hosting services) that process data on our behalf under strict confidentiality agreements
• Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or to protect rights and safety

6. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your data:

• Passwords are encrypted using secure hashing algorithms
• Data is transmitted over encrypted HTTPS connections
• Access to personal data is restricted to authorized personnel only
• Regular security audits and monitoring
• Automated daily database backups

7. Your Rights (UK GDPR Compliance)

Under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, you have the following rights:

• Right to Access: Request a copy of your personal data
• Right to Rectification: Correct inaccurate or incomplete data
• Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your data (subject to legal obligations)
• Right to Restrict Processing: Limit how we use your data
• Right to Data Portability: Receive your data in a portable format
• Right to Object: Object to certain types of data processing

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at: Tandem5.0@hotmail.com

8. Children's Privacy

Tandem is designed for educational use and may be used by students under the age of 18. We take extra precautions to protect children's privacy:

• We collect only the minimum data necessary for educational purposes
• Parental/guardian consent is required for students under 13 (where applicable)
• Guardians can review and request deletion of their child's data
• We comply with safeguarding regulations and best practices

9. Data Retention

We retain your personal data only as long as necessary:

• Active Accounts: Data retained while your account is active
• After Account Deletion: Most data deleted within 30 days, except where required by law or for legitimate educational records
• Backup Data: May persist in backups for up to 90 days before permanent deletion

10. Cookies and Tracking

Tandem uses cookies and similar technologies for:

• Essential Cookies: Required for authentication and core platform functionality
• Functional Cookies: Remember your preferences and settings
• Analytics: Understand how users interact with the platform (anonymized where possible)

You can control cookies through your browser settings, but disabling essential cookies may affect platform functionality.

11. Third-Party Services

Tandem integrates with trusted third-party services:

• AI Providers: Google Gemini and OpenAI GPT for AI-powered features
• Authentication: Google OAuth and Microsoft OAuth for sign-in options
• Email Services: For sending notifications and digests

These services have their own privacy policies. We ensure all third-party providers meet our data protection standards.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will notify users of significant changes via email or platform notifications. Continued use of the platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please contact us: