Privacy Policy

At Josh Talks, we are acutely conscious that every act of entrusting us with your information constitutes an act of confidence — a covenant of trust. This Privacy Policy ("Policy") is therefore designed not merely as a legal instrument but as a transparent exposition of how Josh Talks Private Limited ("Josh Talks," "Josh Skills," "we," "our," or "us") acquires, processes, and safeguards your information and the practices followed in relation to the storage, use, processing, and disclosure of personal data that you have chosen to share with us when you access our website www.joshtalks.com and www.joshtalks.com. Josh Talks English Speaking App, our mobile applications, (including but not limited to Josh Talks English Speaking App) and any of our other products or services ("Platform") or personal data that we may have access to in relation to your use of Platform or access to our account aggregation services (collectively referred to as "Services"). Your participation creates a bond of mutual responsibility: you, the discerning user, furnish us with data; we, the custodians, treat it with care, diligence, and purpose.

Please read the following terms of the Policy carefully to understand our practices regarding your personal data, and how we will treat it. This Policy sets out the basis on which any personal data we collect from you or about you, or that you provide to us, will be processed by us. By using the Platform, you consent to the collection and disclosure of your personal data in accordance with, and are agreeing to be bound by, this Policy.

The Nature and Scope of Consent

Recording in service of progress: When you engage on the Platform and elect to continue with our Services, you confer upon us permission to record your calls and voice-based interactions. These recordings, though quotidian in their origin, serve a higher telos: they are instruments through which both your personal journey and our collective learning models are refined. Consent with continuity: Importantly, this consent is not truncated to the immediacy of your present usage; it extends, with deliberate gentleness, retroactively to encompass data accrued since the inception of your account. Thus, the arc of your engagement — from first step to present moment — becomes part of a seamless continuum of improvement. From voice to vision: Your vocal contributions, archived and analyzed, are not ends in themselves. They become the crucible within which Artificial Intelligence systems — in speech recognition, pronunciation refinement, and natural language understanding — are tempered and perfected. For individual and collective good: What begins with your utterances may well culminate in broader societal betterment: AI models that make education more inclusive, assistive technologies more empowering, and innovations more human-centric.

In short, your data, anonymized and safeguarded, participates in the betterment not only of you but of the community at large. We will not collect any information from you, except where it is knowingly and explicitly provided by you.

Categories of Information We Collect

Voluntary submissions: including but not limited to your name, age, gender, contact details, payment credentials, feedback, and expressed preferences. Automatically gathered data: device identifiers, IP addresses, geolocation coordinates (where permitted), operating system configurations, browser characteristics, usage analytics, and of course, call recordings. Communicative interactions: engagements with our messages by email, SMS, WhatsApp, push notifications, or in-app communication.

Personal data, or personal information, means any information about an individual from which that person can be identified. It does not include data where the identity has been removed – for example, anonymous data.

We may collect, use, store and transfer different kinds of personal data about you to provide you with, or in connection with, the Services. Such personal data includes:

• Data pertaining to your identity and related data, such as your first and last name, username or similar identifiers, gender, title, passwords, identity document and proof of addresses, purchases or orders of or through our Services, feedback, survey responses, etc.;
• Contact data, including email addresses, phone numbers, delivery addresses, business addresses, etc.;
• Data we collect in connection with our KYC processes when you choose to access certain features of our Services, including documents issued by the government such as Aadhaar, driving licences, PAN cards, voter ID cards, ration cards, etc.;
• Data about your device, including but not limited to: (a) Location – location data recorded on your device; and (b) Device Information – including hardware model, operating system and version, IMEI and serial numbers, user profile information, IP addresses, browser types and versions, time zone settings, and Wi-Fi and mobile networks;
• Usage data, including information about how you use our Services;
• Marketing and communications data, including your preferences in receiving marketing from us and our third parties and your communication preferences;
• Details shared by you at the time of giving feedback, practice partner preferences, account settings or otherwise provide information to us through the Platform or elsewhere;
• Your interactions with us via emails and texts, and with our messages through push and online messaging channels;
• Your interactions with our customer service, such as the date, time, and reason for contacting us, transcripts of any chat conversations, and if you call us, your phone number and call recordings.
• Any and all recordings, transcripts, derivatives, datasets, adaptations, modifications, and any works developed therefrom, (whether collected by us in the past, present, or future), of the peer-to-peer calls made using our Platform, for quality assurance, training, grievances redressal, documentation purposes and for the purposes of third-party licensing. These recordings will be treated with the same level of security and privacy as other personal data we collect;
• Resettable device identifiers (also known as advertising identifiers (AAID, GAID)), such as those on mobile devices; and / or
• Device and software characteristics (such as type and configuration), connection information including type (Wi-Fi, cellular), IP address (which may tell us your general location), browser and standard web server log information

We also collect, use, and share aggregated data such as statistical data for any purpose. Aggregated data could be derived from your personal data but is not considered personal data under applicable laws. For example, we may aggregate your usage data to calculate the percentage of users accessing a specific feature of the Services. However, if we combine or connect aggregated data with your personal data, we treat the combined data as personal data, which will be treated in accordance with other terms of this Policy.

You can also visit and browse our website and application anonymously. If you have submitted your personal information and contact details, please be aware that we reserve the right to contact you via call, SMS, email, or WhatsApp to take feedback on our products and to provide promotional offers. This applies even if your number has the 'Do Not Disturb' (DND) feature activated. Notwithstanding, you retain the right to opt-out of these communication methods at any time. We will retain any email communication you send us to enable a timely and appropriate response.

Purposes for Which We Employ Your Information

We will only use your personal data as the law allows us to. Most commonly, we will use your personal data to provide you with the Services, or where we need to comply with a legal obligation.

You understand that when you consent to providing us with your personal data, you also consent to us sharing such data with third parties. However, such personal data will be shared with third parties only for the purpose the Services. You are aware that by using our Services on the Platform, you authorise us, our associate partners, and affiliates to contact you via email, phone, or otherwise. This is to ensure that you are aware of all the features of the Services.

You are aware that any and all information pertaining to you, whether or not you directly provide it to us (via the Services or otherwise), including but not limited to personal correspondence such as emails, instructions from you etc., may be collected, compiled, and shared by us in order to provide the Services to you and you expressly authorise us to do so. This may include but not be limited to storage providers, marketing partners, data analytics providers, consultants, lawyers, and auditors. We may also share this information with our subsidiaries, affiliates, or any of their holding companies.

You agree and acknowledge that we may share data without your consent, when it is required by law or by any court or government agency or authority to disclose such information. Such disclosures are made in good faith and belief that it is reasonably necessary to do so for enforcing this Policy or the terms of the arrangement we have with you, or in order to comply with any applicable laws and regulations.

Further, you agree to receive promotional and other emails and other forms of communication from us. Through such communication you will receive information about the latest developments on the Services. You may unsubscribe from our mailing list at any time, via the unsubscribe option we offer.

Additionally, we will use the data collected for the purpose of:

• To personalize, refine, and enrich your user experience.
• To enhance the fidelity, resilience, and sophistication of our AI-driven systems.
• To enable research, both academic and commercial, that advances the frontier of speech technologies.
• To strengthen educational tools, foster assistive devices, and develop ethical applications of Artificial Intelligence.
• To fulfill our obligations under the law, to prevent misuse, and to protect both institutional and user integrity.
• To determine your general geographic location to offer relevant localized solutions and content
• To operate the Service, monitor the effectiveness of the Service, improve the content of the Service, and improve layout and design.
• To help provide you with a smooth, efficient user experience.
• To monitor, analyze, and describe usage patterns and performance of the Service, including aggregate metrics such as total number of visitors, traffic, and demographic patterns.
• To monetise the collected data by way of licensing or sale to third-parties, in accordance with this Privacy Policy and other contractual arrangements with such third-parties.
• To conduct system administration and system troubleshooting and to diagnose or fix technology problems.
• To comply with legal requirements and processes (for example, in response to subpoenas, court orders, and law enforcement or governmental requests or investigations), and to protect our legal rights or the rights of others (for example, by working to reduce the risk of fraud or misuse of the Service).
• With respect to information collected through the Josh Skills App and for the Josh Talks Scholarship program described in the Information Collected Automatically section above, to assist in marketing efforts, including, for example, by tailoring and serving advertisements, and by tracking the effectiveness of marketing efforts.
• In connection with a business transaction, such as the bankruptcy or liquidation of, sale of, purchase of, or merger with our business or another business.

Authenticity of Information

We have taken all reasonable steps to ensure that the information on the platform is authentic.

You agree that the personal data you provide us with is true, correct, and accurate. We shall not be liable for any incorrect or false information or personal data that you might provide.

We are not responsible for the authenticity (or inauthenticity) of any information (including the personal information) supplied by you to us.

Retention and Withdrawal

Data, once collected, is retained for durations proportionate to the purposes for which it is required, extending where necessary for compliance, research, and innovation. In many instances, we will retain your data while it is necessary for your use of the Service, which may include maintaining this information beyond the time when you cease using the Service. Withdrawal of consent may be requested at any juncture, but such withdrawal does not retroactively invalidate the lawful utilization of data — including the gentle integration of information gathered since the creation of your account.

We will retain your information for as long as is reasonably necessary in relation to the purposes for which this data was collected:

For instance, Josh may retain users' data for the following purposes:

• To provide and improve the Josh platforms and Services.
• To administer the Josh Talks Scholarship Program and evaluate scholarship applications.
• To personalise user experience and deliver relevant content.
• To communicate with users and respond to inquiries or requests.
• To analyze user behaviour and trends for research and development purposes.
• To improve the safety and security of the Service; or
• To comply with our legal obligations.

You may also request that we delete personal information that we hold about you by writing to us at [email protected].

On Disclosure and Partnership

We may, as necessity dictates, disclose information to trusted service providers for payment processing, storage, cloud hosting services etc. — each bound by rigorous confidentiality obligations. Information may also be shared with affiliated entities within the Josh Talks group or with authorized third parties engaged in research, innovation, or service facilitation. You are aware that by using our Services on the Platform, you authorise us, our associate partners, and affiliates to contact you via email, phone, or otherwise. This is to ensure that you are aware of all the features of the Services.

You understand that when you consent to providing us with your personal data, you also consent to us sharing such data with third parties. However, such personal data will be shared with third parties only for the purpose of providing you the Services. You are aware that by using our Services on the platform, you authorise us, our associate partners, and affiliates to contact you via email, phone, or otherwise. This is to ensure that you are aware of all the features of the Services.

You are aware that any and all information pertaining to you, whether or not you directly provide it to us (via the Services or otherwise), including but not limited to personal correspondence such as emails, instructions from you etc., may be collected, compiled, and shared by us in order to provide the Services to you and you expressly authorise us to do so. This may include but not be limited to storage providers, marketing partners, data analytics providers, consultants, lawyers, and auditors. We may also share this information with our subsidiaries, affiliates, or any of their holding companies.

In general, we will not disclose personal data except in accordance with the following purpose/activity:

• to register you as a user of the Platform;
• to deliver Services;
• to manage our relationship with you including notifying you of changes to any Services;
• to administer and protect our business and the Services including troubleshooting, data analysis and system testing;
• to measure and analyze the effectiveness of the service we serve you through means which include surveys and feedback;
• to monitor trends so we can improve the Services;
• to perform our obligations that arise out of the arrangement we are about to enter or have entered with you;
• to enforce the terms of the arrangements we have with you;
• where it is necessary for our legitimate interests (or those of a third party) and your interests and fundamental rights do not override those interests; and
• to comply with a legal or regulatory obligation.

You authorise us to send you electronic alerts and messages for details pertaining to registration on the platform, requirements arising out of the provision of Services, and advertising.

Authorised Third-party Collaborators. We may disclose your information with our third-party collaborators and service providers, including but not limited to service providers who assist us with specialized services such as billing, payment processing, customer service, email deployment, business analytics, marketing, advertising, performance monitoring, hosting, and data collection and data processing.

Your Rights and Prerogatives

You retain the right to access, review, update, correct and, where permissible, request deletion of your personal information collected by us, in the manner prescribed under applicable law. We may, however, retain certain information where required to comply with our legal and regulatory obligations. You may submit any such requests via email at [email protected]. We will process such requests in accordance with and within the timelines prescribed under applicable law. Further, you may regulate your preferences in relation to communications across channels such as SMS, email, and WhatsApp. While you may withdraw consent prospectively (in accordance with applicable law), you hereby acknowledge that retrospective use of already accrued data remains valid.

Cookies

We use cookies and/or other tracking technologies to distinguish you from other users of the Services and to remember your preferences. This helps us to provide you with a good experience when you use our Services and also allows us to improve the Services.

We collect data by way of 'cookies'. Cookies are small data files which are sent to your browser from the Platform and are stored on your computer or device (hard drive). The cookies shall not provide access to data in your computer or device such as email addresses or any other data that can be traced to you personally. The data collected by way of cookies will allow us to administer the Services and provide you with a tailored and user-friendly service. The cookies shall enable you to access certain features of the Services. Most web browsers and devices can be set to notify when you receive a cookie or prevent cookies from being sent. If you do prevent cookies from being sent, it may limit the functionality that we can provide when you visit our platform or try to access some of the Services.

Additionally, you may encounter cookies or other similar devices on certain pages of the Services that are placed by third parties. We do not control the use of cookies by third parties. If you send us personal correspondence, such as emails or letters, or if other users or third parties send us correspondence about your activities in relation to the Services, we may collect such information into a file specific to you.

Data Security

We implement certain security measures including encryption and firewalls to protect your personal information from unauthorised access and such security measures are in compliance with the security practices and procedures as prescribed under the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the applicable rules (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information Rules, 2011). However, you agree and acknowledge that the above-mentioned measures do not guarantee absolute protection to the personal information, and by accessing the Services, you agree to assume all risks associated with disclosure of personal information arising due to breach of firewalls and secure server software.

Where we have given you (or where you have chosen) a password that enables you to access certain parts of the Services, you are responsible for keeping this password confidential. We ask you not to share the password with anyone.

We will comply with the requirements under the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the rules made thereunder in the event of a data or security risk.

Safeguards, Children, and Legal Duties

Our Services are not designed for children below thirteen (13) years of age; participation by minors requires parental or guardian oversight. Though we employ administrative, physical, and technological safeguards to protect your data, no system, however fortified, is impervious. Data may be disclosed where mandated by judicial, governmental, or corporate exigencies, including mergers, acquisitions, or restructuring.

Evolution of this Policy

We keep our Policy under regular review and may amend this Policy from time to time, at our sole discretion.

Like language itself, this Policy is not static; it is a living document, subject to revision in consonance with evolving law, technology, and societal expectations. Each revision/ change to this Policy will bear a conspicuous "Last Updated" date, and your continued engagement shall be deemed assent thereto.

The terms of this Policy may change and if it does, these changes will be posted on this page and, where appropriate, notified to you by email. The new Policy may be displayed on-screen and you may be required to read and accept the changes to continue your use of the Services.