Privacy Policy & Data Safety

This Privacy Policy applies to the BhaktiKosh mobile application (the "App"). We are highly committed to providing a secure, educational, and spiritually enriching experience while ensuring the absolute privacy of our users. This document clearly outlines our practices regarding data collection, data safety, and system permissions.

1. Data Safety Declaration (Google Play Compliance)

Transparency is our priority. In compliance with modern Data Safety standards, here is a clear breakdown of how user data is handled:

• No Personal Identifiable Information (PII): We do not collect your name, email address, phone number, or physical location.
• Anonymous Device Identifiers: To send you timely devotional alerts (Push Notifications), we securely collect an anonymous "Device Token". This token cannot be used to identify you personally.
• No Account Required: The App functions fully without requiring user registration or social media logins.
• Data Encryption in Transit: Any communication between the App and our backend servers occurs over a secure, encrypted connection (HTTPS).

2. Data We Process Locally

To enhance your experience, the App utilizes Local Device Storage for your preferences. When you mark a Bhajan as a "Favorite" or adjust display settings (such as text size), this data is saved strictly on your device's internal memory. The only data transmitted to our secure servers is the anonymous device token required for Push Notifications. You can clear local data at any time by clearing the App's storage cache.

3. App Permissions Explained

We believe in the principle of least privilege. The App only requests permissions that are strictly necessary for its core functionalities:

Permissions We Request:

• Internet & Network State: Required exclusively to fetch daily textual content and to securely load UI images and thumbnails from our Cloudinary CDN.
• Push Notifications (POST_NOTIFICATIONS): For Android 13+ devices, the App may request permission to send you occasional devotional quotes or festival alerts. This is purely optional and can be disabled at any time via your device settings.

Permissions We DO NOT Request:

To ensure your absolute privacy, the App does not and will never request access to:

• Microphone / Audio Recording: (The App only plays text-to-speech audio; it never listens or records).
• Camera / Photos / Media Gallery
• Device Location (GPS)
• Contacts / Phonebook

4. Third-Party Frameworks & Services

To ensure app stability and deliver content, we utilize industry-standard, secure third-party services. These services may collect anonymous crash diagnostics (non-identifiable data) to help us fix bugs:

• Expo Framework: Utilized for app architecture and analytics. (Privacy Policy)
• Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM): Used to securely deliver push notifications to your device. (Privacy Policy)
• Supabase: Used as a secure backend database to temporarily store the anonymous device notification tokens. (Privacy Policy)
• Cloudinary: Utilized purely as a Content Delivery Network (CDN) to host static images. (Privacy Policy)
• Google Play Services: Required for core Android OS compatibility. (Privacy Policy)

5. Content Authenticity & Copyright

The literature provided within BhaktiKosh consists exclusively of Public Domain works (ancient texts by historical saints) and Original texts authored by the Developer. The App does not host, stream, or distribute copyrighted commercial music or third-party intellectual property.

6. Children's Privacy (COPPA)

BhaktiKosh is a safe, family-friendly application. We do not knowingly collect personal data from anyone, including children under the age of 13. The App is deemed safe and educational for all demographics.

7. Policy Updates

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Any modifications will be posted directly on this page, and the "Effective Date" will be updated accordingly. We encourage you to review this policy periodically for any changes.