Privacy Policy for BD News Hub
AlgolHub ("we," "us," or "our") operates the BD News Hub mobile application (the "App"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your information when you use our App.
1. Information We Collect
1.1 Information You Provide
- Bookmarks: When you bookmark articles, the article title, URL, image, description, and associated newspaper are saved locally on your device.
- Custom Newspapers: If you add custom newspapers, the name, URL, and category are stored locally on your device.
- App Preferences: Your settings such as theme mode, font size, and notification preferences are stored locally on your device.
1.2 Automatically Collected Information
- Usage Analytics: Anonymized usage statistics (screens viewed, features used, session duration) collected via Firebase Analytics to help us improve the App.
- Device Information: Device model, operating system version, and app version collected via Firebase Analytics for compatibility and performance analysis.
1.3 Advertising Information
- AdMob (Google Ads): The App displays banner and native ads through Google AdMob. AdMob may collect advertising identifiers, IP address, and device information for ad delivery and personalization. You can opt out of personalized ads in your device settings.
1.4 Information We Do NOT Collect
- We do not require account creation or sign-in.
- We do not collect your name, email address, phone number, or any personally identifiable information.
- We do not collect your browsing history within newspaper websites.
- We do not collect or store the content of articles you read.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use collected information for the following purposes:
- App Functionality: Store your bookmarks, preferences, and custom newspapers locally to provide a personalized experience.
- App Improvement: Analyze anonymized usage patterns to improve features, fix bugs, and optimize performance.
- Advertising: Display ads through Google AdMob to support free access to the App.
3. Data Sharing and Third-Party Services
We do not sell your personal information. We share data only with the following third-party services:
3.1 Google AdMob
- Purpose: Display banner and native ads
- Data Shared: Advertising ID, device information, IP address
- Privacy Policy: Google Ads Privacy Policy
3.2 Firebase Analytics (Google)
- Purpose: Anonymized app usage analytics
- Data Shared: Anonymized usage events, device model, OS version, app version
- Privacy Policy: Firebase Privacy Policy
3.3 Newspaper Websites
- Purpose: The App uses an embedded WebView to load newspaper websites directly. When you visit a newspaper, your device connects to that newspaper's servers.
- Data Shared: Your IP address and standard HTTP request headers are sent directly to the newspaper website, as with any web browser. We do not act as an intermediary for this traffic.
- Note: Each newspaper website has its own privacy policy governing how they handle your data.
4. Data Storage and Security
- Local Storage: All user data (bookmarks, preferences, custom newspapers) is stored locally on your device using encrypted databases (Room) and secure preferences (DataStore). This data never leaves your device.
- No Cloud Sync: We do not sync your data to any cloud servers. If you uninstall the App or clear app data, your bookmarks and preferences will be permanently deleted.
- Security Measures: We use industry-standard security practices to protect data within the App. However, no method of electronic storage is 100% secure.
5. Data Retention
- Local Data: Stored on your device until you uninstall the App or clear app data.
- Analytics Data: Firebase Analytics data is retained for up to 14 months, then automatically deleted or anonymized by Google.
- Advertising Data: Managed by Google AdMob according to Google's data retention policies.
6. Your Privacy Rights
You have the following rights regarding your data:
- Access: View your bookmarks and settings within the App.
- Delete: Remove individual bookmarks within the App, or clear all local data by uninstalling the App or using your device's app settings (Settings > Apps > BD News Hub > Clear Data).
- Opt-Out of Personalized Ads: Disable ad personalization in your device settings (Settings > Google > Ads > Opt out of Ads Personalization).
- Opt-Out of Analytics: Disable usage data sharing in your device's Google settings.
7. Children's Privacy
Our App is a news aggregator suitable for general audiences. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. The App does not require any personal information to function. If you believe a child has somehow provided personal information through the App, please contact us at support@algolhub.com and we will address it promptly.
8. International Data Transfers
Anonymized analytics and advertising data may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own, including the United States, where Google's servers are located. By using the App, you consent to such transfers in accordance with this Privacy Policy and applicable data protection laws.
9. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by:
- Updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
- Posting the updated policy at the same URL
Your continued use of the App after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
10. Contact Us
If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your data, please contact us:
11. Legal Compliance
This Privacy Policy complies with:
- General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) - EU
- California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) - USA
- Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) - USA
- Google Play Developer Program Policies
By using BD News Hub, you agree to this Privacy Policy.