Provision record
Duolingo · Duolingo Privacy Policy · View original document ↗

Voice Data Collection

High severity Common · 295 of 352 platforms
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Document Record

What it is

Duolingo records your voice when you use speaking exercises and uses those recordings to assess your pronunciation and improve its technology.

This analysis describes what Duolingo's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology

ConductAtlas Analysis

Why it matters (compliance & governance perspective)

The clause establishes the scope and stated purpose of voice data collection, which is a material data practice given that voice recordings constitute sensitive audio data. This provision defines the operational basis for voice capture and processing within the service.

Recent Activity

This document changed recently

Medium May 27, 2026

The updated policy removes explicit language stating that Android users and website users are not subject to audio collection for product improvement purposes. Previously, the policy authorized audio collection only from iOS users, with an explicit carve-out for Android and web users. The revised language now states that all users may choose not to share audio within app Settings, suggesting audio collection may now occur across all platforms unless the opt-out mechanism is used. The practical operational effect of this change depends on whether Duolingo implements audio collection on Android and web platforms, which the policy change does not explicitly confirm. You can decline audio sharing for product improvement by adjusting the setting within the app.

View change record →

Clause Stability Mostly Stable

1
Change
4
Months Monitored
Apr 18, 2026
First Seen
Apr 18, 2026
Last Seen
This clause type exists across 4187 other provisions on other platforms.
This clause has changed once in 4 months of monitoring.

Change history

removed May 27, 2026

Removal of explicit disclosure about voice data collection is significant as it previously provided clear notice about a sensitive form of biometric data collection used for speech recognition.

View full change record →

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

Your voice recordings are collected during speaking exercises and may be used beyond immediate pronunciation feedback, including to train Duolingo's speech recognition systems, which raises questions about retention and secondary use of biometric-adjacent data.

What you can do

⚠️ These actions may provide transparency or partial mitigation but may not fully address the underlying issue. Effectiveness varies by jurisdiction and individual circumstances.
  • Delete Your Data
    Within 30 days
    Email privacy@duolingo.com requesting deletion of your voice recordings. Specify your account username and the data type (voice recordings) in your request.

How other platforms handle this

ZipRecruiter Medium

You may give us your Identity Data, Contact Data, Financial Data, Profile Data, and other information by filling in forms or by corresponding with us by post, phone, e-mail or otherwise.

NVIDIA NIM Medium

NIM container releases that collect data, collect it for the following purposes: (a) to properly configure and optimize products for use with Software; and (b) to improve NVIDIA products and services.

Glassdoor Medium

Some of our ad partners may also enable us to collect similar data directly from their website or app by integrating our or our affiliates' advertising technology.

See all platforms with this clause type →
▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
We collect voice recordings when you use voice-based features in our app, such as speaking exercises. We use these recordings to evaluate your pronunciation and improve our speech recognition technology.

Excerpt from Duolingo's Privacy Policy

ConductAtlas Analysis

Institutional analysis (regulatory & governance intelligence)

REGULATORY FRAMEWORK: Voice data collection implicates GDPR Art.

Insight

Unlock the full institutional analysis

Enforcement risk, jurisdiction flags, contract triggers, and due diligence action items.

Applicable agencies

  • Federal Trade Commission (ftc)
    Oversees unfair or deceptive business practices and can investigate companies that mislead consumers about data collection, sharing, or use.
    Who can file: Anyone affected by the company's practices (US or international)
    What you need: Your account details, a timeline of relevant events, and a description of the specific issue
    What to expect: Complaints inform FTC enforcement priorities and investigations but do not result in individual resolution or compensation
    File a complaint →

Applicable regulations

EU AI Act
European Union
CCPA/CPRA
California, USA
COPPA
United States Federal
Connecticut Data Privacy Act Amendments
US-CT
CAN-SPAM
United States Federal
ePrivacy Directive
European Union
FTC Act Section 5
United States Federal
GDPR
European Union
Indiana Consumer Data Protection Act
US-IN
Kentucky Consumer Data Protection Act
US-KY
UK GDPR
United Kingdom
Universal Opt-Out Mechanism Expansion 2026
US

Provision details

Document information
Document
Duolingo Privacy Policy
Entity
Duolingo
Document last updated
May 5, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
April 18, 2026
Last verified
April 18, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-002764
Document ID
CA-D-00084
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
18dc44f61316909c4efd9113eadb61be0022e2b5dce55feb464c0f8eb1b08ef1
Analysis generated
April 18, 2026 09:22 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: Duolingo
Document: Duolingo Privacy Policy
Record ID: CA-P-002764
Captured: 2026-04-18 09:22:23 UTC
SHA-256: 18dc44f61316909c…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/duolingo/duolingo-privacy-policy/provision/CA-P-002764/voice-data-collection/
Accessed: Sept. 8, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
Classification
Severity
High
Categories

Other risks in this policy

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does Duolingo's Voice Data Collection clause do?

The clause establishes the scope and stated purpose of voice data collection, which is a material data practice given that voice recordings constitute sensitive audio data. This provision defines the operational basis for voice capture and processing within the service.

How does this clause affect you?

Your voice recordings are collected during speaking exercises and may be used beyond immediate pronunciation feedback, including to train Duolingo's speech recognition systems, which raises questions about retention and secondary use of biometric-adjacent data.

How many platforms have this type of clause?

ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 295 platforms. See the full comparison.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with Duolingo?

No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Duolingo.