Privacy Policy

1. Who we are

MENO is an AI-powered education platform operated by Royal Impact (Pty) Ltd, a South African company. We are the responsible party as defined by the Protection of Personal Information Act, No. 4 of 2013 (POPIA).

Contact: [email protected]

2. What personal information we collect

• Identity information: Full name, South African ID number or passport number, date of birth.
• Contact information: Cellphone number, email address (optional).
• Guardian information (for learners under 18): Guardian name, SA ID number, physical address, selfie photograph, and optionally an identity document scan.
• Learning data: Session activity, AI-tutor conversations, circuit builds, code, quiz responses, self-assessments, and progress records.
• Voice recordings and speech: When you use a voice or hands-free tutoring mode, your microphone audio is captured and streamed in real time to our AI provider (Google) so the tutor can understand and respond. We do not retain the raw audio after the session unless you save it as portfolio evidence.
• Interview and practice recordings: In the Career and Venture journeys you may record audio or video of yourself (for example a practice interview or customer-interview answer). These recordings are stored to your account and analysed by AI to give you feedback. You choose whether to record; text alternatives are always available.
• Uploaded media: Photos, videos, and documents you upload as portfolio evidence (for example a photo of a circuit build or a prototype). If you ask for feedback, an image may be analysed by our AI vision provider.
• Learning-behaviour analytics: To measure your understanding and adapt the tutor, we record observations of your actions (for example which concepts you demonstrated or struggled with) and de-identified engagement signals (such as time-on-task and session activity). We do not use this for advertising.
• Device information: Browser type, device type, and approximate location (country/region) for platform optimisation.

3. Why we collect this information

• To create and manage your MENO account.
• To personalise the AI tutor experience to your learning history and goals.
• To transcribe, analyse, and give you feedback on the voice, recordings, and media you choose to submit.
• To measure understanding, enforce mastery-based progression, and build your Portfolio of Evidence.
• To obtain and record parental or guardian consent for learners under 18, as required by POPIA section 35.
• To send educators and guardians progress summaries (with your consent).
• To maintain platform security and prevent fraud.

4. How we store and protect your data

• All data is stored on servers located in South Africa (Microsoft Azure — South Africa North region). Recordings and uploaded media are stored in Azure Blob storage in the same region.
• SA ID numbers and passwords are encrypted at rest and never logged.
• AI conversations, voice, and media submitted for analysis are processed by Google (Gemini). This content is sent to Google only for the immediate request and is not, per Google's API terms, used to train Google's models or retained beyond the request.
• Access to personal information is restricted to authorised staff and to the learner's own account. Learners cannot access one another's recordings, observations, or media.

5. Who we share information with

We do not sell personal information. We share data only:

• With educators and guardians linked to your account (progress summaries only, with your or your guardian's consent).
• With Google (Gemini) to provide AI tutoring, voice understanding, transcription, and media analysis (see Google's privacy policy for API data handling).
• With our infrastructure provider, Microsoft Azure, which hosts the platform and stores data in South Africa.
• Where required by law or a South African court order.

Third-party embedded content. Some library content plays through embedded players from third parties — for example Spotify (podcasts) and YouTube (videos, in privacy-enhanced mode). When you play this content, those providers may receive your device's connection information under their own privacy policies. We do not send them your MENO account details.

6. Your rights under POPIA

You have the right to:

• Know whether we hold personal information about you.
• Request access to your personal information.
• Request correction of inaccurate or outdated information.
• Request deletion of your personal information, including your recordings and uploaded media (subject to legal retention obligations).
• Withdraw consent for optional processing, such as voice or media analysis.
• Object to the processing of your personal information for direct marketing.
• Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa.

To exercise any of these rights, email [email protected]. We will respond within 30 days.

7. Minor learners

Learners under 18 may only register with the verifiable consent of a parent or legal guardian. Guardian identity is verified at registration. Guardians may request access to or deletion of their child's data — including any voice recordings, video recordings, and uploaded media — at any time. Voice and recording features are optional and can be avoided entirely using the text alternatives provided throughout the platform.

8. Data retention

We keep account and learning data for as long as your account is active. Raw voice audio is not retained after a session unless you deliberately save it as portfolio evidence. Recordings and uploaded media are kept until you or your guardian delete them or close the account, after which they are removed subject to any legal retention obligation. You can delete your account and associated personal information at any time from your account settings or by emailing us.

9. Cookies and analytics

MENO uses only essential session cookies required for login and security. We do not use third-party advertising or behavioural-advertising cookies. The learning-behaviour analytics described in section 2 are used solely to adapt your education and are never sold or used for advertising.

10. Changes to this policy

We will notify registered users by email of any material changes to this policy at least 14 days before they take effect.

11. Information Regulator

If you believe we have violated your privacy rights, you may contact the Information Regulator of South Africa: