Privacy
Privacy policy.
Scanmarker (“we,” “us,” or “our”) builds reading pens, software, and services that help students, educators, and language learners turn printed text into speech, translation, and digital notes. This policy explains what personal information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have about it.
Last updated: May 2026
1. Introduction
This policy applies to scanmarker.com, the Scanmarker web and mobile apps, the Scanmarker desktop application, and the firmware on our reading pen devices (collectively, the “Services”). It does not cover third-party services you may use alongside Scanmarker, such as your school's learning management system or ClassWallet. We comply with FERPA, COPPA, and GDPR where they apply, and we maintain a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) for schools and districts.
2. Information we collect
We collect three categories of information:
- Account information you provide directly — name, email address, school or organization (if applicable), and your account preferences.
- Scan content — text and pages you scan with a Scanmarker pen, only when you have explicitly enabled cloud sync. Scans stay on-device by default. Cloud-synced scans are encrypted in transit and at rest.
- Diagnostic and usage data — device firmware version, app version, OS, and aggregate usage events (e.g. feature toggles) used to improve product quality. This data is never tied to your scanned content.
3. How we use information
We use your information to deliver the Services, sync your scans across devices if you choose to enable that feature, respond to support requests, send transactional notifications, and improve our products. We do not use scan content for advertising or for training third-party AI models. We do not sell your personal information.
4. Data sharing
We share information only with:
- Service providers that operate parts of the Services on our behalf (payment processing, email delivery, cloud hosting), under contracts that prohibit them from using your data for any other purpose.
- Your school or district, if your account is provisioned under an institutional license — limited to the data the institution needs to administer the account.
- Authorities when legally required (e.g., valid court order or to protect against fraud or imminent harm).
5. Your rights
You can access, correct, export, or delete your personal information at any time from your account settings, or by emailing privacy@scanmarker.com. If you live in the EU, UK, California, or another jurisdiction with comprehensive privacy law, you have additional rights including the right to object to processing and the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.
6. Children's data (COPPA / FERPA)
When Scanmarker is provided through a school or district, we operate as a school official under FERPA and a service provider under COPPA. We collect only the information the school directs us to collect, and we do not contact students directly for marketing purposes. Parents and guardians can request a copy of their child's data through the school administrator.
7. Data retention
We retain account information for as long as your account is active and for a reasonable period afterward to comply with legal obligations. Cloud-synced scans are retained until you delete them. Diagnostic and aggregate usage data are retained for up to 24 months, then deleted or fully anonymized.
8. Contact
Questions or concerns? Email privacy@scanmarker.com. For institutional procurement and DPA requests, contact schools@scanmarker.com.