Privacy Policy for Taleway
Effective Date: November 21, 2025
1. Introduction
Taleway ("we," "us," or "our") is an ambient audio application that narrates your world based on your location. We believe in a "low friction" experience—no signups, no passwords, and no user profiles.
However, because our core service relies on understanding where you are to tell you stories about what is around you, we collect and process precise location data. This policy explains how we handle that data, who we share it with, and your rights.
2. Information We Collect
We do not collect your name, email, or phone number. We identify your device using a generated Device ID that allows us to remember which stories you have already heard.
A. Location Data (The Core)
To generate stories relevant to your surroundings, we collect:
- Precise Location: We collect GPS coordinates to determine your immediate context.
- Background Location: If you grant "Always Allow" or "While Using" permissions, the app may collect location data in the background to fetch stories before you arrive or to send notifications about nearby history.
- Movement History: We persist a log of the locations you visit while the app is active to prevent repeating stories and to better understand your commute patterns.
B. Device Information
We collect technical details such as your device model, OS version, and unique Device Identifiers (IDFA/Android ID) to manage your session state without requiring a login.
3. How We Use Your Data
We process your data for the following specific purposes:
- Contextual Story Generation: We convert your GPS coordinates into a "Coarse Location" description (e.g., "Albemarle County, Virginia" or "The Financial District"). We send this coarse description—never your precise GPS coordinates—to our AI partners to generate the text of the stories.
- Audio Synthesis: We send the generated text to our text-to-speech providers to create the audio you hear.
- Service Improvement: We store your movement history and listening logs indefinitely to improve our recommendation algorithms (e.g., "Users who visit this park also enjoy stories about that bridge").
4. Third-Party Data Sharing
We do not sell your data to data brokers or advertising networks. We share data only with the technical infrastructure providers required to make the app work:
| Partner Type | Purpose | Data Shared |
|---|---|---|
| AI Service Providers | To generate story text based on context. | Coarse Location (e.g., City/Neighborhood name). No precise coordinates. |
| ElevenLabs | To convert written stories into audio. | Text Content Only. No user or location data is shared. |
| Cloud Hosting (AWS) | To store app databases and logs. | All encrypted app data is stored on servers in the US East region. |
5. Data Retention
We store your usage logs and location history indefinitely.
Because Taleway does not use traditional user accounts, your data is tied to your specific device.
- If you delete the app: The link between your device and our servers is severed on your phone, but the historical logs associated with your old Device ID remain in our database unless you contact us to purge them.
- If you lose your phone: You will lose your listening history, as we have no way to link a new phone to your old identity.
6. Your Rights & Control
- Opt-Out of Location Tracking: You can stop all data collection by disabling Location Services for Taleway in your device's Settings. The app will cease to function, but no new data will be collected.
- Data Deletion Request: Since we do not have email addresses on file, we cannot verify your identity via email. To request the deletion of your data, you must provide your Device ID (found in the app settings, if available) or contact us with specific details about your usage so we can attempt to locate and purge your record.
7. Children's Privacy
Taleway is directed at an adult audience. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 13. If you are a parent and believe your child has used the app, please contact us to have the data removed.
8. International Users
Taleway is hosted in the United States. If you are accessing the app from the EU, UK, or other regions with laws governing data collection, please note that your data is being transferred to and processed in the United States. By using the app, you consent to this transfer.
9. Contact Us
For questions about this policy or to request data deletion:
Email: colin.steele@taleway.xyz
Website: https://taleway.xyz