Before the Oath: Privacy Policy

Effective date: October 20, 2026
Developer: Stephen Morell ("I", "me", "my")
Contact: feedback@morellcreations.com

This policy explains what information the Before the Oath app for iPhone ("the app") handles, and why. In short: I don't collect personal information. Your study progress stays on your device. There are no ads, no analytics and no tracking.

1. Information stored on your device

The app saves your study progress on your device: which questions you've studied and answered correctly, quiz and mock interview results, game scores, and settings (test version, language, state, voice options). This information is not sent to me or anyone else. It is deleted when you delete the app.

If you set an interview date (and optional time) for the countdown, it is stored only on your device and never sent anywhere. You can change or clear it in Options.

Practice reminders are optional and off until you turn them on. They are local notifications scheduled by iOS on your device: no push service, nothing is sent to me or anyone else. iOS asks your permission first, and you can turn reminders off in Options or in Settings › Notifications.

The app has no accounts, no sign-in and no servers of mine. Studying works offline.

2. Microphone and speech recognition (Apple)

If you choose to answer out loud (for example in the "Listen & speak" mock interview), the app asks for permission to use the microphone and Apple's speech recognition. Your voice is turned into text by Apple's speech recognition service so the app can check your answer. Depending on your device and language, Apple may process the audio on your device or on Apple's servers. Apple's handling is covered by Apple's privacy policy: https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/.

The app does not record, save or send your audio or transcripts to me. Answers are checked on your device and then discarded. You can always type your answers instead, and you can turn off microphone or speech recognition access anytime in Settings › Privacy & Security.

Questions read aloud use the voices built into iOS, on your device.

3. Updated officials list

Some civics answers depend on current officeholders (for example your senators, representative and governor). The app includes these names, and when you're online it may download an updated list of names from a public web address so answers stay current. This is a plain download: the app sends no personal information, only the standard information any web request includes (such as your IP address), which the web host may log briefly. Your chosen state is not sent. This check happens when you tap Check for updated officials in Options and, unless you turn it off there, automatically at most once a week.

3a. Finding your congressional district from an address (optional)

If you choose Find my district (in setup or Options › Where you live) and type an address, the app sends that address directly from your device to the U.S. Census Bureau's free public Geocoder (geocoding.geo.census.gov) to look up your state and congressional district. The address is used only for that one lookup: the app does not save it, and it is not sent to me. Only the resulting state and district are kept on your device, like the rest of your settings. The Census Bureau receives the address and standard web request information (such as your IP address); see census.gov/about/policies/privacy.html. You can skip this and choose your state and district from the list instead.

4. Feedback emails

Options › Send feedback opens your Mail app with a pre-written email to me. Nothing is sent unless you send it. A problem report includes the app version, the civics test version and language you chose, your iOS version and device model, so I can fix the problem; you can see and edit everything before sending. I use your email only to answer you and improve the app, and I don't share it.

4a. Sharing your swearing-in photo (optional)

Share your swearing-in (at the bottom of the Home screen) lets you send me a photo from your citizenship ceremony, a short description and, if you want, your first name. Nothing is shared unless you choose to: the app resizes the photo on your device and opens an email to me (or the iOS share sheet) with the photo attached, which you can review before you send it. The app does not upload anything itself and keeps no copy. If you allow it, the app uses the camera only to take that photo.

By sharing, you agree the photo and description may be shown in the app's gallery. Nothing is published without my review and approval, and I may decline or crop photos (for example to remove other people or personal details). To have your photo removed from the gallery, or your email deleted, email me at any time and I'll remove it in the next app update.

5. Purchases and subscriptions (Apple)

If the app offers a free trial, subscription or other in-app purchase, it is handled entirely by Apple through the App Store. I never see your name, payment card or Apple Account details. The app only asks Apple whether your purchase or subscription is active, so it can unlock content and restore purchases. You can manage or cancel subscriptions in Settings › [your name] › Subscriptions. Apple's privacy policy applies: https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/.

6. Children

The app is a general study tool and isn't directed at children under 13. I don't knowingly collect personal information from anyone, including children.

7. Your rights and choices

• Your study data: it's only on your device. Deleting the app removes it.
• Shared photos: only sent if you choose to; ask me by email to remove one from the gallery.
• Microphone and speech recognition: optional, and you can turn them off in iOS Settings.
• Access, deletion and other rights: depending on where you live (for example under the GDPR or California's CCPA/CPRA) you may have rights over personal information. Because I don't hold personal information about you (other than any email you choose to send me), contact me and I'll delete our email conversation on request.
• I don't sell or share personal information.

8. Not affiliated with the government

Before the Oath is an independent study app. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or any other government agency. The civics questions and answers come from public USCIS study materials. For official information, visit uscis.gov.

9. Changes to this policy

If this policy changes, for example because new features are added, I'll update this page and change the effective date above.

10. Contact

Questions about this policy or your privacy: feedback@morellcreations.com
Stephen Morell, developer of Before the Oath