Privacy Policy
Last updated: 28 September 2026
The short version
- We collect what we need to run Earshelf: your email, the books you ask us to turn into episodes, and the episodes we make for you.
- We don't sell your data, we don't show ads, and this website uses no cookies or analytics.
- To make episodes, we send book text and scripts to AI and voice providers. They process it for us, not for their own marketing.
- If you clone your voice, your recording goes to our voice provider to create the voice. Only record your own voice.
- You can ask us to see, fix or delete your data at any time by emailing privacy@earshelf.com.
Who we are
Earshelf ("we", "us") is operated by Mazen, based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We are the controller of the personal information described in this policy. You can reach us at privacy@earshelf.com.
What we collect
When you join the waitlist
- Your email address.
- Where you found us, if the link you used included a source tag (for example, "tiktok"), and the date you joined.
When you create an account
- Your email address and password. Your password is handled by our authentication provider and stored in a hashed form. We can't see or read it.
When you use the app
- Books you submit. This can be a title you search for, a link, or a PDF you upload. We store the book's title, author, description and cover, the text we extract from a PDF or web page, and the summaries, scripts, takeaways and quotes we generate. The PDF file itself is deleted from our server as soon as its text has been extracted.
- Questions you ask. If you use "Ask the book", we process your question and the answer.
- Episodes we generate. The audio files made for you, and the voice, language, length and background sound you chose.
- Voice recordings (only if you use voice cloning). You record a short sample of your voice in the app. We send it to our voice provider to create a synthetic copy of the voice, then delete the recording from our server. The synthetic voice is linked to your account and is only offered to you. A voice can be identifying personal information, so please read the section on voice cloning below.
Stored only on your device
- Your listening history, your listening streaks and badges, your driving-mode setting, and any episodes you download for offline listening. This stays on your phone and is cleared when you sign out.
Technical information
- Like any online service, our hosting and database providers see technical data such as your IP address, device type and request times when your app or browser connects. We use your IP address to limit abuse (for example, to stop bots flooding the waitlist). We do not use it to identify you or to track you across other sites.
- When you open Earshelf, the app may contact our app-delivery provider to check for updates.
How we use your information
- To run Earshelf: create your account, generate your episodes, and let you listen, download and share them.
- To email you about your waitlist spot, your invite, and important changes to the service. We'll only send launch news and service messages.
- To keep the service secure, prevent abuse, and fix problems.
- To meet legal obligations.
If you are in the European Economic Area, the UK or a similar region, our legal bases are: your consent (joining the waitlist, and recording your voice for cloning), performing our contract with you (running your account and making your episodes), and our legitimate interests (security and preventing abuse). You can withdraw consent at any time.
Who we share it with
We don't sell your personal information and we don't share it for advertising. We use these service providers to run Earshelf. They process information on our behalf:
| Provider | What they do | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Supabase | Accounts, database and file storage | Your email, account details, books, scripts and audio files |
| Render | Runs our servers | All requests to Earshelf pass through it |
| Anthropic | Writes the summaries, scripts, takeaways and answers (AI) | Book text or descriptions, and your questions |
| ElevenLabs | Turns scripts into spoken audio and creates cloned voices | Scripts, and voice recordings if you use voice cloning |
| Google Books | Finds books when you search by title | Your search text |
| Open Library | Book cover images | Your device's IP address when it loads a cover |
| Expo | Delivers app updates | Basic device and connection details |
These providers have their own privacy policies and terms. We may also disclose information if the law requires it, to protect our rights and users, or as part of a sale or merger of the business (we would tell you first).
A note about your audio links
Your generated episodes are stored at web addresses that are long and hard to guess, but they are not password-protected. Anyone who has an episode's link could listen to it. Don't share links to episodes you want to keep private.
Content you submit
Episodes are AI-generated summaries and discussions of a book's ideas. Please only submit books, links and PDFs that you have the right to use. Don't submit anything confidential or sensitive that you wouldn't want processed by the providers above.
Voice cloning
Voice cloning is optional. If you use it:
- Only record your own voice, or the voice of someone who has clearly agreed to it. Don't clone anyone else's voice without their permission.
- Your recording is sent to ElevenLabs to create the voice, and then deleted from our servers. The resulting voice is kept with our voice provider and linked to your account until it is removed.
- We use the cloned voice only to narrate episodes for you. It is not shared with other users.
- You can ask us to delete your cloned voice at any time (see "Your choices and rights").
Where your information is processed
Our providers may process information in the United States and other countries. Our database, file storage and servers are run by these providers in their data centers, which may be located outside the country where you live. If you are in the EEA, UK or Switzerland, this means your information may be transferred outside your region. Where required, we rely on appropriate safeguards such as standard contractual clauses with our providers.
How long we keep it
- Waitlist emails: until we've sent your invite and you've created an account, or until you ask us to remove you.
- Account, books and episodes: for as long as you have an account, or until you ask us to delete them.
- Uploaded PDFs and voice recordings: deleted from our servers right after we process them.
- Backups and logs: may persist for a short period after deletion before they are overwritten.
Your choices and rights
You can ask us to:
- give you a copy of the personal information we hold about you;
- correct information that is wrong;
- delete your account and its data, including your books, episodes and any cloned voice;
- stop using your information, or stop emailing you (every email will also include a way to opt out).
Email privacy@earshelf.com and we'll respond within 30 days. Depending on where you live (for example Saudi Arabia, the EEA, the UK, or California), you may have additional rights under laws such as the Saudi Personal Data Protection Law, the GDPR or the CCPA, including the right to object, to data portability, and to complain to your local data protection authority. We won't treat you differently for using your rights. We do not sell or share personal information for cross-context advertising.
Children
Earshelf is not meant for children under 13 (or under 16 where the law sets that age). We don't knowingly collect their information. If you believe a child has given us personal information, email us and we'll delete it.
Security
We use encrypted connections (HTTPS), require you to sign in to use the app, and keep your data in access-controlled systems. No online service can promise perfect security, so please use a strong, unique password.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy as Earshelf grows. We'll change the date at the top, and if a change is significant we'll let you know by email or in the app.
Contact
Questions or requests: privacy@earshelf.com