Privacy Policy - Hint Plus

1. Information We Collect

We collect the following information to provide you with our services:

• Account Information: Email address, display name, and profile picture
• Study Data: Quiz scores, study progress, flashcards, and learning preferences
• Photos: Images you upload for written exam submissions (optional)
• Social Data: Friend connections and chat messages within the app
• Device Information: Device type, OS version, and app usage analytics

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Provide quiz generation and study materials functionality
• Track your learning progress and quiz scores
• Enable social features including friend connections and study groups
• Send study reminders and notifications (when you enable this feature)
• Improve app functionality and user experience
• Provide customer support and respond to inquiries
• Comply with legal obligations and enforce our terms of service

3. Data Storage & Security

Your data is securely stored using Google Firebase Cloud Platform with:

• Encryption in transit and at rest
• Secure authentication and access controls
• Regular security monitoring and updates
• Industry-standard data protection measures

4. Data Sharing

We share data only in the following circumstances:

• Service Providers: We use Google Firebase for app infrastructure, data storage, and authentication services
• AI Services: Quiz content generation services (anonymized data only, no personal information shared)
• Other Users: Your public profile information (name and profile picture) is visible to other users when you use social features
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose information when required by law, legal process, or government request
• Safety and Security: We may share information to protect the safety and security of our users

5. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access: Request a copy of your personal data
• Delete: Delete your account and all associated data
• Correct: Update or correct your personal information
• Control: Manage your privacy settings and notifications
• Export: Download your data in a portable format

6. Data Retention

We keep your data:

• Account Data: Until you delete your account
• Study Progress: Until account deletion or 2 years of inactivity
• Analytics Data: Up to 26 months in aggregated form
• Deleted Accounts: Permanently removed within 30 days

7. How to Delete Your Data

You can delete your data in two ways:

• In-App: Go to Settings → Account → Delete Account
• Email Request: Contact us at support@hintplus.online

All data will be permanently deleted within 30 days of your request.

8. Children's Privacy (COPPA Compliance)

If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under 13 without parental consent, we will delete that information as quickly as possible. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately at support@hintplus.online.

8.1 Safety Features for Users Under 18

For users between 13 and 17 years of age, the app includes the following safety measures:

• Safety Reminders: Mandatory safety reminders are displayed before accessing social features, educating users about online safety and real-world risks of online interactions
• Adult Verification: Social features require adult/parent approval before activation for users under 18
• Parental Controls: Parents/guardians can manage and control social features for child users, including enabling/disabling features or selecting different functionality levels
• Content Monitoring: All shared content is monitored for inappropriate material
• Restricted Communication: Users under 18 can only communicate with verified friends and in moderated study groups

8.2 Social Features

The app's social features are designed for educational purposes:

• Study Groups: Users can join moderated group discussions on academic topics
• Friend Connections: Users can connect with other users for study collaboration
• Content Sharing: Users can share educational materials and quiz results
• Communication Features: Messages are monitored for inappropriate content

Important: Users under 18 should have parental permission before using social features. Parents can disable these features at any time through parental controls.

9. Parental Controls & Management

9.1 How Parents Can Manage Social Features

Parents/guardians can control social features through:

• In-App Controls: Settings → Parental Controls → Social Features Management
• Feature Toggle: Enable/disable individual social features (chat, groups, friend requests)
• Privacy Levels: Set different levels of social interaction (study-only, supervised, disabled)
• Content Monitoring: Review shared content and communications
• Time Restrictions: Set time limits for social feature usage

9.2 Safety Education & Reminders

Before accessing any social features, users receive mandatory safety education including:

• Never share personal information online
• Be aware that people online may not be who they claim to be
• Report inappropriate behavior immediately
• Understand that online interactions can have real-world consequences
• Always inform parents/guardians about online friendships

10. Third-Party Services

Our app uses the following third-party services that may collect information:

• Google Firebase: Authentication, database, storage, and hosting services. See Firebase Privacy Policy
• Google Analytics: Usage statistics and app performance monitoring. See Google Privacy Policy
• Google AI/Gemini: Quiz content generation (no personal data shared)

11. International Data Transfers

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

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by:

• Posting the new privacy policy in the app
• Updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
• Sending an in-app notification for significant changes

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

13. User Rights Under GDPR

If you are in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have the following rights:

• Right to Access: Request copies of your personal data
• Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate data
• Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your personal data
• Right to Restrict Processing: Request limitation of data processing
• Right to Data Portability: Request transfer of your data
• Right to Object: Object to certain types of processing
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent at any time

To exercise these rights, contact us at support@hintplus.online.