1. Introduction
Welcome to Qaratzo Mobile App ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our intra-college networking platform.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Personal Information
When you create an account or use our app, we may collect:
- Account Information: Email address, name, college/university affiliation
- Profile Information: Profile picture, bio, academic year, interests, and other information you choose to share
- Verification Data: Student ID, college email, or other verification documents
- Communication Data: Messages, posts, comments, and interactions within the app
2.2 Usage Information
We automatically collect certain information about your device and usage:
- Device information (device type, operating system, unique device identifiers)
- App usage statistics and feature interactions
- Log data and crash reports
- Performance and diagnostic data
3. How We Use Your Information
We use the collected information for the following purposes:
- Account Management: Create and manage your account, verify your identity
- Platform Functionality: Enable messaging, posting, club management, and networking features
- Personalization: Customize your experience and show relevant content
- Safety & Security: Detect fraud, prevent spam, and ensure platform safety
- Analytics: Understand app usage and improve our services
- Communication: Send notifications, updates, and respond to your inquiries
- Legal Compliance: Meet legal obligations and enforce our terms of service
4. Information Sharing and Disclosure
4.1 With Other Users
Your profile information and posts are visible to other authenticated users within your college network. You control what information is shared through your privacy settings.
4.2 With Third Parties
We may share your information with:
- Firebase Services: Google's Firebase platform for authentication, data storage, and analytics
- Google Sign-In: For OAuth authentication services
- Service Providers: Third-party vendors who assist in app operations
- Legal Authorities: When required by law or to protect rights and safety
4.3 Data Retention
We retain your information for as long as necessary to provide our services and fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy, unless a longer retention period is required by law.
5. Data Security
We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information:
- Encryption of data in transit and at rest
- Regular security assessments and updates
- Access controls and authentication requirements
- Firebase's security infrastructure and compliance standards
6. Your Rights and Choices
You have the following rights regarding your personal information:
- Access: Request information about the data we hold about you
- Correction: Update or correct your personal information
- Deletion: Request deletion of your account and associated data
- Data Portability: Export your data in a structured format
- Opt-out: Disable certain data collection features
7. Third-Party Services
Our app integrates with the following third-party services:
- Firebase (Google LLC): Authentication, cloud storage, analytics
- Google Sign-In: OAuth authentication service
- Cloud Firestore: Real-time database services
Please review the privacy policies of these services for information about their data practices.
8. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date.
9. Contact Information
This privacy policy is effective as of the date listed above and applies to all users of the Qaratzo Mobile App.