Privacy Policy

1. Controller

The controller responsible for processing personal data in connection with German4You is Alpasana GmbH, UID CHE-168.266.327, Farbweg 18, 5745 Safenwil, Switzerland. Data protection contact: sascha.fiechter@alpasana.ch.

This Privacy Policy provides information under the Swiss Data Protection Act and, where applicable, under the EU General Data Protection Regulation.

2. Data processed

We process in particular master and account data such as name, email address, language, login and account information, usage and learning data such as learning progress, level assessments, error profiles, Credits and history, test answers, free texts, chat inputs, exercise texts and uploaded files, payment status, billing and transaction information without complete card details, as well as technical data such as IP address, device and browser data, session information, security logs and timestamps.

3. Purposes of processing

We process data to provide German4You, manage accounts, enable placement tests, exercises, AI analyses, writing corrections, chat coaching and file upload analyses, bill Credits, allocate payments, provide support, ensure security and misuse prevention, comply with legal obligations and improve the product technically and in terms of content.

4. Legal bases

Where the GDPR applies, we base processing, depending on the case, on performance of a contract, pre-contractual measures, consent, legitimate interests such as security, troubleshooting, misuse prevention and product improvement, and legal obligations. For AI analyses of free texts and uploads, we obtain consent where required.

5. AI processing and Anthropic

For AI functions, entered texts, answers, learning contexts and uploaded files may be transferred to a technical AI service provider. German4You uses in particular Anthropic for this purpose. The processing serves to create exercises, explanations, analyses, corrections, learning guidance and assessments.

Anthropic may process data in the United States. This may involve a transfer to a third country. Where required, we use appropriate safeguards, in particular data processing agreements, standard contractual clauses, recognised transfer mechanisms and technical and organisational measures. The specific legal situation and adequacy of transfers to the United States are reviewed regularly.

Before AI analyses, we obtain active consent where required and log it with user reference, time and version of the consent text. AI evaluations serve exclusively learning and training purposes and have no legal effect.

6. File uploads

When users upload files, these are processed for AI-supported analysis and may be transferred to our AI service provider. Please do not upload confidential, sensitive or unnecessary personal data. Names, addresses, dates of birth, ID numbers, faces of third parties, medical, official, legal, financial and other particularly sensitive information must be removed or redacted before upload.

Uploaded raw files are stored only for as long as necessary for analysis, display in the account, support, security and misuse prevention. Unless longer retention is required, we delete raw files no later than after 30 days. Derived learning guidance and error categories may remain stored in the learning profile until the account is deleted or deletion is requested.

Uploaded files are not used to train AI models to the extent this is contractually assured by the respective AI service provider.

7. Stripe and payments

Payments are processed through Stripe. Stripe processes payment data, transaction data and technical data as a payment service provider. German4You receives in particular payment status, transaction references and billing-relevant information, but does not store complete credit card details.

8. Cookies and sessions

German4You uses technically necessary cookies, local storage mechanisms or comparable technologies to provide login, session, security, language settings and core functions. We do not use non-essential tracking or marketing cookies without required consent.

9. Recipients and processors

Data may be disclosed to technical service providers that support German4You with hosting, operation, security, AI processing, payment processing, support and analysis of technical errors. These service providers process data only to the extent necessary and in accordance with contractual instructions.

10. International transfers

Data may be processed in Switzerland, the European Economic Area and other countries, in particular the United States. For transfers to countries without an adequate level of data protection, we use appropriate safeguards such as standard contractual clauses or other permitted transfer mechanisms where legally required.

11. Retention and deletion

We store personal data only for as long as necessary for the stated purposes, for performance of the contract, for support and security, to assert or defend claims, or due to statutory retention obligations. Account data is generally stored until the account is deleted. Payment and billing data is stored in accordance with statutory retention periods. Technical logs are deleted or anonymised after an appropriate period unless security or evidence obligations prevent this.

12. Data subject rights

Data subjects have, in accordance with applicable law, rights of access, rectification, deletion, restriction of processing, objection, data disclosure or data portability, as well as the right to withdraw consent with effect for the future.

Requests may be sent to sascha.fiechter@alpasana.ch. Data subjects may also lodge a complaint with the Swiss Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner FDPIC or, where the GDPR applies, with a competent data protection supervisory authority.

13. Minors

German4You is intended for persons who may use the platform independently and lawfully. Minors should use German4You only with the consent of their legal guardians where such consent is required under applicable law.

14. Automated assessment

Automated level assessments, error profiles and learning recommendations serve learning purposes only. They are non-binding, have no legal effect and are not an official certificate, a recognised examination or proof for authorities.

15. Changes

We may amend this Privacy Policy if German4You, our data processing or the legal situation changes. The version published on german4you.ch applies.

In case of discrepancies between translations, the German version is massgebend.