Privacy Policy

Last updated: October 21, 2026

This is an English translation of the Japanese プライバシーポリシー, provided for convenience. If there is any inconsistency between the two, the Japanese version prevails.

This Policy explains what information Askseed (the "App") handles and how it is used.

1. Information we collect

Account information: basic information of your Apple ID or Google Account (email address, user ID)
Information you enter: company names, departments and notes; interview questions and answers; mock test results, evaluations and dates
Purchase information: purchase history of the premium plan
Collected automatically: usage (such as how often features are used), device type, OS and app version, crash reports (not personally identifiable), and the advertising identifier (IDFA; on iOS 14.5 or later only with App Tracking Transparency permission)

For information handled only on your device (audio recordings, photos, the Gmail integration), see Section 12.

2. How we use it

To provide the service, support users, improve the service and develop new features, manage subscriptions, maintain security and troubleshoot, and show ads to free users. Data from the Gmail integration is used only for the purposes in Section 12.3 and never for ads.

3. Storage

Location: Google Firebase (United States). Audio recordings and data created through the Gmail integration (including pasted emails) are stored only on your device, never on our servers
Retention: account information, companies and questions until you delete your account; audio recordings until you delete them (device only); usage data up to 2 years after collection; Gmail integration data as described in Section 12.3

4. Third-party services

Firebase (Google): data storage, authentication and analytics (policy)
App Store (Apple) and Google Play (Google): payment for subscriptions and in-app purchases. Payments are processed by each store; Askseed never receives your card details (Apple, Google)
Google Mobile Ads: ads for free users (policy)
Google Gemini AI: AI question generation for premium users. We send company names, questions, your answers and entry sheet (ES) content; we never send your email address, user name, audio recordings, test results or Gmail integration data (terms)
Gmail API (Google): the Gmail integration, only if you grant permission. The device connects to Google directly, not through Askseed's servers (policy)

We do not provide personal information to third parties except with your consent, when required by law, or when necessary to protect a person's life, body or property. For Gmail integration data, Section 12.3 prevails.

6. Advertising

The free version may show personalized ads through Google AdMob. The premium plan shows no ads
On iOS 14.5 or later, the App asks for tracking permission at launch. If you decline, ads are still shown but not personalized. You can change this in Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking
Gmail integration data is never used for ads

7. Security

We use SSL/TLS encryption in transit, Firebase Authentication, and access control with security rules. However, no transmission over the internet or storage system is 100% secure.

8. Your rights

You may request access to, correction of, and export of (data portability) your personal information. Deleting your account deletes all of your personal information.

9. Children's privacy

The App is not intended for children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect their personal information.

10. Changes to this Policy

We may change this Policy from time to time. The revised Policy takes effect when it is posted in the App or on the website.

11. Contact

Email support@askseed.app, or "Contact" (お問い合わせ) in the App's Settings screen.

12. Specific features

12.1 Audio recording

Interview practice recordings are stored only on your device and never sent externally. You can delete them in the App at any time. Microphone permission is required on first use.

12.2 Photo library

An optional feature extracts a representative color from a company logo. The image is processed on the device, only the color is saved, and the image is never sent externally. Photo library permission is required on first use (you can also choose a preset or enter a color code).

12.3 Gmail integration (importing schedules from job-hunting emails)

"Email import (beta)" is an optional feature that works only if you grant permission with your Google Account. All other features work without it.

What is read: only job-hunting related emails (narrowed with a Gmail search query: the last 60 days on first connection, then only new emails; sent mail, drafts, chats, spam and trash excluded; only emails whose subject contains job-hunting terms such as "interview", "selection", "information session", "deadline", "schedule" or "offer" in Japanese, or from senders used for recruiting). The App reads the sender, subject, date, unsubscribe header and, for emails that pass this check, the body. Attachments are never retrieved. The permissions are read-only Gmail access (gmail.readonly) and your email address to show the connected account (openid, email). The App never sends, deletes, modifies, marks as read or labels emails.
Use: only to find the selection schedule written in an email (date and time, type, company name, location, online meeting URL, etc.) and show it to you as an event suggestion.
Processing: retrieval and analysis happen entirely on your device, using an AI model you chose and downloaded to the device. Neither email content nor anything created from it, including events, is sent to Askseed's servers (including Firebase and Cloud Functions) or to any external AI service. Email data goes only to Google (OAuth and the Gmail API); the model host (Hugging Face) receives only a download request. Bodies are handled only in memory during analysis. Pasted emails are handled the same way. Background checks retrieve only headers (sender, subject, date), and notifications show only the number of emails. Usage statistics (Firebase Analytics) contain only whether the feature was used, processing time, the model used and error types — never email content, subjects, senders, company names, email types, counts or event details.
Storage: email bodies, subjects, sender addresses and attachments are not stored. Events you review and add are stored only on this device and cannot be carried over to a new phone or restored after deleting the App (they remain until you delete them or your account; they stay on the device when you sign out and appear again when you sign in with the same account, and are never shown to another account; they are never sent to Askseed's servers, but display copies such as the home-screen widget may be included in your device's OS backup). Suggestions (company name [max. 30 characters], sender domain, proposed event, Gmail message ID, date received, status) are kept on the device for 30 days if pending and 7 days once added or dismissed; processed message IDs for 90 days; the mapping of sender domains to company cards and the connected Gmail address until you disconnect. Google credentials are stored on the device (iOS Keychain, this device only; on Android managed by Google Play services). The App never changes company cards automatically (for example, from an early-selection notice).
No sharing: we do not sell, provide or transfer data obtained from Gmail to anyone, and we do not use it for advertising (including personalized, retargeted or interest-based ads; it is never passed to AdMob), for developing, improving or training AI or machine-learning models, or for creditworthiness or lending. No one, including the operator, reads your emails, except for specific emails you explicitly agree to share for support, for security purposes such as investigating abuse, or to comply with the law.
Askseed's use and transfer of information received from Google APIs to any other app will adhere to the Google API Services User Data Policy, including the Limited Use requirements.
Disconnecting: you can disconnect at any time from Settings → "Email import (beta)" → "Disconnect" (接続を解除). This revokes the credentials on Google's side and deletes the suggestions, processing state and connection information on the device (also done when you sign out, switch accounts or delete your account). You can also revoke access from Third-party apps & services in your Google Account. Events you already added are not removed by disconnecting or signing out; you can delete them in the App, and they are deleted when you delete your account. Downloaded AI models remain on the device and can be deleted from the model list.