Book Lantern Legal

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Effective date: September 16, 2026 Last updated: September 22, 2026

BookLantern ("BookLantern," "we," "us," or "our") is a mobile application designed for parents and caregivers to evaluate books for potential age appropriateness and content considerations. This Privacy Policy explains what information BookLantern processes, why we process it, how it is shared, and the choices available to you.

BookLantern is operated by BookLantern. Questions or privacy requests may be sent to info@booklantern.com.

1. Scope

This Privacy Policy applies to the BookLantern iOS application and related support services. It does not apply to third-party websites, apps, or retailers that you may visit through links in BookLantern.

2. Information BookLantern Processes

A. Child age information provided by a parent or caregiver

BookLantern allows an adult user to enter a child’s birth month and year so that the app can calculate the child’s current age and provide age-relevant book guidance. BookLantern does not require the child’s exact birth date, name, email address, or other direct identifier.

The birth month and year are stored locally on the user’s device. BookLantern calculates the child’s age on the device and sends only the calculated age or age range—not the birth month and year—to the analysis service when needed to generate a recommendation.

We use this information only to:

  • calculate the child’s current age;
  • tailor book analysis and recommendations to that age; and
  • update age-based guidance over time without requiring the adult user to re-enter the child’s age.

B. Book images and scan information

When a user scans or uploads an image, BookLantern may process:

  • the photograph selected or captured by the user;
  • a book cover, title, author, ISBN, barcode, or text detected in the image;
  • the age or age range selected for the recommendation; and
  • the analysis request and resulting book guidance.

BookLantern uses this information to identify the book and generate the requested analysis. Images are transmitted only when the user initiates a scan or analysis. BookLantern does not intentionally retain uploaded images on its servers after the requested analysis is completed.

Users should submit images of books only. Please do not submit photographs containing faces, people, documents, addresses, or other personal or sensitive information. If an image incidentally contains such information, it will be processed as part of the image request and handled under this Privacy Policy.

C. Information stored on the device

BookLantern does not require an account. Depending on the features used, the app may store the following locally on the user’s device:

  • child birth month and year;
  • app preferences;
  • book scan history, saved books, or analysis results;
  • achievements, avatar selections, and other app progress; and
  • subscription or feature-access status.

This locally stored information is not used to identify the user outside the app. It generally remains on the device until the user deletes it through BookLantern, resets the app, or deletes the app from the device.

D. Technical and advertising information

BookLantern uses Google AdMob to display advertisements in the free version of the app. AdMob may automatically process information such as:

  • device and app identifiers;
  • IP address and approximate location derived from the IP address;
  • device type, operating system, language, and app version;
  • ad requests, impressions, clicks, and interactions; and
  • diagnostic, fraud-prevention, and performance information.

BookLantern is configured to request ads rated for general audiences and to request non-personalized advertising. We use advertising information to display and measure ads, prevent fraud and abuse, and support the free version of BookLantern. Google processes this information according to its own terms and privacy policies.

E. Purchases and subscriptions

Subscriptions and other in-app purchases are processed by Apple through the App Store. BookLantern may receive transaction status, product identifier, subscription status, expiration information, and a transaction identifier so that it can provide purchased features. BookLantern does not receive or store the user’s full payment-card details.

F. Affiliate Links and Disclosure

Affiliate disclosure: BookLantern participates in affiliate programs with Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, and Bookshop.org. If a user follows one of our affiliate links and makes a qualifying purchase, BookLantern may earn a commission at no additional cost to the user.

When a user taps an affiliate link, the retailer or its affiliate network may receive information needed to attribute the referral, such as the affiliate identifier, link placement, IP address, device or browser information, and subsequent purchase activity.

Purchases made through an external retailer are governed by that retailer’s privacy policy and terms.

G. Communications

If a user contacts us for support or with a privacy request, we process the information provided in that communication, such as an email address, message, and any troubleshooting information the user chooses to include. We use it to respond to the request, provide support, protect the service, and maintain appropriate business records.

3. How We Use Information

BookLantern processes information to:

  • identify books from covers, barcodes, ISBNs, or entered information;
  • generate age-relevant book summaries and content considerations;
  • operate, maintain, secure, and troubleshoot the app;
  • remember locally stored preferences and app progress;
  • provide and verify subscriptions or purchased features;
  • display and measure general-audience, non-personalized advertising;
  • provide optional retailer and affiliate links;
  • respond to support and privacy requests;
  • detect fraud, misuse, security incidents, or technical problems; and
  • comply with applicable law and enforce our terms.

We do not sell personal information for money. We do not use a child’s birth month and year for advertising, and we do not send the child’s birth month and year to OpenAI or advertising providers.

4. OpenAI Image and Content Processing

BookLantern uses the OpenAI API to assist with analyzing submitted book images and producing book-related guidance. To perform the requested analysis, BookLantern may send OpenAI:

  • the submitted book image;
  • detected or supplied book information, such as title, author, or ISBN;
  • the calculated child age or age range; and
  • instructions necessary to generate the requested analysis.

OpenAI states that data submitted through its business offerings, including the API, is not used to train its models by default. Under OpenAI’s standard API data controls, API inputs and outputs may be retained in abuse-monitoring logs for up to 30 days, unless longer retention is required by law or reasonably necessary to protect the services or third parties. Eligible API customers and endpoints may have different retention controls, including Zero Data Retention.

BookLantern does not authorize OpenAI to use submitted content to train its models. OpenAI processes API data on our behalf under its applicable business terms and data-processing terms. Current details are available in OpenAI’s data-controls documentation:

https://developers.openai.com/api/docs/guides/your-data

BookLantern’s analysis is automated and may be incomplete or inaccurate. Parents and caregivers should use their own judgment and consult the book itself or other trusted sources before making decisions for a child.

5. When Information Is Shared

We may share or permit processing of information in the following circumstances:

  • Service providers: With providers that help operate BookLantern, such as OpenAI for book analysis, Google AdMob for advertising, Apple for purchases and distribution, and infrastructure or security providers used to transmit requests.
  • Retailers and affiliate networks: When a user chooses to open an external purchase link.
  • Legal and safety reasons: When reasonably necessary to comply with law, legal process, or enforceable government requests; protect rights, safety, and security; investigate fraud or abuse; or enforce our agreements.
  • Business transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, financing, reorganization, bankruptcy, or sale of all or part of the business, subject to appropriate confidentiality and notice requirements.
  • With consent: When the user directs us or gives consent to another disclosure.

We do not share child age information with advertising providers for targeted advertising.

6. Children and Parental Use

BookLantern is designed for parents and caregivers and is not directed to children under 13. An adult should operate the app and provide any child age information used for recommendations.

BookLantern does not require a child to create an account or provide a name, email address, exact birth date, or contact information. Child birth month and year are supplied by the adult user and stored locally on that user’s device. Only the calculated age or age range is included when requesting age-relevant book analysis.

If you believe a child has submitted personal information directly to BookLantern without appropriate parental involvement, contact us at info@booklantern.com. We will investigate and delete information when required.

7. Data Retention

We retain information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy:

  • uploaded book images are not intentionally retained by BookLantern after the requested analysis is completed;
  • locally stored preferences, child birth month and year, history, and app progress remain until deleted in the app, reset, or removed by deleting the app;
  • support communications and necessary business records are retained only as long as reasonably necessary to respond, maintain records, resolve disputes, and comply with law;
  • advertising, transaction, security, and technical information may be retained by the applicable service provider under its own policies; and
  • OpenAI may retain standard API inputs and outputs for up to 30 days as described in Section 4.

We may retain limited information longer when required by law, necessary to establish or defend legal claims, or needed to prevent fraud and protect the service.

8. Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards designed to protect information. These include minimizing the personal information collected, transmitting API requests using encrypted connections, limiting access to operational systems, and avoiding permanent server storage of submitted book images. No transmission or storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

9. User Choices and Privacy Rights

Users may:

  • decline camera or photo-library permission and enter book information through other available methods;
  • edit or remove locally stored child age information and scan history using available app controls;
  • remove locally stored information by deleting BookLantern from the device;
  • choose not to open affiliate links or interact with advertisements;
  • manage subscription billing through Apple; and
  • contact us to request access, correction, deletion, or other rights available under applicable privacy law.

Because BookLantern does not require an account, we may not be able to identify or retrieve information stored only on a user’s device. We may ask for information reasonably necessary to verify and respond to a privacy request.

Depending on where the user lives, additional rights may include the right to know what personal information is processed, request correction or deletion, receive a portable copy, restrict or object to certain processing, withdraw consent, or appeal a decision concerning a privacy request. Users may also have the right to complain to a local data-protection authority.

We will not discriminate against a user for exercising an applicable privacy right.

10. International Processing

BookLantern and its service providers may process information in the United States and other countries. These countries may have privacy laws different from those where the user lives. Where required, we use appropriate safeguards for international transfers.

11. Third-Party Services and Links

Third-party services have their own privacy practices. Relevant policies include:

BookLantern is not responsible for the content, privacy practices, or security of third-party services.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy as BookLantern changes or as legal requirements evolve. We will update the "Last updated" date and provide additional notice when required. Continued use after an update means the revised policy applies to subsequent use, to the extent permitted by law.

13. Contact Us

For questions, privacy requests, or concerns, contact:

BookLantern Email: info@booklantern.com

Country: United States