Privacy Policy

Last updated: January 4, 2026

1. Introduction

Welcome to Buddy ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and being transparent about how we collect, use, and share your personal information. This Privacy Policy applies to users aged 13 and older.

2. Information We Collect

Information You Provide:

  • Name and age
  • Guardian contact information (required for users under 18)
  • Interests and topics you want to discuss
  • Messages and conversations with Buddy
  • Mood check-in data

Automatically Collected:

  • Usage data (conversation frequency, session duration)
  • Device information (type, operating system)
  • Log data (timestamps, errors)

3. How We Use Your Information

  • Provide personalized AI conversations
  • Detect potential crisis situations and alert guardians when necessary
  • Track your emotional growth and progress
  • Improve our service and AI responses
  • Ensure safety and prevent abuse
  • Comply with legal obligations

4. Guardian Alerts

For users under 18, we may alert your guardian if our AI detects language indicating potential self-harm, suicidal thoughts, or other serious safety concerns. Alerts include:

  • Time and severity of detected crisis
  • Summary of concerning keywords or patterns
  • Crisis resources and recommended next steps

5. Data Sharing

We do NOT sell your data. We may share information only in these cases:

  • Guardian Alerts: Crisis information shared with your designated guardian
  • Service Providers: Google Gemini (AI), Resend (email), Neon (database hosting)
  • Legal Requirements: When required by law or to protect safety

6. Data Security

We use industry-standard security measures including encryption, secure servers, and regular security audits. However, no internet transmission is 100% secure.

7. Your Rights

  • Access your personal data
  • Request data correction or deletion
  • Export your conversation history
  • Opt out of non-essential data collection
  • Withdraw consent at any time

8. COPPA Compliance

For users aged 13-17, we obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting personal information. Parents/guardians can review, delete, or refuse further collection of their child's data.

9. Data Retention

We retain your data for as long as your account is active. After account deletion, we anonymize or delete your data within 30 days, except where required by law.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy periodically. We'll notify you of significant changes via email or in-app notification.

11. Contact Us

Questions about privacy? Contact us at:

Email: privacy@buddyapp.com
Mail: Buddy AI, 123 Tech Street, San Francisco, CA 94105