Last Updated: 8 October 2025

1. Introduction

Welcome to Swelv ("we," "our," or "us"). Swelv is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring transparency about how we collect, use, and protect your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains our practices regarding data collection and usage in connection with the Swelv mobile application (the "App").

By using Swelv, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this policy, please do not use our App.

Entity Information:

• Legal Name: Swelv

• Location: Switzerland

• Contact: info@swelv.com

2. Age Restriction

Swelv is intended for users aged 18 years and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under 18. If we become aware that we have collected personal data from someone under 18, we will take steps to delete that information promptly.

3. Information We Collect

3.1 Information You Provide to Us

When you create an account and use Swelv, we collect the following information:

• Account Information: Name, email address, age, and profile photo

• Reading Activity: Books you're reading, have read, or want to read; reading progress and history

• User-Generated Content: Book reviews, quotes you share, comments, and other content you post

• Social Connections: Information about your connections with other Swelv users, including followers and following relationships

3.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you use our App, we may automatically collect:

• Usage Data: Information about how you interact with the App, including features used, pages viewed, and time spent

• Device Information: Device type, operating system, unique device identifiers, mobile network information

• Analytics Data: We use analytics services (Google Analytics and/or Firebase Analytics) to understand user behavior and improve our services

3.3 Third-Party Data Sources

• Open Library API: We use Open Library to retrieve book information, metadata, and cover images. When you search for or add books, we may share your search queries with Open Library to provide you with accurate book data

4. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for the following purposes:

• Service Delivery: To create and manage your account, enable reading tracking, and facilitate social features

• Personalization: To personalize your experience, recommend books, and show relevant content

• Community Features: To enable you to connect with other readers, share content, and participate in the Swelv community

• Analytics and Improvement: To understand how users interact with our App, identify trends, and improve our features and user experience

• Aggregation: To create aggregated book reviews and reading statistics that benefit the community

• Communication: To send you service-related notifications, updates, and respond to your inquiries

• Marketing and Advertising: To promote Swelv on social media and other platforms, including using aggregated or anonymized data for advertising purposes

• Legal Compliance: To comply with legal obligations and protect our rights

5. How We Share Your Information

5.1 Public Information

Certain information you provide may be visible to other Swelv users based on your privacy settings, including:

• Your profile information (name, profile photo, bio)

• Your reading activity (books you're reading, reviews, quotes)

• Your social connections

5.2 Third-Party Service Providers

We may share your information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our App:

• Analytics Providers: Google Analytics and/or Firebase Analytics to analyze app usage

• Open Library: Book search queries and selections to retrieve book information

• Cloud Infrastructure: Service providers who host our data and infrastructure

These third parties are contractually obligated to protect your data and use it only for the purposes we specify.

5.3 Marketing and Advertising

We may use aggregated, anonymized, or de-identified data for marketing and advertising purposes on social media and other platforms. This data cannot be used to identify you personally.

5.4 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., court orders, government agencies).

5.5 Business Transfers

If Swelv is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any such change in ownership or control of your personal information.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you with services. If you delete your account, we will delete your personal information within a reasonable timeframe, except where we are required to retain it for legal, accounting, or security purposes.

Aggregated or anonymized data that cannot identify you may be retained indefinitely for analytics and research purposes.

7. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information:

7.1 Access and Correction

You can access and update your account information at any time through the App settings.

7.2 Account Deletion

You have the right to delete your account and associated personal data. To delete your account, go to Settings > Account > Delete Account. Upon deletion, your personal information will be removed from our systems, though some data may be retained for legal or legitimate business purposes.

7.3 Data Portability

You may request a copy of your personal data in a structured, commonly used format.

7.4 Withdrawal of Consent

Where we rely on your consent to process your data, you may withdraw that consent at any time.

7.5 Marketing Communications

You can opt out of marketing communications by adjusting your notification settings in the App or by contacting us directly.

7.6 Rights for European Users (GDPR)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have additional rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), including:

• Right to access your personal data

• Right to rectification of inaccurate data

• Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten")

• Right to restrict processing

• Right to data portability

• Right to object to processing

• Right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority

7.7 Rights for California Users (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), including:

• Right to know what personal information is collected

• Right to know if personal information is sold or disclosed

• Right to opt-out of the sale of personal information (Note: We do not sell personal information)

• Right to deletion

• Right to non-discrimination for exercising your rights

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at [Insert Contact Email].

8. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

• Encryption of data in transit and at rest

• Regular security assessments

• Access controls and authentication mechanisms

• Secure data storage practices

However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. International Data Transfers

Swelv is based in Switzerland. If you access our App from outside Switzerland, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in Switzerland or other countries where our service providers operate.

Switzerland provides an adequate level of data protection as recognized by the European Commission. We ensure that any international transfers comply with applicable data protection laws, including implementing appropriate safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses where necessary.

10. Third-Party Links and Services

Our App may contain links to third-party websites, services, or content. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party services you access through our App.

10.1 Open Library

We use Open Library to provide book information. Open Library has its own privacy policy, which can be found at: https://openlibrary.org/privacy. When you search for books, your queries may be sent to Open Library in accordance with their terms of service.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will notify you of any material changes by:

• Posting the updated policy in the App

• Updating the "Last Updated" date

• Sending you a notification (for significant changes)

Your continued use of Swelv after any changes indicates your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:

Email: info@swelv.com

13. Data Protection Authority

If you are located in the EEA or Switzerland and believe we have not adequately addressed your concerns, you have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

For Switzerland: Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC) Website: https://www.edoeb.admin.ch

By using Swelv, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy and agree to its terms.