Privacy Policy | How We Collect, Use & Protect Your Data | Alphabet Arabic Academy
Privacy Policy
How we collect, use, and protect your personal information at Alphabet Arabic Academy.
At Alphabet Arabic Academy, we are committed to protecting your personal information. This policy explains what data we collect, why we collect it, and how we keep it safe. By using our services, you trust us with your information — and we take that trust seriously.
1. Information We Collect
We collect information to provide and improve our services to you:
- Personal Information: Name, email address, WhatsApp number, country, and city when you register or contact us.
- Payment Information: Processed securely through third-party payment processors. We do not store credit card details on our servers.
- Usage Data: How you interact with our website (pages visited, time spent, device type) to improve user experience.
- Communications: Any messages, questions, or feedback you send us via email, WhatsApp, or contact forms.
- Lesson Data: Scheduling preferences, course progress, teacher feedback, and lesson recordings (see Section 9).
2. How We Use Your Information
- To provide and maintain our Arabic and Quran courses
- To schedule lessons and communicate about your programme
- To process your payments securely
- To improve our website and teaching methods
- To respond to your support requests
- To send occasional updates about new courses or offers (you can opt out anytime)
- To ensure child safety and appropriate lesson delivery for young learners
3. Third-Party Service Providers
We use trusted third-party services to operate our academy. Each is bound by strict confidentiality and their own privacy policy. Below is a summary of the main processors we use:
| Category | Provider(s) | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Payment Processing | PayPal, Stripe (or similar) | Secure collection of course fees. We do not store card data. |
| Video Lessons | Zoom | Delivery of all live 1-on-1 sessions. Zoom's own privacy policy applies. |
| Analytics | Google Analytics | Anonymous website usage data to improve user experience. No personal identifiers shared. |
| Email Communication | Gmail / Business Email | Lesson confirmations, support replies, and course updates. |
| Messaging | WhatsApp (Meta) | Student support, lesson reminders, and parent updates (for kids courses). |
| Website Hosting | WordPress / Hosting Provider | Site infrastructure and performance. Server logs may capture IP addresses. |
📌 We only share the minimum data necessary with each provider. We do not sell your data to any third party under any circumstances.
4. Sharing Your Information
We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to others. We only share data in these cases:
- With your consent: When you explicitly agree.
- Service providers: Trusted partners listed in Section 3 above.
- Your assigned teacher: First name, country, and learning goals — so they can prepare your personalised lessons.
- Legal requirements: If required by law or to protect our rights and the safety of students.
5. Data Security
We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information:
- SSL encryption on all website pages (HTTPS)
- PCI-compliant payment gateways — no card data stored on our servers
- Limited, role-based access to personal data
- Regular security reviews and updates
🔐 While we do our best, no online transmission is 100% secure. We continuously work to protect your data and will notify you promptly in the event of any breach.
6. Cookies & Tracking Technologies
We use cookies and similar technologies to:
- Remember your preferences and session data
- Analyse website traffic (Google Analytics — anonymised data only)
- Improve user experience and page performance
You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect some website features. We do not use cookies for advertising or selling purposes.
7. Third-Party Links
Our website may contain links to external sites (such as Trustpilot, Google, social media platforms, or payment processors). We are not responsible for their privacy practices. We recommend reviewing each site's privacy policy separately before submitting personal information.
8. Your Rights
Depending on your location (including GDPR in Europe, CCPA in California, and equivalent laws elsewhere), you may have the right to:
- Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
- Correction: Request we correct any inaccurate or incomplete data
- Deletion: Request we delete your data (right to be forgotten) — subject to legal obligations
- Objection: Object to certain types of processing, including marketing communications
- Portability: Receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format
- Withdraw consent: Opt out of marketing emails at any time using the unsubscribe link
To exercise any of these rights, email us at: [email protected]. We will respond within 30 days.
9. Lesson Recordings
As an online academy, some lessons may be recorded. Here is our complete policy on recordings:
Are lessons recorded?
Lessons may be recorded for quality review, student reference, or safeguarding purposes. Recording only takes place with the student's (or guardian's) prior written or verbal consent. Students can request recording of their own lessons for personal review.
Who can access recordings?
Recordings are accessible to: the student, the student's parent/guardian (for minors), the assigned teacher, and authorised academy management for quality control purposes only. Recordings are never shared publicly or with third parties.
How long are recordings kept?
Lesson recordings are retained for a maximum of 90 days from the date of the lesson, after which they are permanently deleted unless legally required to be kept longer or the student has requested an extended period in writing.
Can students request deletion?
Yes. Students (or parents/guardians for minors) may request deletion of any recording at any time by contacting us at [email protected]. We will confirm deletion within 10 business days.
10. Children's Data & Online Safeguarding
We offer courses for children aged 5–17. The protection of children's data and safety online is a priority. The following additional safeguards apply to all young learners:
📋 Parental Consent Required
A parent or guardian must provide explicit consent before a child is enrolled. The parent/guardian's contact details are stored as the primary point of contact — not the child's.
🔍 Minimal Data Collection
We collect only the information strictly necessary to deliver the child's lessons: first name, age/level, and learning goals. We do not collect unnecessary personal details about children.
👁️ Monitoring & Access
Parents are welcome to observe any lesson. All children's lessons may be recorded (with consent) and parents can request access to recordings of their child's sessions at any time.
🗑️ Right to Access & Deletion
Parents or guardians may request access to, correction of, or deletion of their child's data at any time by contacting [email protected]. We will respond within 10 business days.
👩🏫 Teacher Safeguarding
All teachers working with children are trained in child-safe communication practices. No teacher communicates directly with a student under 18 outside of the scheduled Zoom lesson environment without parent knowledge.
🚫 No Data Sharing for Children
Children's personal data is never shared with any third party beyond what is strictly required to deliver the lesson (e.g., Zoom for the video call). No child's data is used for any marketing purpose.
11. Data Retention
We keep your information only as long as necessary to provide our services or comply with legal obligations:
- Active student data: Retained for the duration of enrolment plus 2 years
- Payment records: Retained for 7 years as required by financial regulations
- Lesson recordings: Maximum 90 days (see Section 9)
- Marketing data: Until you unsubscribe or request deletion
- Children's data: Deleted within 30 days of the last lesson unless a legal obligation requires otherwise
When data is no longer needed, we securely delete or anonymise it.
12. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. The "Last Updated" date at the top of this page shows when the most recent revision was made. For significant changes, we will notify active students by email. Continued use of our services after a change constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
13. Contact Us
For any privacy-related questions, requests, or concerns — including requests to access, correct, or delete your data:
- Email: [email protected]
- WhatsApp: +20 128 390 9960
- Address: Cairo, Egypt
- Response time: We aim to respond within 5 business days for general queries, and within 30 days for formal data rights requests.
Our Commitment to You
🔒 By using Alphabet Arabic Academy, you trust us with your information. We are committed to protecting that trust with transparency, security, and genuine respect for your privacy. Thank you for being part of our community.