Privacy Policy

Last Updated: 13/09/2026

1. Who We Are

HUGO.FM Games Limited
Company Number: 14615936
Registered Office Address: 55 Station Road, Manningtree, Essex, England, CO11 1EB
Website: speakbalkan.com
Email: help@speakbalkan.com

2. What This Policy Covers

This policy explains how we collect, use and share personal information when you use any of our services:

the website speakbalkan.com and the games played on it;
the Speak Balkan app for iPhone;
the Speak Balkan app for Android.

Where something applies to only one of these, we say so. By using our services, you agree to our Terms of Service and to this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use our services.

3. Use of Our Services

You may use our website, apps and games for personal, non-commercial use only.
You must not use our services for any unlawful or harmful activities.

4. Voice-Controlled Games

4.1 Microphone Access

Our games are controlled by your voice, so they need access to your microphone. On the website your browser asks for permission; in the apps your phone asks for permission.
We only use the microphone while you are playing, and never without your permission.

4.2 How Your Voice Is Processed in the Apps

Most voice recognition in the apps runs on your device. The sound of your voice is turned into words on your phone and is not sent to us.
On iPhone, some games use Apple's built-in speech recognition. Apple may process that audio on its own servers, as described in Apple's privacy policy.
A few games send the words you said (text, not audio) to our servers so the game can respond:
- Scream Ball: the words you shouted, to write your end-of-game scream report.
- Leaning Tower of Pizza: the tall tale you told, so the game can rate it.
- Alien Customs: your answers to the alien officer, so the officer can reply.
We send that text to OpenAI to generate the game's response (see Section 12). Scream Ball and Leaning Tower of Pizza text is not stored by us. An Alien Customs conversation is kept for up to one hour so the game can continue, and is then deleted automatically.

4.3 How Your Voice Is Processed on the Website

Some website games send your audio to OpenAI while you play, so it can be turned into text.
This audio is processed only to run the game and is not stored by us.

4.4 AI Training

Your voice, and the words you say, are not used by us to train or improve any AI models.

4.5 Language Support

Our games are designed primarily for English-language input.
Voice recognition accuracy may vary if you use other languages or accents.

4.6 Safe Environment Use

Some games involve shouting, breathing exercises, or rapid vocal commands.
Do not play in environments where loud noise or sudden movement could cause harm.
Avoid using the games while operating vehicles or heavy machinery.

4.7 Injury Disclaimer

By using voice-controlled or physical interaction games, you agree that HUGO.FM Games Limited is not responsible for any injuries, health conditions, or damages resulting from gameplay.
Always play in a safe environment and within your personal physical limits.

5. Camera, Face Filters and AR Features

5.1 Camera Access

Some games can show your camera behind the game with a fun face filter or AR effect. In the apps the camera is off by default, and you turn it on yourself.
The camera is only used after you have given permission, only while a camera feature is on, and never in the background.

5.2 How Camera Data Is Processed

Face tracking runs on your device, so the filter can follow your face. In the apps this uses Apple's built-in face tracking on iPhone and Google's MediaPipe library on Android.
The face tracking is used only to draw the current frame and is then discarded. We do not create, store or use face templates, faceprints or any other biometric identifier, and we do not use it to recognise anyone.
We do not upload your camera feed. If your camera is on, it appears in your gameplay clip, which stays on your device (see Section 6).
Camera data is never sold, and is never used for advertising, ad targeting or profiling.

5.3 Snap Camera Kit (Website Only)

AR Lenses on our website are powered by the Camera Kit SDK from Snap Inc.
Lens content is downloaded from Snap's servers so it can run in your browser. To deliver, operate and secure that service, Snap Inc. may collect technical information such as your IP address, device and browser information, SDK version, Lens and application identifiers, and request or diagnostic logs.
Snap Inc. handles that information as described in the Snap Privacy Policy. Further detail is available in Snap's explanation of how it uses data.
Using an AR Lens does not require a Snapchat account, and we do not link your use of AR features to any Snapchat profile.
If a website feature lets you take a photo or video with a Lens, that capture is created on your device and is not uploaded to our servers.

5.4 Your Controls

You can play every game with the camera off. Declining camera access only turns off the camera features.
You can revoke camera permission at any time in your phone's settings, or in your browser's site settings for speakbalkan.com. Revoking permission stops all camera access immediately.

5.5 Safe Use of Camera Features

Stay aware of your surroundings when using camera or AR features, and do not use them while operating vehicles or heavy machinery.

6. Gameplay Clips (Apps)

The apps record each game as a short clip that you can watch and share when the game ends. A clip contains the game screen, the game sound and your microphone audio. If your camera is on, it also contains the camera picture behind the game.
Clips are saved only on your device, on both iPhone and Android. We do not upload them to our servers.
The app keeps only your most recent clip, in its own temporary storage, and replaces it when you record your next game.
A clip is only shared if you choose to share it, using your phone's share options or by saving it to your gallery. Once shared, it is handled by the app or service you chose.

7. Accounts and Your Player Name

7.1 In the Apps

The apps have no sign-up and no password. You can play as a guest, and a guest's name, coins, team and settings are kept on your device.
If you are signed in to Game Center (iPhone) or Google Play Games (Android), we create a player account for you when you first earn coins, so your progress is saved and you can appear on the leaderboards.
For that account we receive from Apple or Google your player ID and your gamer name. Your player name in our games is based on your gamer name and is shown publicly on our leaderboards, together with your team, coins and scores.
Your scores and achievements are also sent to Game Center or Google Play Games, where they are handled under Apple's or Google's privacy policy.

7.2 On the Website

If you create an account on the website, we collect your email address, username and a password hash.
You are responsible for keeping your login details safe.

8. Personal Information We Collect

We collect and process only the personal information we need to provide our services:

Account information: player ID and gamer name from Game Center or Google Play Games (apps); email address, username and password hash (website accounts).
Game progress and scores: coins, scores, team, ranks, Daily Challenge results and achievements.
Game activity: when you open or finish a game and the coins you earned, together with your IP address, the country worked out from it, and your device or browser type. We use this to run the games, count coins and keep the service secure.
Daily Challenge results for guests: linked to a code made from your IP address and device type that changes every day, so a guest can only play once a day.
Voice: the words you say in some games, and audio in some website games (see Section 4).
Support messages: the name, email address and message you send us from the Support form.
Purchases: subscriptions in the apps are paid through the App Store or Google Play and managed by RevenueCat; website payments are processed by Stripe. We receive your subscription status, not your card details.
Advertising data: collected by Google AdMob in the apps, such as your device's advertising ID (see Section 9).
Session and device data: session cookies, IP address and device or browser type, used to keep you signed in and to deliver the right experience for your device.

Some information stays only on your device and is never sent to us, such as your guest name, profile picture choice, camera setting and game settings.

We do not sell or trade your personal data.

9. Advertising (Apps)

The free version of the apps shows ads served by Google AdMob. Unlimited subscribers do not see ads.
Where the law requires it, including in the UK and the European Economic Area, we show Google's consent message before any ad is requested. You can change your choice at any time from Settings, Ad Privacy Options in the app.
On iPhone, the app asks for your permission to track before showing personalised ads. If you decline, you can still play, and the ads you see are not based on tracking.
Google may collect your device's advertising ID, your IP address and approximate location based on it, and information about your device and how you interact with ads, to show, measure and limit ads. Google handles this data as described in How Google uses information from sites or apps that use its services.
You can reset your advertising ID or turn off ad personalisation in your phone's settings.

10. Consent

We ask for your permission before using your microphone or camera, before showing personalised ads where the law requires it, and, on iPhone, before tracking.

You may withdraw your consent at any time in your phone's or browser's settings, from Ad Privacy Options in the app, or by contacting us at help@speakbalkan.com.
If you choose not to give certain permissions, some features may not be available, but you will not be penalised.

11. Sensitive Information

We do not collect sensitive personal information such as government-issued identification numbers, health information, biometric identifiers, racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, or religious beliefs.

The on-device face tracking used for filters and AR effects (see Section 5) exists only to draw the effect. It is not kept, is not used to recognise or identify anyone, and does not produce a faceprint, face template or any other biometric identifier.

12. Service Providers and Third Parties

We share personal information only with the following providers, and only to run our services:

Apple Inc.: Game Center sign-in, leaderboards and achievements, App Store purchases, and speech recognition in some iPhone games.
Google LLC: Google Play Games sign-in, leaderboards and achievements, Google Play purchases, AdMob ads and the ad consent message in the apps, and Google Analytics on the website.
RevenueCat, Inc.: manages app subscriptions. Receives purchase and subscription information from the App Store or Google Play.
Stripe, Inc.: processes website payments. Receives the payment details needed to process a transaction.
OpenAI, Inc.: generates game responses from the words you say in some games, and turns audio into text in some website games. Data we send through OpenAI's API is not used by OpenAI to train its models.
ElevenLabs: creates the alien officer's voice in Alien Customs. It receives only the officer's reply text, not your voice or your words.
Snap Inc.: AR Lenses on the website (see Section 5.3).
Brevo: sends our emails, including replies to support messages. Receives your email address, and for accounts, the date you last played.
DigitalOcean, LLC: hosts our website and servers.
MongoDB, Inc.: hosts our database of accounts and game data.
flagcdn.com: provides the flag pictures used in some quiz questions. Your device downloads them directly, which shares your IP address with that service.

We do not share your personal information with anyone else for marketing or any other purpose. If we add a new provider, we will update this policy and, where the law requires it, ask for your consent.

13. Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed at children under the age of 13 (or the applicable minimum age in your jurisdiction). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children without verifiable parental or legal guardian consent.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us at help@speakbalkan.com and we will promptly delete it.
Where we become aware that we have collected personal information from a minor without appropriate consent, we will take steps to delete that information without undue delay.

14. Your Rights

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

Right of access: request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
Right of rectification: request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
Right of deletion: request that we delete your personal information (see Section 15).
Right to withdraw consent: withdraw consent for data processing at any time.
Right to data portability: request your data in a commonly used, machine-readable format.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at help@speakbalkan.com. We will respond within 30 days.

15. Deleting Your Data

To delete your account and the data linked to it, email help@speakbalkan.com with the subject "Delete my data". Please include:

your player name, as shown on the Profile screen of the app or on the website;
which service you use (iPhone app, Android app or website).

We will confirm the request and, within 30 days, delete your account, your coins, scores, team and Daily Challenge results, and the activity records linked to you. We may keep payment records where the law requires it. Your scores and achievements stored in Game Center or Google Play Games are managed by Apple or Google in their own settings.

Information kept only on your device, including gameplay clips and guest progress, is removed when you uninstall the app.

16. How Long We Keep Data

Accounts, coins, scores and team: until you ask us to delete them.
Game activity records: kept to run and secure the service, and deleted when you ask us to delete your data.
Alien Customs conversations: up to one hour.
Scream Ball and Leaning Tower of Pizza text, and website game audio: not stored by us after the game has used it.
Gameplay clips: not stored by us; they stay on your device (see Section 6).
Support messages: for as long as needed to help you.
Payment records: for the period required by financial and tax law.
Snap Camera Kit logs: kept by Snap Inc. under the Snap Privacy Policy.

When data is deleted, it is permanently destroyed in a way that prevents recovery.

17. Security Measures

We use appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure or destruction.

All data sent between your device and our servers is encrypted in transit using TLS.
Website passwords are stored using industry-standard one-way hashing; we never store plaintext passwords.
Access to personal information is limited to the people who need it to run the service.

18. Cookies (Website)

Essential cookies operate core features such as signing in and keeping your session.
Google Analytics cookies help us understand how the website is used.
Cookies are not used to collect personal data for sale.
You can manage cookies through your browser settings.

19. Disclaimer of Warranties and Limitation of Liability

All games and content are provided "as is" and "as available". We make no guarantee that our games will be error-free or uninterrupted.
To the extent permitted by law, we are not liable for loss or damage arising from your use of voice-controlled games, misuse or unsafe use of our games, technical issues or service interruptions, or unauthorised access to your account caused by lost login details.

20. Intellectual Property

All content and media in our website, apps and games are the property of HUGO.FM Games Limited or its licensors and may not be used without permission.

21. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. Your continued use of our services after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

22. Contact Us

HUGO.FM Games Limited
Email: help@speakbalkan.com
Company Number: 14615936
55 Station Road, Manningtree, Essex, England, CO11 1EB

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