Privacy Policy for NukoScope

Last updated: 21 Sep 2026

NukoScope ("the app") is an Android app, developed by Nuko ("we", "our"), that overlays pinyin/zhuyin readings on Chinese text seen through the camera. This page explains what data the app does — and does not — handle.

Short version

The app's core features — live pronunciation overlay on the camera view, reading a captured still frame, and switching between Pinyin and Zhuyin — all run entirely on your device using a built-in dictionary, and never send your camera feed or recognized text anywhere. We do not operate any server and do not collect or store your personal data ourselves. Network communication happens in only three situations:

• Ads (Free version only): the Free version shows a banner ad at the top of the screen using Google AdMob. To serve and measure ads, Google may collect and use your advertising ID, IP address, device information, and information about ad impressions and interactions. The Pro (paid) version shows no ads and makes no ad-related network requests.
• Pro purchase: upgrading to Pro is handled through Google Play Billing. Your payment details (such as card numbers) are processed by Google Play and never shared with us. The app only retrieves whether you have purchased Pro from Google Play.
• AI-assisted reading accuracy (optional, detail screen only): if you enter your own Gemini API key in Settings, the captured still image is sent directly from your device to Google's Gemini API, using your own key, and a more accurate reading is sent back. We never receive or store this image ourselves.

About ads (Free version)

Ads in the Free version are served by Google AdMob, which may use your advertising ID and similar data to show interest-based (personalized) ads. In the European Economic Area (EEA), the UK, and other applicable regions, a consent form from Google's User Messaging Platform (UMP) is shown on first launch, and you can change your choice at any time from "Ad privacy settings" in the app's About screen. You can also delete your advertising ID or opt out of ad personalization in Android's settings. For how Google handles data, see Google's Privacy Policy (https://policies.google.com/privacy) and its explanation of how Google uses data from partner sites and apps.

How the app uses your camera

The app's core feature is not possible without a camera, so it requests the CAMERA permission. Recognizing text from the live camera feed or a captured still frame (to overlay readings) is done entirely on your device using Google's ML Kit (on-device text recognition), and the image is never sent anywhere — except through the optional AI accuracy feature described above, if you've enabled it.

What's stored on your device

Your display settings (Pinyin/Zhuyin), your Pro purchase status, and any Gemini API key you enter are stored only in the app's local storage on your device. We never receive this data, and it is not sent anywhere — other than the app checking your purchase status with Google Play, and the optional AI accuracy feature described above, if you've enabled it.

Permissions

• Camera (CAMERA): used for the app's core features — the live pronunciation overlay and capturing a still frame.
• Internet (INTERNET): used only for ads in the Free version, checking your Pro purchase, and the optional AI reading-accuracy feature. Every other feature works fully offline.
• Advertising ID (AD_ID): used by Google AdMob to serve ads in the Free version. You can delete or reset your advertising ID at any time in Android's settings.

What we do not collect

We operate no server of our own, and we do not collect:

• Personal information (name, email, location, etc.)
• Your camera feed, captured images, or recognized text
• Usage analytics or crash reports sent to any server of ours

Data that Google AdMob collects to serve ads in the Free version (such as your advertising ID) is handled by Google under its own privacy policy, and is not received by us.

Third-party services

The app integrates with exactly four third-party services, all provided by Google and each governed by its own privacy policy:

• Google ML Kit (text recognition, fully on-device with no network transmission)
• Google AdMob and Google User Messaging Platform (ads in the Free version, and consent collection in applicable regions)
• Google Play Billing (processing the Pro purchase)
• Google Gemini API (only when the AI accuracy feature is enabled, using your own API key, communicating directly from your device)

No other third-party SDK, analytics platform, or ad network is included.

Children's privacy

The app is not directed to children under 13 (or the relevant age in your country), and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them.

Changes to this policy

If this policy ever changes — for example, due to a future feature such as saving scan records — this page will be updated and the "Last updated" date above will change accordingly.

Contact

Questions about this policy or the app can be sent to: contact@nukoapps.fyi