Privacy policy

Last updated

This Privacy Policy was last updated in October 2026.

Who we are

Mathla operates mathla.org (community platform), related subdomains, and production services on api.mathla.org. For privacy inquiries contact [email protected].

Our purpose for your data

We collect and process data to build a trusted Arabic Sign Language community resource: to operate accounts, review contributions, support learning, protect safety, train, test, and improve Mathla's sign-language AI and products, and — only with your approval — publish recordings in the public dictionary. We do not sell personal data.

UAE context

We design privacy practices for users in the United Arab Emirates and beyond, with reference to UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (PDPL) and with respect for national inclusion goals for People of Determination. Mathla is an independent community platform, not a government website.

Scope

This policy applies to accounts, sign-language video submissions, community activity, learning progress, and support communications on Mathla. It covers visitors who reach us via mathla.org (which redirects to the community platform), registered users, and the مثله mobile app for Android and iPhone.

Lawful basis (UAE PDPL)

We process personal data in line with UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (PDPL) and applicable best practices. We rely on: your consent (especially for videos and optional uses), contract performance (providing the platform), legitimate interests (security, abuse prevention, service improvement), and legal obligations where applicable.

Data we collect

Account data (name, email, password hash, locale, roles); sign-language videos and metadata you submit; versioned consent choices; review and moderation records; optional profile fields; community posts and messages; organization and campaign participation; technical logs (browser, device type, timestamps, hashed IP for abuse prevention); cookies and session identifiers needed to keep you signed in.

Biometric-like and sensitive data

Sign-language videos may show your face, hands, and upper body. We treat this as sensitive personal data. Before you record, you give one explicit agreement. It covers storing, reviewing, and using your recordings inside Mathla, including AI training and testing. Publishing a recording or sharing it with partners needs your separate approval.

Approximate location

To organize contributor diversity we may infer your approximate country once when you open the collect flow from your network connection. Your IP address is not stored in plain form — only a one-way hash for abuse prevention. The country field can be edited or cleared in your profile.

The مثله app

When you use the app we collect: your account (name, email, Google or Apple sign-in ID, optional phone number, country, sign-language variety and app language); the sign-language recordings you make in Contribute; Live translation sessions (camera frames, hand and body points, and the text produced) when you have agreed to help improve the translator; crash reports and app error messages; app usage events (screens opened, actions, app version, device model and system, language, network type, an install ID and country, linked to your account when you are signed in); and a notification token so we can send you app news. We use this data only to run the app and to build and improve the Arabic Sign Language translator.

What the app does not keep

Speech in Conversation mode is turned into text and deleted immediately; it is not stored. Video calls pass live between the two people and are not recorded. Your location in Emergency mode stays on your phone; it is sent only when you choose to share it. We show no advertising, do no ad tracking, and never sell your data.

How we use data

Operate accounts and authentication; store and review submissions; publish dictionary entries you approved; run learning paths and community features; train, test, and evaluate sign-language models and other Mathla systems; check data quality; prevent fraud and abuse; respond to support and legal requests; improve accessibility and platform reliability.

Automated processing

Videos may be analyzed with automated tools (pose detection, hand tracking, quality checks). AI-assisted features provide feedback only — human reviewers remain authoritative for dictionary quality. We do not make solely automated decisions with legal or similarly significant effects about you.

Sharing

We do not sell your personal data. We may share data with: service providers that store or process data for Mathla under contract; research or other partners only after Mathla contacts you and you approve; authorities when required by law. Public dictionary entries show only recordings you approved for public display and reviewers approved.

International transfers

Data may be processed on secure infrastructure inside or outside the UAE. When we transfer data internationally we apply appropriate safeguards consistent with PDPL requirements.

Retention

How long we keep data: • Account: until you delete it. • Sign-language recordings: for as long as Mathla needs them for its services, including long-term use for model training and testing. • Live translation sessions: 24 months. • App usage events and our error logs: 12 months. • Crash reports: 90 days. • Temporary upload copies: 7 days. You may request deletion subject to technical and legal limits (e.g. backups, and models already trained on data you agreed to share).

Security

We use access controls, encryption in transit, restricted storage for private videos, and staff training. No online system is perfectly secure; report concerns promptly to [email protected].

Your rights

Under PDPL you may request access, correction, portability, restriction, or erasure of your personal data, and withdraw consent where processing is consent-based. Use Profile → data requests or email [email protected]. We respond within reasonable timeframes required by law.

Children

See our Child participation policy. Contributors under 18 require guardian consent. Videos involving minors default to training-only and receive additional review.

Changes

We may update this policy. Material changes will be posted here with a new date. Continued use after notice constitutes acceptance where permitted by law.

Contact

Privacy inquiries: [email protected] · Legal: [email protected]