Privacy Policy
The Privacy Policy explains how you collect, use, store, and protect user data. It's crucial for transparency and compliance with data protection laws (like GDPR, CCPA, etc., depending on your user base).
Key Sections to Include:
Introduction:
Your commitment to privacy.
Scope of the policy.
Date of last update.
Example Clause:
Your privacy is critically important to us. This Privacy Policy describes how Alpinesoft It Solutions PVT LTD ("we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, and discloses information that we obtain about users of our Balance mobile application (the "App"). By using the App, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.
Information We Collect:
Information You Provide Directly:
Account Information: Gmail address, name (if provided by Gmail or explicitly by user).
Profile Information: Any optional details users add.
Expense Data: Group names, expense descriptions, amounts, dates, members, payment details.
Communications: Messages to support, feedback.
Example Clause:
a. Information You Provide to Us:
Account Information: When you create an account, we collect your Gmail address and name (as provided by your Gmail account).
Expense and Group Data: We collect information you input into the App, including group names, expense details (description, amount, date), members involved in expenses, and settlement information.
Communications: If you contact us directly, we may receive additional information such as your name, email address, and the contents of your message.
Information We Collect Automatically:
Usage Information: How users interact with the app (features used, time spent).
Device Information: Device type, operating system, unique device identifiers.
Log Data: IP address (if collected), crash reports.
Example Clause:
b. Information Collected Automatically:
Usage Data: We may collect information about how you access and use the App, such as the features you use, the groups you create, the expenses you add, and the frequency and duration of your activities.
Device Information: We collect information about the device you use to access the App, including device type, operating system, unique device identifiers, and mobile network information.
Log Data: Our servers automatically record information that your device sends whenever you use our App. This may include your IP address, browser type, and app crash data.
Information from Third Parties (e.g., Contacts):
Clarify what contact data is accessed and for what purpose.
Example Clause:
c. Information from Your Device (Contacts):
With your explicit permission, the App may access your device's contact list to facilitate adding members to your groups. We do not store your entire contact list on our servers. This access is solely to allow you to select contacts to invite to your groups within the App.
How We Use Your Information:
To provide and maintain the app's functionality (expense tracking, group management).
To improve the app and develop new features.
To communicate with you (e.g., support, updates).
For security and fraud prevention.
For analytics and research.
Example Clause:
We use the information we collect for various purposes, including:
To operate, maintain, and provide the features and functionality of the App, such as managing your groups, tracking expenses, and facilitating settlements.
To improve and personalize the App, and to develop new features and services.
To understand and analyze how you use our App.
To communicate with you, respond to your inquiries, and provide customer support.
To detect, prevent, and address technical issues, security incidents, or fraudulent activity.
For analytics and research purposes to understand user behavior and trends.
How We Share Your Information:
With other group members: Expense details are shared within the group.
Service Providers: Third-party services used for hosting, analytics, etc. (e.g., cloud providers, crash reporting tools).
Legal Requirements: When required by law.
Business Transfers: In case of acquisition or merger.
Example Clause:
We may share your information in the following ways:
Within Groups: Information related to expenses and group members (e.g., who owes whom, what expenses were added) is shared with other members of the respective groups you participate in.
Third-Party Service Providers: We may share your information with third-party vendors and service providers who perform services on our behalf, such as hosting, data analytics, and technical support. These service providers are authorized to use your personal information only as necessary to provide these services to us.
Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., a court order or government agency).
Business Transfers: In connection with any merger, sale of company assets, financing, or acquisition of all or a portion of our business by another company, your information may be transferred.
Data Security:
Measures taken to protect data (encryption, access controls).
Acknowledgement that no system is 100% secure.
Example Clause:
We implement reasonable security measures designed to protect your information from unauthorized access, use, alteration, and disclosure. However, please be aware that no security system is impenetrable, and we cannot guarantee the absolute security of your information.
Data Retention:
How long data is kept.
Example Clause:
We retain your information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you services, and thereafter for a limited period as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law.
7. Your Choices and Rights:
* Account Information: How to update or delete your account.
* Permissions: How to manage device permissions (e.g., contacts).
* Data Access/Deletion: How users can request access to or deletion of their data (important for GDPR, CCPA).
Example Clause:
> * *Account Information:* You may update or correct your account information at any time by logging into your account settings within the App. You may also request the deletion of your account and associated data by contacting us at [email protected].
> * *Device Permissions:* You can enable or disable permissions for accessing your contacts at any time through your device settings.
> * *Data Access and Deletion:* Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the right to request access to your personal data that we hold, or to request its deletion. Please contact us to exercise these rights.
Children's Privacy:
Statement about not collecting data from children under a certain age (e.g., 13 or 16, depending on jurisdiction).
Example Clause:
Our App is not intended for use by children under the age of 13 (or 16, depending on applicable law). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under [Age]. If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us, and we will take steps to delete such information.
International Data Transfers (if applicable):
If your app users or servers are in different countries, mention how data is protected when transferred.
Example Clause:
Your information, including personal data, may be transferred to and maintained on computers located outside of your state, province, country, or other governmental jurisdiction where the data protection laws may differ from those of your jurisdiction.
Changes to This Privacy Policy:
How you will notify users of updates.
Example Clause:
We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy in the App and/or on our website and updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy.
Contact Us:
How users can contact you with privacy questions.
Example Clause:
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at [email protected].