Privacy Policy

1. Who we are

This policy explains how Hasret Özkan, based in Türkiye (“we”, “us”), handles personal information when you use the Softer mobile app, this website, and our support channels. Softer is an AI companion for everyday reflection for adults aged 18 and over.

For privacy questions or requests, email support@joinsofter.app.

2. Information you share

• Account and profile: your account identifier, email address where provided, sign-in provider information, and profile details you choose to share. Profile fields can include age or age range, gender, pronouns, race, relationship and employment status, occupation, location, and interests.
• Onboarding and preferences: answers, goals, preferences, and other context you provide to personalize Softer. Answers can include feelings, stress and sleep concerns, therapy experience, neurodivergence, religious or spiritual perspectives, relationships, and personal goals. Some of these categories are sensitive personal information.
• Conversations and memory: messages, AI responses, saved conversation history, and profile or conversation context remembered for future interactions.
• Voice and attachments: audio you share during voice conversations, their transcripts, and images or files you choose to attach.
• Feedback and support: feedback, contact information, and messages you send to us.

What you write or say may reveal sensitive information about your emotions, health, relationships, or circumstances. Share only what you are comfortable having processed as described here. Do not upload other people’s private information without permission.

3. How information is used

We process information to:

• Authenticate your account and provide access to the app.
• Generate text and voice responses to your conversations.
• Save history and use relevant context to personalize responses.
• Store and deliver attachments you choose to use.
• Respond to support and feedback, and manage account requests.
• Maintain service reliability, investigate technical problems, protect accounts, and address misuse or legal obligations.

Our API and infrastructure may record technical information associated with requests, including IP addresses, HTTP method and path, response status and timing, request identifiers, and errors. These records help operate and troubleshoot the service.

4. AI and service providers

Softer uses external services to deliver the app. Information is processed by the providers needed for the features you use:

• OpenAI: conversation text, relevant profile and memory context, and supported attachments may be sent to OpenAI to generate responses. Voice audio is processed by OpenAI, and saved voice conversations have transcripts in Softer. Voice processing is not a promise of zero retention or that no audio data is retained by a provider. See OpenAI’s API data controls.
• Google Firebase: Firebase Authentication handles sign-in; Cloud Firestore, Cloud Storage, and Realtime Database support account information, conversations, files, and app functionality. See privacy and security in Firebase.

The hosting and email services used to deliver this website and answer support requests also process the information needed for those purposes. Providers may maintain their own operational or security records under their applicable terms and policies.

We may disclose information when legally required, to address fraud or abuse, or to protect the rights and safety of people using the service.

5. Legal bases and international processing

Where data protection law requires a legal basis, we rely on providing the service you request, our legitimate interests in maintaining and protecting it, compliance with legal obligations, or your consent when required. The applicable basis depends on the information and purpose.

Our service providers may process information outside your country, including in countries with different data protection laws. Any safeguards required by applicable law apply to those transfers. Contact us for information about the processing relevant to your account.

6. Storage and deletion

Account details, conversations, remembered context, and attachments are stored to provide your app experience. You can request deletion or use the account deletion option in the app. Deleting the app from your device does not delete your account.

Account deletion removes the profile, onboarding information, memory, chats, feedback, Realtime Database data, uploaded attachments, and authentication account associated with you from Softer’s active systems. See the account deletion instructions.

Limited information may need to remain for legal obligations, security, or resolving disputes. Provider logs, backups, and records held under a provider’s own retention rules may follow a separate deletion schedule. Account deletion does not promise immediate removal of every such record.

7. Your choices and rights

You choose what to share and whether to use optional voice or attachment features. You can change device permissions in your operating system settings. Removing a permission does not delete information already submitted.

Depending on where you live, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, or receive a copy of your personal information; object to or restrict processing; or withdraw consent where processing relies on it. You may also raise a concern with your local data protection authority.

Send requests to support@joinsofter.app using the email associated with your account where possible. We may need to verify that the account belongs to you. We will not ask you to send your password or private conversation content to verify ownership.

8. Website, permissions, and security

This website provides product information and links to the app and support. Visiting it may generate routine hosting logs, including connection and request information. Following a store or external link takes you to a service with its own privacy practices.

The app uses device permissions for features such as voice and file attachments. Account authentication and access controls help protect information, but no online service can guarantee absolute security. Protect your device and sign-in account, and contact support if you suspect unauthorized access.

9. Age requirements and policy changes

Softer is intended for people aged 18 and over. If you believe someone under 18 has provided personal information through Softer, contact us so we can investigate and take appropriate action.

We may update this policy as the service or applicable requirements change. The effective date appears at the top of this page. Where required, we will provide notice of material changes through the app or another appropriate channel.