1. Introduction
What's News ("we," "our," or "us") respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application.
2. Information We Collect
Personal Information
- Account Information: Email address, display name, profile photo (from OAuth providers or uploaded by you)
- Age Verification: Birth year (self-reported) to verify you meet the minimum age requirement of 16
- Authentication Data: OAuth tokens from Google/Apple (not stored permanently)
- User Content: Comments, usernames, profile pictures, quiz responses you submit
Automatically Collected Information
- Usage Data: App interactions, quiz performance, time spent in app
- Device Information: Device type, operating system, app version
- Technical Data: IP address, unique device identifiers, crash logs
- Performance Data: App performance metrics, error reports
3. How We Use Your Information
- Service Provision: Authenticate users, provide quiz functionality, maintain leaderboards
- Communication: Send service-related notifications, respond to support requests
- Improvement: Analyze usage patterns to improve app functionality
- Safety: Detect fraud, abuse, or violations of our Terms
- Legal Compliance: Comply with legal obligations and protect our rights
4. Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR)
- Consent: You consent to data processing when creating an account
- Contractual Necessity: Processing necessary to provide our services
- Legitimate Interest: App improvement, fraud prevention, analytics
- Legal Obligation: Compliance with applicable laws
5. Information Sharing & Disclosure
- Public Information: Usernames, comments, and leaderboard data are visible to other users
- Service Providers: Google (Firebase), Apple (OAuth), third-party analytics
- Aggregated Data: Anonymous, aggregated usage statistics may be shared
- Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or to protect rights and safety
- Business Transfers: In case of merger, acquisition, or sale of assets
- No Sale: We do not sell your personal information to third parties
6. Data Storage & Security
- Storage Location: Data may be stored in the UK, EU, US, or other jurisdictions
- Security Measures: Industry-standard encryption, secure servers, access controls
- Retention Period: We keep data as long as your account is active or as needed for legal purposes
- No Guarantee: While we use reasonable security measures, no system is 100% secure
7. Your Rights (GDPR & CCPA)
- Access: Request a copy of your personal data
- Rectification: Correct inaccurate or incomplete data
- Erasure: Request deletion of your data ("right to be forgotten")
- Portability: Receive your data in a portable format
- Restriction: Limit how we process your data
- Objection: Object to processing based on legitimate interests
- Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent at any time
- No Discrimination: We will not discriminate for exercising your rights
8. Third-Party Services
- Google Services: Firebase (hosting, analytics), Google Sign-In
- Apple Services: Apple Sign-In, authentication services
- AI Services: OpenAI (ChatGPT) for content evaluation
- Analytics: Usage analytics for app improvement
Each service has its own privacy policy governing their data practices.
9. Cookies & Tracking
- We use minimal tracking technologies for authentication and app functionality
- Third-party services may use their own tracking technologies
- You can control some tracking through your device settings
10. Age Requirements & Verification
- Our app requires users to be at least 16 years old
- During registration, we collect your birth year before you sign in to verify you meet this requirement
- We do not knowingly collect personal information from users under 16
- If we discover a user is under 16, we will immediately delete their account and all associated data
- Parents can contact us if they believe their child under 16 has registered
- Data Storage: Birth year is stored securely in our database and is not shared with third parties
- Verification Method: Self-reported (user enters their birth year before account creation)
- Verification Timing: Age is verified before any personal data (email, name) is collected or stored
11. International Data Transfers
- Your data may be transferred to and processed in countries outside your residence
- We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for international transfers
- For EU users: transfers comply with GDPR adequacy decisions or use standard contractual clauses
12. Data Breach Notification
- We will notify users of significant data breaches affecting personal information
- Notifications will be made within 72 hours where required by law
- We will provide information about the breach and steps being taken
13. California Privacy Rights (CCPA)
- California residents have additional rights under the CCPA
- You can request to know what personal information we collect and how it's used
- You can request deletion of your personal information
- You can opt-out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell personal information)
- We will not discriminate against you for exercising these rights
14. Changes to Privacy Policy
- We may update this Privacy Policy periodically
- Material changes will be communicated through the app or email
- Continued use after changes indicates acceptance
15. Contact & Data Protection Officer
- General Inquiries: support@whatsnewsapp.com
- Privacy Requests: privacy@whatsnewsapp.com
- Data Protection Officer: dpo@whatsnewsapp.com
- EU Representative: [To be appointed if processing EU data at scale]