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Privacy Policy

Last updated: August 2026

ReadLens (the "app", "we", "us") is built and operated by Black Box Code LLC. This policy explains what we collect when you use ReadLens, why we collect it, and the choices you have. The short version: photos you snap are processed to give you text and audio, we use a device identifier instead of accounts, and we never sell your personal information.

What we collect and why

• Photos you snap. Images you capture or pick from your library are uploaded to our servers only when you choose to process them, so we can extract the text (OCR) and generate audio. The camera is used only when you open the capture screen.
• Extracted text and generated audio. The recognized text and its audio are stored on our servers and on your device so your library works across sessions and, for saved reads, offline. They are never sold or used to train third-party models by us.
• Anonymous device identifier. ReadLens has no accounts. A device-generated identifier keeps your library tied to your phone and authenticates your requests. We do not collect your name or email.
• Purchase and subscription status. Processed by Apple or Google and by RevenueCat so Premium unlocks on your device. We never see your payment details.
• Usage analytics. Aggregated in-app events (for example "snap completed") via Amplitude, used to understand and improve the product. Not tied to your identity.
• Crash and performance data. Used to find and fix bugs.
• Push notification token. If you enable notifications, a token from Apple/Google (via Firebase) lets us send them. Declining notifications does not limit the app.
• Install attribution. We use the Meta (Facebook) SDK and Apple's SKAdNetwork / Google Play attribution so we can measure whether our ads led to installs. These signals are aggregate and campaign-level.
• Advertising. Free users may choose to watch an optional rewarded ad (Google AdMob) to earn extra snaps. AdMob may process device identifiers to show and measure ads, subject to your tracking permission below.

How we use AI

ReadLens is built on AI services: optical character recognition reads your photos, machine translation converts the text when you ask for it, and synthetic text-to-speech (ElevenLabs, OpenAI) generates the audio. Your photos and text are sent to these providers only to produce your reading and audio, under API terms that do not permit them to train their models on your content. AI output can contain mistakes; see our Terms of Use for the accuracy disclaimer.

App tracking transparency (iOS)

On iOS, we ask for tracking permission using Apple's standard prompt. If you decline, cross-app identifiers are not used; ad measurement falls back to Apple's aggregate, privacy-preserving SKAdNetwork, and rewarded ads become non-personalized. The app works fully either way. Declining tracking also serves as your opt-out of "sharing" for cross-context advertising under California law (CPRA); you can change it any time in iOS Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking.

What we don't do

• We do not sell your personal information.
• We do not read your photo library; you explicitly pick or capture every image.
• We do not routinely view your snapped photos, transcripts, or audio. A team member may access specific content only to debug a problem you report, or to investigate suspected abuse of the service.
• We do not require an account, email, or phone number.

Third-party services

These providers process data on our behalf to run ReadLens, each under its own privacy policy: ElevenLabs and OpenAI (voice generation), Apple and Google (app stores, billing, push, Firebase, AdMob ads), RevenueCat (subscription management), Amplitude (analytics), and Meta (install attribution for our ads).

Retention and deletion

Library content (text and audio) is kept so your saved reads keep working. Analytics are aggregated. You can delete your on-device library at any time in Settings → Clear all reads. To request deletion of data held on our servers, email us from the device in question and we will remove it within 30 days, except for records we must keep for legal, tax, fraud-prevention, or security reasons (for example purchase records), which are deleted when that need expires.

Your rights

Depending on where you live (for example under GDPR or the CCPA/CPRA), you may have rights to access, correct, delete, or port your data, and to opt out of targeted advertising. Because we hold no account information, requests are handled via your device identifier; email us and we will help. We do not discriminate for exercising these rights.

Security

We use technical and organizational safeguards (encrypted transport, access controls, vendor agreements) to protect your data. No internet service can guarantee 100% security, but we minimize what we collect in the first place, which is the best protection there is.

Legal bases (EEA/UK)

Where GDPR applies, we process your data on these bases: performance of a contract (turning your snaps into text and audio), consent (tracking permission, push notifications), and legitimate interests (analytics, fraud prevention, measuring our own ads). Your data is processed on servers in the United States.

Our website

readlens.live uses Google Analytics with cookies to understand aggregate site traffic. Like most sites, we do not currently respond to browser Do-Not-Track signals, as no common standard exists. Links to third-party sites (including the app stores) are governed by those sites' own policies.

Children

ReadLens is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them. In countries where the age of digital consent is higher than 13, you must be at least that age to use ReadLens. If you believe a child has provided us data, contact us and we will delete it.

Changes

We will post any changes to this policy on this page and update the date above. Material changes will be highlighted in the app.

Contact

Email [email protected] for any privacy question, request, or complaint.