Speaking Humans - Language Learning Platform
Privacy Policy

Last updated: April 13, 2026

The controller responsible for the processing described in this Privacy Policy is Tim Freuler, operating speakinghumans.com as a sole proprietorship under Swiss law, registered at Langgruetstr. 88A, 8047 Zurich, Switzerland ("speakinghumans.com", "we", "our", or "the Platform"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and share information when you use speakinghumans.com.

1. Information We Collect

We collect information to provide and improve our services:

1.1 Account Information

  • Name, email address, username, and password
  • Google account identifiers and authentication-related account data where users sign in or connect services through Google
  • Profile information (bio, languages taught or learned)

1.2 Payment Information

  • Payment and payout-related data processed through PayPal multiparty, including payment tokens and seller onboarding or account-status information where applicable
  • Transaction history, lesson bookings, commission fees, refunds, reversals, dispute-related records, and payout status information
  • Tax, identity, residence, and verification information collected from teachers where required for legal, regulatory, or tax reporting purposes

1.3 Google Calendar and Scheduling Data

  • Google account identifiers and basic profile data used to sign teachers in with Google and link their teacher account
  • Calendar connection data, encrypted Google refresh tokens, calendar identifiers, and related scheduling information where teachers enable Google Calendar features
  • Availability, booking, and lesson-event data used to support lesson scheduling, calendar sync, and lesson management workflows between teachers and students

1.4 Usage Information

  • IP address, browser type, device information
  • Platform activity (logins, lesson bookings, reviews, messages)

1.5 Communications

  • Messages sent through the Platform
  • Email communications, including support inquiries and marketing (if consented)

2. How We Use Your Information

We use collected information for:

  • Providing and managing your account
  • Facilitating lesson bookings and payments
  • Authenticating teachers with Google Sign-In and displaying basic account information such as name, email address, and profile image where available
  • Checking a connected teacher's Google Calendar availability to help students book lesson times that do not conflict with the teacher's existing schedule
  • Creating, updating, and deleting lesson-related Google Calendar events when a teacher enables calendar sync and a teacher or student books, reschedules, or cancels a lesson
  • Adding lesson details, invited participants, reminders, and Google Meet links to lesson-related calendar events so teachers and students can attend scheduled lessons
  • Verifying teacher payout eligibility, supporting PayPal onboarding, and handling refunds, reversals, disputes, and compliance checks
  • Collecting, verifying, and reporting teacher information where required to comply with applicable tax transparency or reporting laws, including Directive (EU) 2021/514 ("DAC7")
  • Sending notifications about bookings, account changes, or updates
  • Improving the Platform, troubleshooting, and analytics
  • Sending marketing emails only with your consent
  • Ensuring compliance with legal obligations and safety policies

3. Legal Bases for Processing

Where the GDPR applies, we process personal data on one or more of the following legal bases:

  • Performance of a contract – to create and manage accounts, facilitate bookings, process payments, provide scheduling features, and deliver Platform functionality requested by users.
  • Legal obligations – to comply with applicable legal, tax, accounting, anti-fraud, and regulatory requirements.
  • Legitimate interests – to maintain platform security, prevent fraud and abuse, investigate complaints, improve the Platform, and support the reliable operation of bookings, payments, and communications.
  • Consent – where required by law, including for marketing communications and non-essential cookies or similar technologies.

Where we rely on legitimate interests, we assess those interests against the rights and freedoms of affected users.

4. Sharing Your Information

We do not sell your personal data. We may share information:

  • With Teachers and Students – basic profile information (such as name and lesson details) is visible where necessary to facilitate bookings and communication.
  • With Payment Providers – PayPal receives payment, payout, onboarding, and transaction-related information necessary to process bookings, refunds, reversals, seller verification, and related compliance checks.
  • With Calendar and Authentication Providers – Google receives the information necessary to authenticate teachers, support connected calendar features, check teacher availability, and manage lesson-related calendar workflows where those features are used.
  • With Authorities or Regulators – where required by law, we may share teacher identity, tax, payout, and transaction-related information with competent authorities for tax, regulatory, compliance, or enforcement purposes, including reporting obligations under Directive (EU) 2021/514 ("DAC7").
  • For Legal or Safety Reasons – to comply with law, prevent fraud, or protect users.
  • With Service Providers – analytics, email, or technical support providers, under strict confidentiality.

Google and PayPal may process personal data in accordance with their own privacy notices and may act as separate controllers for certain processing activities.

We do not sell Google user data, we do not use Google user data for advertising, and we do not use Google user data for AI model training. We only use Google user data to provide the teacher-facing sign-in, scheduling, and lesson-booking features described in this Privacy Policy.

5. International Data Transfers

  • Some of our service providers, including Google and PayPal, may process personal data outside Switzerland and the European Economic Area.
  • Where personal data is transferred internationally, we rely on appropriate safeguards as required by applicable law, which may include adequacy decisions, Standard Contractual Clauses, or other recognized transfer mechanisms.

6. Data Storage & Security

  • We store your data securely on servers located in Switzerland and/or European Union.
  • We use technical and organizational security measures designed to protect against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or loss, including encryption in transit, restricted access controls, and provider-level security protections where appropriate.
  • Google refresh tokens used for teacher calendar sync are stored in encrypted form and are used only to maintain the calendar features authorized by the teacher.
  • Lesson recordings are not stored by the Platform.

6A. Google User Data

  • Only teachers can connect Google Calendar to the Platform. Students do not connect Google Calendar as part of the standard student booking flow.
  • When a teacher connects Google Calendar, we request only the Google scopes needed to sign the teacher in, check calendar availability, and create or manage lesson-related calendar events.
  • We use Google Calendar availability data to prevent students from booking lesson times that conflict with the teacher's existing calendar commitments.
  • We use Google Calendar event access to create, update, and delete lesson-related events, invite the teacher and student, add reminders, and generate Google Meet links where supported.
  • We do not use Google user data for advertising, data brokerage, credit-related decisions, or any unrelated purpose.
  • Access to Google-derived data by our personnel is restricted and permitted only where necessary for support, security, fraud prevention, legal compliance, or with the user's explicit consent.

7. Minors

  • The Platform is intended only for individuals who are at least 18 years old.
  • We do not knowingly allow minors to register for or use the Platform.
  • If we learn that a minor has created an account or submitted personal data, we may suspend or delete the account and remove the data, subject to applicable legal obligations.

8. Your Rights (under Swiss law and GDPR for EU users)

You may:

  • Access the personal data we hold about you
  • Request correction of inaccurate data
  • Request deletion of your account and personal data
  • Request restriction of processing or data portability where applicable under the GDPR
  • Object to certain data processing (marketing)
  • Withdraw consent for marketing communications at any time

To exercise these rights, contact us at: speaking-humans@proton.me.

You may also lodge a complaint with a competent data protection authority, including the authority in your place of residence in the EEA where applicable, or in Switzerland with the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC).

9. Cookies & Tracking

  • We use cookies and similar technologies for essential site functionality and, where enabled, for analytics and related performance measurement.
  • Non-essential cookies or similar technologies are used only where required consent has been obtained through the applicable cookie or consent mechanism.
  • We do not knowingly collect analytics or usage data from minors because the Platform is restricted to adults.
  • You can disable cookies in your browser, though some features may not function properly.
  • A full Cookie Notice explains all cookies used.

10. Data Retention

  • Account and profile data is generally retained for as long as the account remains active and for a limited period after account closure where needed to manage disputes, enforce agreements, or complete account closure.
  • Booking, transaction, payout, refund, and related financial records may be retained for up to 10 years where necessary to comply with legal, tax, accounting, or audit obligations.
  • Support communications, reports, and dispute-related records may be retained for as long as reasonably necessary to investigate issues, resolve claims, and protect the Platform and its users.
  • When personal data is no longer required for the purposes for which it was collected, we delete, anonymize, or securely restrict that data, unless continued retention is required by law.

11. Automated Decision-Making

We do not use personal data for automated decision-making or profiling that produces legal effects or similarly significant effects concerning users.

12. Third-Party Links

  • Our Platform may contain links to third-party websites or services.
  • We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

  • We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time.
  • Updates will be posted on the Platform with a "Last updated" date.
  • Where required by applicable law, we will provide additional notice or obtain consent for material changes before they take effect.

14. Contact

speakinghumans.com
Operated by Tim Freuler
Sole proprietorship under Swiss law
Registered address:
Langgruetstr. 88A
8047 Zurich
Switzerland

Email: speaking-humans@proton.me