Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Prayer Circle ("we," "us," "our," or "Company") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application and related services (the "Service").

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our Service.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

• Account Information: Username, email address, profile picture, phone number
• Prayer & Content: Prayers, messages, comments, posts, and other user-generated content
• Communications: Direct messages, group chats (encrypted end-to-end)
• Profile Data: Biographical information, interests, location preferences
• Payment Information: Billing address, payment method (processed securely by third parties)

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

• Device Information: Device type, operating system, device identifiers
• Usage Data: App features used, content viewed, time spent in app
• Location Data: Optional location services for prayer groups and community features
• Push Notifications: Device tokens for push notification delivery
• Analytics: App performance, crash reports, user behavior analytics

3. How We Use Your Information

We use collected information for:

• Service Delivery: Creating accounts, delivering content, processing transactions
• Communication: Sending notifications, responding to inquiries, service updates
• Personalization: Customizing your experience, showing relevant content
• Security: Fraud prevention, account protection, abuse prevention
• Analytics: Understanding user behavior, improving service quality
• Legal Compliance: Meeting regulatory requirements

4. End-to-End Encryption

5. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures:

• Encryption: Messages encrypted in transit (TLS/SSL) and at rest
• Authentication: Secure login with device verification
• Access Controls: Strict limits on who can access user data
• Data Minimization: We collect only necessary information
• Regular Audits: Security reviews and penetration testing

However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Third-Party Services

Our Service uses the following third-party services:

• Firebase Cloud Messaging: Push notifications (Google LLC)
• Apple Push Notification service: Push notifications (Apple Inc.)
• Parse Server: Backend infrastructure (self-hosted)
• Google Maps: Optional location services
• Google Translate: Optional translation features
• MinIO: Content storage (images, videos, audio)

These services have their own privacy policies. We recommend reviewing them.

7. Location Information

Prayer Circle may collect location information when:

• You explicitly enable location services for prayer group features
• You share your location in messages or profile
• You use location-based discovery features

You can disable location services at any time in your device settings. Disabling location will limit certain features but won't affect core functionality.

8. Push Notifications

We send push notifications for:

• New messages
• Prayer group updates
• Community interactions
• Service announcements

You can manage notification preferences in:

• Android: Settings → Notifications → Prayer Circle
• iOS: Settings → Notifications → Prayer Circle

9. User-Generated Content

Content you create (prayers, messages, posts) is subject to:

• Privacy Settings: You control who can see your content
• Sharing: Others can see shared content based on privacy settings
• Moderation: We may remove content violating community guidelines
• Data Retention: Deleted content is removed from active servers

10. Children's Privacy

Prayer Circle is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 13. If we discover we've collected information from a child under 13, we will delete it immediately.

For users aged 13-18, we provide additional privacy protections including limited data sharing and enhanced content filtering options.

11. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your location, you may have rights to:

• Access: Request a copy of your personal data
• Correction: Update inaccurate information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your account and data ("Right to be Forgotten")
• Portability: Receive your data in a portable format
• Opt-out: Disable certain data collection practices

To exercise these rights, contact us at: [email protected]

12. Data Retention

We retain your information for:

• Active Accounts: Duration of account existence + 30 days after deletion
• Deleted Messages: Permanently deleted from servers immediately
• Backups: May retain for up to 90 days for recovery purposes
• Analytics: Aggregated data retained indefinitely (anonymized)
• Legal Requirements: Longer retention if required by law

13. International Data Transfer

Your information may be transferred, stored, and processed in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have data protection laws different from your home country. By using Prayer Circle, you consent to such transfers.

Our servers are located in:

• US Region: Prayer Circle US infrastructure
• EU Region: Prayer Circle EU infrastructure
• Data Centers: AWS, Google Cloud, self-hosted infrastructure

14. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. We will notify you of changes by:

• Posting the new policy on the Service
• Updating the "Last Updated" date
• Requiring explicit consent for material changes

Your continued use of the Service constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

15. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us:

16. Your Consent

By using Prayer Circle, you consent to our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with any part of this policy, please discontinue use of the Service immediately.