This policy explains, in plain language, what information Bloom may process, why it may be processed, and how privacy requests can be made.
Last updated October 29, 2026
This Privacy Policy applies to the Bloom iOS application (previously published as "Hi! Languages") and to the Bloom website at https://bloomstories.app.
Bloom is provided by Alexandru Iliescu, an independent developer. In this policy, "Bloom," "we," "our," and "us" refer to the app, website, and their operator in that capacity.
Depending on how you use the app, the data we may process includes:
Talking with Genie. When you talk with Genie, your voice streams live to one of our voice AI providers (Google, OpenAI or xAI, depending on the voice option in use). This lets Genie understand you and answer in real time.
Speech recognition and hold-to-talk. Some features turn your speech into text with Apple’s speech recognition, on your device or on Apple’s servers. For questions you ask with the hold-to-talk button, that text is sent to xAI to prepare Genie’s answer, and ElevenLabs creates the voice reply.
Speaking practice and voice messages. When you record yourself for speaking practice or send a voice message, we send the recording to Fireworks AI or OpenAI. They turn your speech into text.
Recordings and transcripts. We record your conversations with Genie. Your voice, Genie’s replies and a written transcript are saved with your account in our cloud storage (Cloudflare) and database (Supabase). This helps us keep a record of your sessions and improve how Genie works. You can ask us to delete your recordings at any time by emailing iliescualex@gmail.com. Deleting your account deletes them too.
We only use voice features when you start them, and only after you allow microphone and speech recognition access in iOS. You can turn this access off at any time in your iOS Settings.
The website is hosted through Vercel. Technical request information, such as IP addresses and browser details, may be processed to deliver pages, maintain security, and troubleshoot the service.
The website stores quiz answers and learning preferences in your browser using local storage so it can retain your choices and personalize the preview. A name and Man/Woman selection you enter are held in the lesson session and used to personalize your introduction, voice, and relevant grammar. When a matching recording is not already available, the name, chosen language, voice selection, and lesson text are sent to Bloom’s narration service and Google’s speech-generation service to prepare and cache that short introduction and explanation. If your first name strongly suggests Man or Woman (90% or more in public name statistics, based on at least 1,000 people), we pre-select it for you to confirm or change. To do this, our server looks up only your first name and the country code from your device’s region or language settings with Genderize.io, and the answer is cached on our server without any link to you.
Narration in the website preview uses existing recordings and, where needed, generated personalized narration. Where an available option is labelled as browser or device voice, it uses speech synthesis provided by your browser or operating system. How that voice service processes the text depends on the selected voice and your browser or device settings.
If you choose microphone practice and grant microphone permission, the browser uses microphone input only for a local volume meter. The website does not record, transcribe, or upload that microphone input. Microphone access is optional and can be controlled in your browser or device settings.
When website sign-in is enabled, Apple and Google Firebase / Google Cloud support authentication. Account identifiers, sign-in details, and an email address or name supplied by the sign-in service may be processed to provide and secure account access. These account records are distinct from preferences held only in your browser.
The current website preview does not use analytics or advertising trackers. The app-specific analytics, crash reporting, and attribution disclosures in this policy continue to apply to the iOS app as described.
If you contact us, we receive the information you include in your message, including any screenshots or diagnostics you choose to send.
The website also stores your currency choice and the end time of a preview welcome-offer window in your browser. The preview window does not restart on ordinary refresh, and it does not create or charge a subscription.
Where applicable law requires a legal basis, we generally rely on one or more of the following:
The Bloom iOS app offers optional paid subscriptions ("Bloom Premium") that unlock premium features. Subscriptions are purchased through Apple's in-app purchase system and billed by Apple; we do not receive or store payment card details.
We process subscription status information — such as whether an account has an active subscription or trial, the plan type, and its renewal state — through our subscription-management provider, so that the app can unlock features and we can operate our business. We may from time to time make promotional offers or discounts available; these are redeemed through Apple's systems and are subject to eligibility conditions and Apple's terms.
The website currently offers a preview of plan selection and checkout. Online payments are not connected, no payment is collected through the preview, and using the preview does not start a paid subscription or a free trial. Creating or signing in to an account does not by itself confirm a purchase.
Stripe is not an active payment provider for the current website preview. If online checkout through Stripe is enabled in the future, Stripe would process payment information under its own privacy terms, and Bloom would process the purchase or subscription status needed to administer access. The applicable payment and privacy information will be presented with that enabled checkout. This conditional description does not mean that payments are available now.
To operate the Bloom app we rely on service providers acting on our behalf, including:
Where these providers act as processors, they process personal data on our behalf and under our instructions; some (such as Apple) act as independent controllers under their own terms.
Personal data is retained only for as long as reasonably necessary to provide the service, keep account functionality available, resolve disputes, prevent abuse, comply with legal obligations, and maintain required records.
Retention periods may vary by data type. For example, support records and crash data may be retained for different periods than in-app progress data.
Website quiz preferences stored in your browser remain subject to your browser's site-data settings. You can remove that stored data using your browser's site-data controls. Clearing browser data does not by itself delete a Bloom account or cancel an App Store subscription.
Your information may be processed in countries other than your own, depending on where our infrastructure and service providers are located. Where required, we rely on appropriate safeguards for such transfers, including contractual or other legally recognized mechanisms.
Depending on your location, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, restrict, object to, or export certain personal data, and to withdraw consent where processing depends on consent.
Requests can be sent to iliescualex@gmail.com. We may ask for information necessary to verify identity before completing a request.
You can delete your Bloom account right in the app: open your Profile and tap Delete account. This removes your sign-in, your Genie voice recordings and your account data from our main database, including your Genie transcripts. Records kept from before our move to that database are not removed by this step: to have those deleted too, email iliescualex@gmail.com and we will delete them.
Some information may still need to be retained where required for legal compliance, fraud prevention, or dispute resolution.
For help with website privacy or locally stored preferences, contact us at https://bloomstories.app/legal/contact.
Bloom is not intended to knowingly collect personal data from children in violation of applicable law. If you believe a child has provided personal data without appropriate authorization, contact iliescualex@gmail.com and the request will be reviewed.
Reasonable technical and organizational measures are used to help protect personal data against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.
No system is completely secure, so absolute security cannot be guaranteed.
This Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time. When that happens, the "Last updated" date will be changed above, and additional notice may be provided inside the app, on the website, or by other appropriate means where required.
Developer: Alexandru Iliescu
Status: Independent developer
Email: iliescualex@gmail.com
Support and privacy requests: https://bloomstories.app/legal/contact
Alexandru Iliescu · Independent developer · iliescualex@gmail.com