This Privacy Policy explains what personal data Morsable collects, why, and what rights you have over it. It applies both to the website at morsable.com and to the Morsable app for iPhone.
The service is operated by Morsable, an individual entrepreneur registered in Georgia (the country, not the US state). For any question about this policy or your data, write to support@morsable.com. We are the data controller for the data described here.
The short version
- The Morse translator on this website runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you type there reaches us.
- The app needs an account, and we store what you put in your profile and the messages you send.
- Photos are chosen through the iOS picker, so the app never gets access to your photo library. The camera hardware is used only to flash Morse with the device light.
- There are no voice or video calls. Live sessions carry Morse timing only, and the app never asks for microphone access.
- We do not sell your personal data, and we do not use it for advertising.
- You can delete your account and its data from inside the app at any time.
What we collect and why
Account information. When you sign up we use Firebase Authentication with Sign in with Apple or Sign in with Google. We receive an account identifier and, depending on your choices in that flow, an email address. We store the username, display name, biography, interests and spoken languages you choose. This is needed to give you an account and to let other people find and recognise you.
Profile photos. If you add a profile photo, you pick it through the standard iOS photo picker. That picker runs outside the app, so the app never gets access to your photo library: it only receives the single image you chose, which we store in Firebase Storage. We cannot see or scan the rest of your photos.
Device light. The app can flash Morse code using your device light. This uses the camera hardware for the torch only. No photo or video is ever captured.
Messages. Morse messages you send to other users are stored so they can be delivered and so both sides can read the conversation later. Please treat messages as stored data rather than as ephemeral or end-to-end encrypted communication.
Live Morse sessions. The app can open a real-time connection so two people can tap Morse to each other. Only the signal timing travels over that connection: the tone you hear is generated on your own device from that data. No audio and no video is captured or transmitted, and the app does not request microphone access. We process the technical data needed to establish the connection and keep basic records that a session took place for abuse prevention.
Approximate location. If you grant location permission, we use it only to determine which country to show on your profile. We store the country, not your coordinates or any location history. You can refuse this permission and use the app normally.
Push notifications. If you enable notifications, Firebase Cloud Messaging issues a device token that we store so we can send you message alerts. You can turn notifications off in iOS Settings at any time.
Technical and safety data. We process limited technical information such as app version, device type and timestamps, along with reports and moderation records, to keep the service working and to act on abuse. Firebase App Check is used to verify that requests come from a genuine copy of the app.
The website. The translator, the alphabet charts and the articles are static and run locally in your browser. We do not use advertising or cross-site tracking cookies on this site.
Legal bases for processing (GDPR)
- Performance of a contract: creating and running your account, storing and delivering your messages, and connecting live Morse sessions.
- Consent: camera and photo access, location, and push notifications. Each is requested separately and can be withdrawn in iOS Settings.
- Legitimate interests: keeping the service secure, preventing abuse and spam, and handling reports about other users.
- Legal obligation: responding to lawful requests and meeting record-keeping duties where they apply.
Who we share data with
We do not sell personal data and we do not share it with advertisers. We rely on service providers who process data on our behalf:
- Google Firebase (Authentication, Firestore, Storage, Cloud Functions, Cloud Messaging, App Check) for accounts, storage, delivery and abuse prevention.
- Apple and Google for the sign-in flow you choose.
- Other users, to the extent you choose to share it: your profile is visible to people you interact with, and your messages are visible to their recipients.
We may disclose data where we are legally required to, or where it is necessary to protect the safety of users.
International transfers
Our infrastructure provider stores and processes data on servers that may be located outside your country, including in the United States. Where data originates in the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom, these transfers rely on the safeguards our providers put in place, including the European Commission's Standard Contractual Clauses.
How long we keep data
- Account and profile data: until you delete your account.
- Messages: until deleted by the participants or with the account.
- Moderation and safety records: retained for a limited period after the event so that repeat abuse can be recognised.
- Backups: deleted data may persist in routine backups for a short period before being overwritten.
Deleting your account
You can delete your account from inside the app. Deletion removes your profile, your photos and your messages from active systems. If you cannot access the app, write to support@morsable.com from the address associated with your account and we will handle the request.
Your rights
Depending on where you live, you may have the right to access your data, correct it, delete it, restrict or object to processing, receive a portable copy, and withdraw consent at any time. To exercise any of these, contact us at support@morsable.com.
If you are in the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with your national data protection authority.
California residents. Under the CCPA and CPRA you may request the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected, request deletion, and request correction. We do not sell or share personal information as those terms are defined by California law, and we will not discriminate against you for exercising these rights.
Children
Morsable is not intended for children under 13, and in countries where a higher age of digital consent applies, not for users below that age. We do not knowingly collect data from children below these ages. If you believe a child has created an account, write to us and we will remove it.
Security
Access to stored data is restricted by server-side security rules, requests are validated with Firebase App Check, and traffic is encrypted in transit. No system is perfectly secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security, but we take reasonable measures appropriate to the data involved.
Changes to this policy
If we change this policy in a way that materially affects you, we will update the date at the top and, where the change is significant, notify you in the app. Continuing to use Morsable after a change means you accept the updated policy.
Contact
Questions, requests or complaints: support@morsable.com.