Privacy Policy

TERNWELL

Effective Date: April 16, 2026

Last Updated: April 16, 2026

Ternwell ("Ternwell," "we," "our," or "us") is a voice-first reminiscence therapy platform designed to help individuals recall, preserve, and share their life stories. Ternwell is a product of Bowstring Technologies.

We are committed to protecting the privacy of our users and handling personal information with care, transparency, and respect. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and share information when you use our website (www.ternwell.com) and our platform (collectively, the "Services").

Please read this policy carefully. By accessing or using our Services, you agree to the practices described here.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide Directly

When you request early access or interact with our Services, we may collect:

Account and Profile Information: Full name, email address, phone number, and account credentials.
User Content and Memories: Voice recordings, audio files, transcribed text, personal stories, photographs, and any other life history data you choose to upload or share during platform sessions.
Sensitive Information: Personal experiences shared during reminiscence sessions that may include health, religious, or family history data.
External Contributor Data: Information provided by family members or friends whom you have invited to contribute to your memory archive, as well as the contact information of those invitees.

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website or use our platform, we may automatically collect:

Usage and Interaction Data: Details regarding how you interact with the Ternwell app, including features used, session frequency and duration, and navigation paths.
Technical and Device Data: IP address, device type, unique device identifiers (UUID), operating system version, browser type, and crash/error reports.
Metadata: Data related to your User Content, such as the date, time, and location (if enabled) where a memory or recording was created.
Cookies and Tracking: We use cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies to remember your preferences and analyze platform performance.

1.3 Information from Third Parties

Integrated Services: If you link Ternwell to third-party services (e.g., Google or Apple login), we receive information such as your name and email as permitted by those services' privacy settings.
- Data Accessed and Collected: When you choose to sign up or sign in using Google, our application requests access to specific information from your Google profile. We only access and collect the following non-sensitive data:
  - Email Address: To identify your account and send essential service-related communications.
  - Full Name: To personalize your user profile and account dashboard.
  - Profile Image: To display as your avatar within the application interface.
- Purpose and Data Usage. We use this information strictly to:
  - Authenticate your identity and manage secure access to your Ternwell account.
  - Create and populate your user profile during the initial registration.
- Data Storage and Sharing
  - Storage: Your profile data is securely stored within our databases using industry-standard security protocols for as long as your account remains active.
  - Sharing: Ternwell does not sell, rent, or share your Google user data with third-party advertisers or unauthorized external entities. Your data is used solely to provide and improve your application experience in strict compliance with the Google API Services User Data Policy, including its Limited Use requirements.
Legacy Designees: We may receive contact information from other users who designate you as a "Legacy Contact" or recipient of their memory archives.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information collected to operate the Ternwell platform and support the mission of Bowstring Technologies. Specifically, we use your data to:

Provide and Enhance Services: Deliver core functionality, process and organize your memory archives, and personalize your experience.
Communicate: Send essential account updates, respond to support inquiries, and provide information about the Services.
Analyze and Protect: Conduct internal research to improve our technology, maintain security, prevent unauthorized access, and fulfill legal obligations.
Process Content: Use automated systems to enrich your archives, such as generating summaries or highlights, consistent with our privacy-first processing standards.

We do not sell your personal information or use it to serve third-party advertisements.

3. How We Share Your Information

Bowstring Technologies, Inc. does not sell your personal information. We share your data only in the following limited circumstances:

Service Providers: We share information with trusted third-party vendors who assist us in operating the Ternwell Services, including providers of cloud hosting, audio transcription, and data analytics. These partners are contractually restricted from using your data for any purpose other than providing services to us.
User-Directed Sharing: We share your content with third parties only when you explicitly instruct us to do so, such as when you invite family members to view your archives or designate legacy recipients.
Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, reorganization, or sale of assets involving Bowstring Technologies or the Ternwell brand, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.
Legal and Safety Requirements: We may disclose information if required to do so by law, or in the good-faith belief that such action is necessary to comply with legal obligations, protect the safety of our users, or defend the rights and property of the Company.
De-identified Information: We may share aggregated or de-identified information that cannot reasonably be used to identify you for research, marketing, or improvement purposes.

4. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide our Services and fulfill the purposes described in this policy. Voice recordings and memory archives are retained for the duration of your account or as otherwise agreed with you.

You may request deletion of your data at any time (see Section 7). Upon deletion, we will remove your information from our active systems, subject to legal and operational requirements.

5. Data Security

We implement industry-standard technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, loss, or disclosure. These measures include:

Encryption of data in transit and at rest
Access controls and authentication requirements
Regular security reviews and monitoring
Staff training on data privacy and security

If you have reason to believe your information has been compromised, please contact us immediately at info@bowstringtech.com.

6. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience and analyze site usage. These may include:

Essential cookies - required for the site to function properly
Analytics cookies - help us understand how visitors interact with our site
Preference cookies - remember your settings and preferences

You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our website.

7. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:

Access - Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
Correction - Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
Deletion - Request that we delete your personal information
Portability - Request your data in a portable, machine-readable format
Objection - Object to certain uses of your data
Withdrawal of Consent - Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at info@bowstringtech.com. We will respond to your request within 30 days.

8. Children's Privacy

Ternwell's Services are not intended for individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such information, please contact us and we will promptly delete it.

9. Third-Party Links and Services

Our website may contain links to third-party websites or services. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party services you access.

10. California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), including the right to know what personal information we collect and share, the right to delete your personal information, and the right to opt out of the sale of personal information.

We do not sell personal information. To submit a request under the CCPA, contact us at info@bowstringtech.com.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will notify you by updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page and, where appropriate, by email or a prominent notice on our website. Continued use of our Services after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

Bowstring Technologies - Ternwell

Email: info@bowstringtech.com

Website: www.ternwell.com