Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to Hitham ("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 mobile application and services.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Personal Information

We collect the following personal information when you register and use our app:

• Account Information: Name, email address, phone number
• Profile Information: Profile picture, bio, religious preferences
• Pujari Information: For verified Pujaris - certificates, qualifications, experience
• Location Data: Your location to show nearby pujas and services
• Event Information: Details about pujas you post or apply for

2.2 Automatically Collected Information

• Device Information: Device type, operating system, unique device identifiers
• Usage Data: App features used, time spent, interactions
• Log Data: IP address, crash reports, performance data

2.3 Information from Third Parties

• Firebase Authentication: Authentication tokens and user IDs
• Google Maps: Location and mapping data
• Payment Processors: Transaction data (if applicable)

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for the following purposes:

• Service Delivery: To provide, maintain, and improve our services
• User Matching: To connect users with nearby pujaris and events
• Communication: To send notifications, updates, and respond to inquiries
• Verification: To verify pujari credentials and maintain service quality
• Safety & Security: To detect fraud, abuse, and ensure platform safety
• Analytics: To understand usage patterns and improve user experience
• Legal Compliance: To comply with legal obligations and enforce our terms

4. Data Sharing and Disclosure

4.1 Information Shared with Other Users

When you use PujariSetu, certain information is visible to other users:

• Your name, profile picture, and bio
• Events you post (for event organizers)
• Your pujari profile (if you're a verified pujari)
• Your approximate location (city/area, not exact address)

4.2 Third-Party Service Providers

We share data with trusted third-party services:

• Firebase (Google): Authentication, database, storage, and analytics
• Google Maps: Location services and mapping
• Gemini AI: For generating daily spiritual content
• Cloud Storage: For storing user-uploaded files

4.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law or in response to valid legal requests.

5. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your data:

• Encryption of data in transit and at rest
• Secure Firebase Authentication
• Regular security audits and updates
• Access controls and authentication
• Secure cloud infrastructure (Google Cloud Platform)

Note: While we strive to protect your data, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Your Rights and Choices

6.1 Access and Update

You can access and update your personal information through the app's settings at any time.

6.2 Data Deletion

You have the right to request deletion of your account and personal data:

• In-App: Go to Settings → Account → Delete Account
• Web: Visit our data deletion page
• Email: Contact us at privacy@pujarisetu.com

Upon deletion request, we will remove your data within 30 days, except where retention is required by law.

6.3 Location Data

You can control location permissions through your device settings. Note that disabling location may limit app functionality.

6.4 Marketing Communications

You can opt out of promotional emails by using the unsubscribe link or updating your notification preferences in the app.

7. Children's Privacy

PujariSetu is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately, and we will delete such information.

8. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to:

• Provide our services
• Comply with legal obligations
• Resolve disputes and enforce agreements

After account deletion, we may retain certain information in anonymized form for analytics and legal compliance.

9. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own. We use Google Cloud Platform's infrastructure, which complies with international data protection standards including GDPR.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by:

• Posting the new Privacy Policy in the app
• Updating the "Last Updated" date
• Sending an in-app notification for material changes

Your continued use of the app after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

12. Compliance

This Privacy Policy is designed to comply with:

• Google Play Store Data Safety requirements
• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
• California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
• Information Technology Act, 2000 (India)