Privacy
Policy

1. Our Commitment to Your Privacy

Knowthira Grid ("Knowthira Grid," "we," "us," or "our") is deeply committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, store, share, and protect information in connection with your use of our website (www.knowthira-grid.com), our language education services, and any other interactions you may have with us (collectively, the "Services"). We have designed this policy to be transparent about our data practices and to empower you with meaningful choices about your information.

We adhere to applicable data protection laws, including the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018, as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (collectively, "CCPA/CPRA"), and, where applicable, the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation ("GDPR") and the United Kingdom's Data Protection Act 2018. Our goal is to process personal data lawfully, fairly, and in a transparent manner, collecting only what is necessary to provide you with exceptional language education and to continuously improve our offerings. This Privacy Policy is incorporated into and subject to our Terms of Service. Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Terms of Service.

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. By accessing or using our Services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by all the terms outlined in this policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, you should not use our Services.

2. Information We Collect

We collect several types of information from and about users of our Services. The information we collect depends on how you interact with us, the choices you make, and the products and features you use. We have organized this section into categories to provide clarity.

2.1 Information You Provide Directly to Us

We collect information that you voluntarily provide when you register for an account, enroll in a course, fill out a form, respond to a survey, communicate with our instructors or support team, or otherwise directly interact with us. This information may include:

• Identifiers and Contact Information: Full name, email address, postal address, telephone number, date of birth (for age verification), and account credentials (username and password).
• Educational and Professional Information: Language proficiency level, learning goals, academic background, profession, and reason for studying a language (e.g., travel, exam preparation, career advancement).
• Financial and Transaction Information: Payment card details, billing address, and purchase history. Note that payment card information is processed directly by our third-party payment processors (e.g., Stripe, PayPal). We do not store full credit card numbers on our own servers, although we may retain a tokenized reference or the last four digits for receipt and support purposes.
• User Content: As defined in our Terms of Service, this includes assignments, audio recordings of spoken practice, written submissions, chat messages during live sessions, forum posts, and any feedback or reviews you provide.
• Communications: Records and copies of your correspondence (including email addresses) if you contact us via email, phone, or contact forms.

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

As is true of most digital platforms, we gather certain information automatically when you visit our website or use our Services. This information helps us understand how users interact with our platform and allows us to improve functionality and user experience. This information may include:

• Usage Data and Log Files: Internet Protocol (IP) address, browser type and version, operating system, device type, referring/exit pages, date and time stamps, pages viewed, links clicked, time spent on pages, and other diagnostic data.
• Learning Management System (LMS) Activity: Course progress, quiz scores, assignment submission times, login frequency, video watch time, and interaction with course elements.
• Session Data for Live Classes: Timestamps of joining and leaving video sessions, chat logs (excluding private one-on-one chats between students, which are not stored by us unless reported), and technical quality metrics to ensure a stable connection.
• Cookies and Similar Tracking Technologies: We use cookies, web beacons, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about your browsing activities and to distinguish you from other users. For detailed information about the cookies we use and your choices regarding cookies, please see Section 10 ("Cookies and Tracking Technologies") below.

2.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from other sources and combine that with information we collect directly. For example:

• Social Media Platforms: If you choose to link, create, or log into your Knowthira Grid account with a third-party social media service (e.g., Google, Facebook, Apple), we may receive information such as your name, email address, and profile picture as permitted by your privacy settings on that service.
• Payment Processors: We receive confirmation of successful transactions, fraud risk scores, and transaction identifiers from our payment partners.
• Referral Partners and Affiliates: If you are referred to us by a partner organization, we may receive limited information to validate the referral.
• Publicly Available Sources: We may collect information from public databases or professional networking sites to better understand the demographics of our user base or for fraud prevention purposes.

2.4 Information We Do Not Collect

We do not intentionally collect "Sensitive Personal Information" as defined under the CCPA/CPRA (e.g., Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, precise geolocation data, biometric information for identification purposes, or health information) unless voluntarily provided by you in the context of an accommodation request or specific support need. If any such information is inadvertently received, we will treat it in accordance with applicable law and this Privacy Policy.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for various business and commercial purposes, as described below. We are committed to using your data only for legitimate and transparent reasons.

• To Provide and Maintain the Services: Creating and managing your account; processing enrollments and payments; providing access to course materials and live sessions; facilitating communication with instructors; tracking your learning progress; issuing certificates of completion; and providing customer and technical support.
• To Personalize Your Learning Experience: Recommending courses or content based on your stated goals and proficiency level; adapting the curriculum interface to highlight relevant materials; and tailoring instructor feedback to your specific needs.
• To Communicate with You: Sending administrative messages related to your account, course schedules, payment receipts, and updates to our Terms or Policies; responding to your inquiries and requests; sending newsletters, promotional offers, and educational content (subject to your communication preferences and consent where required by law).
• To Improve and Develop Our Services: Conducting research and analysis on user behavior and course effectiveness; debugging and troubleshooting technical errors; testing new features and functionalities; and soliciting feedback through surveys and user testing.
• To Ensure Safety and Security: Detecting, investigating, and preventing fraudulent transactions, unauthorized access, and other illegal or prohibited activities; protecting the rights, property, and safety of Knowthira Grid, our users, and the public.
• To Comply with Legal Obligations: Fulfilling our legal and regulatory requirements, including tax reporting, responding to lawful requests from government authorities, and enforcing our Terms of Service.

4. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information for monetary consideration. We do not rent or trade your personal information with unaffiliated third parties for their direct marketing purposes. We may share your information in the following limited circumstances:

• With Instructors and Staff: Our instructors and authorized staff members have access to the information necessary to provide instruction, assess progress, and offer support. All personnel are bound by confidentiality obligations.
• With Service Providers: We engage trusted third-party vendors to perform functions on our behalf, such as payment processing (Stripe, PayPal), video conferencing (Zoom), email delivery (SendGrid), cloud storage (AWS), and analytics (Google Analytics). These providers are contractually obligated to use your information only as necessary to provide services to us and in compliance with applicable privacy laws.
• With Other Students (Limited): In group class settings, your first name and, if you choose, a profile image may be visible to other participants. Your chat messages in public or group channels are visible to other participants in that session.
• For Legal and Safety Reasons: We may disclose information if we believe in good faith that such action is necessary to: (a) comply with a legal obligation or valid legal process (e.g., subpoena, court order); (b) protect and defend the rights or property of Knowthira Grid; (c) prevent or investigate possible wrongdoing in connection with the Services; (d) protect the personal safety of users or the public; or (e) protect against legal liability.
• In Connection with a Business Transfer: If Knowthira Grid is involved in a merger, acquisition, financing, reorganization, bankruptcy, or sale of all or a portion of its assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you via email and/or a prominent notice on our website of any change in ownership or uses of your personal information.
• With Your Consent: We may share your information for any other purpose disclosed to you at the time of collection with your affirmative consent.

5. Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. The criteria used to determine our retention periods include:

• The length of time we have an ongoing relationship with you and provide the Services to you (e.g., for as long as you have an active account with us).
• Whether there is a legal obligation to which we are subject (e.g., certain laws require us to keep records of transactions for a specific period before we can delete them).
• Whether retention is advisable in light of our legal position (e.g., in regard to applicable statutes of limitations, litigation, or regulatory investigations).

When we have no ongoing legitimate business need to process your personal information, we will either delete or anonymize it, or, if this is not possible (for example, because your personal information has been stored in backup archives), we will securely store your personal information and isolate it from any further processing until deletion is possible.

6. Your Privacy Rights and Choices

Depending on your jurisdiction of residence, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information. This section describes those rights and how to exercise them.

6.1 Rights for California Residents (CCPA/CPRA)

If you are a California resident, you have the right to: (a) Know what personal information we have collected, used, disclosed, and sold or shared about you; (b) Request deletion of your personal information; (c) Correct inaccurate personal information; (d) Opt-out of the sale or sharing of your personal information (note: we do not sell or share personal information as defined under the CCPA); and (e) Not receive discriminatory treatment for exercising your CCPA rights.

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information in Section 13. We will verify your identity before processing your request, which may require you to provide sufficient information to allow us to reasonably confirm you are the person about whom we collected personal information.

6.2 Rights for EEA and UK Residents (GDPR)

If you are located in the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom, you have the right to: (a) Access your personal data; (b) Rectify inaccurate or incomplete data; (c) Erase your data ("right to be forgotten") under certain circumstances; (d) Restrict processing of your data; (e) Data portability; and (f) Object to processing based on legitimate interests. To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information in Section 13.

6.3 Marketing Communications Opt-Out

You may opt out of receiving promotional emails from us by following the "unsubscribe" instructions provided in any such email. Please note that even if you opt out, we may still send you non-promotional, transactional communications related to your account or ongoing services.

6.4 Cookie Controls

Most web browsers are set to accept cookies by default. You can usually choose to set your browser to remove or reject cookies. Please see Section 10 for more details.

7. Children's Privacy

Our Services are not directed to children under the age of thirteen (13). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under thirteen (13) without verifiable parental consent. If you are a parent or guardian and you believe your child under the age of thirteen has provided us with personal information without your consent, please contact us immediately using the information in Section 13. Upon verification, we will take steps to delete such information from our active databases.

8. Data Security

We implement and maintain reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect the security, confidentiality, and integrity of your personal information. These measures include encryption of data in transit (using TLS/SSL), encryption of data at rest where appropriate, access controls, network monitoring, and regular security assessments. However, no method of transmission over the Internet or method of electronic storage is one hundred percent secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security. You are also responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials. Please notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account.

9. International Data Transfers

Knowthira Grid is headquartered in the United States, and your information may be transferred to and processed in the United States or other countries where our service providers are located. These jurisdictions may have data protection laws that differ from those in your country of residence. We take appropriate safeguards to ensure that such transfers comply with applicable legal requirements. Where required, we rely on standard contractual clauses approved by the European Commission or other lawful mechanisms to facilitate such transfers.

10. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to collect information automatically as described in Section 2.2. Cookies are small text files stored on your device. We use the following categories of cookies:

• Essential Cookies: Necessary for the website to function properly (e.g., maintaining your login session, security features). You cannot opt out of these cookies as the website would not function without them.
• Functional Cookies: Enable enhanced functionality and personalization (e.g., remembering your language preferences).
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting and reporting information anonymously (e.g., Google Analytics).
• Advertising Cookies: Used to deliver advertisements more relevant to you and your interests. We do not currently use advertising cookies on our site for third-party ad networks.

You can control cookies through your browser settings. You may refuse to accept cookies, delete existing cookies, or set your browser to alert you when cookies are being sent. Please refer to your browser's help documentation for specific instructions. Note that disabling cookies may limit your ability to use certain features of our Services.

11. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, plug-ins, and applications (e.g., payment portals, video conferencing platforms). Clicking on those links or enabling those connections may allow third parties to collect or share data about you. We do not control these third-party websites and are not responsible for their privacy statements or practices. When you leave our website, we encourage you to read the privacy policy of every website you visit.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or for other operational reasons. When we make changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy. If the changes are material, we will provide you with more prominent notice (such as by email notification or a notice on our website home page) prior to the change becoming effective. Your continued use of the Services after the effective date of the revised Privacy Policy constitutes your acceptance of the changes.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our Data Protection Officer can be reached using the information below.