Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Personal Information You Provide

When you register and use Aqra, we collect information that you voluntarily provide to us, including:

• Account Information: Name, email address, phone number, password
• Profile Information: Profile picture, bio, educational background, teaching subjects, language preferences
• Identity Verification: For teachers, we may collect government-issued ID or certification documents
• Payment Information: Bank account details or payment method information for processing transactions
• Communication Data: Messages, lesson requests, reviews, and ratings you send through our platform

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you use our app, we automatically collect certain information:

• Device Information: Device type, operating system version, unique device identifiers, mobile network information
• Usage Data: Features accessed, time spent in app, pages viewed, search queries, lesson bookings
• Location Data: With your permission, we collect precise location data to help you find nearby teachers
• Log Data: IP address, access times, error logs, crash reports
• Cookies and Similar Technologies: We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience

1.3 Push Notification Tokens

With your explicit permission, we collect device push notification tokens to send you:

• New message notifications
• Lesson request updates
• Booking confirmations
• Important app announcements

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• Service Delivery: To create and manage your account, facilitate lesson bookings, process payments, and enable communication between students and teachers
• Personalization: To customize your experience, recommend relevant teachers, and provide location-based services
• Communication: To send you notifications, updates, promotional materials (with your consent), and respond to your inquiries
• Security & Fraud Prevention: To verify identities, detect and prevent fraudulent activity, and ensure platform safety
• Analytics & Improvement: To analyze usage patterns, understand user preferences, and improve our services
• Legal Compliance: To comply with legal obligations, enforce our terms of service, and protect our legal rights
• Customer Support: To provide technical support and resolve issues

3. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We respect your privacy and do not sell your personal information. We may share your information only in the following circumstances:

3.1 With Other Users

• Public Profile Information: Your name, profile picture, bio, subjects, ratings, and reviews are visible to other users
• Communication: When you message a teacher or student, they can see your profile information
• Lesson Details: Information necessary to coordinate lessons is shared between students and teachers

3.2 With Service Providers

We share information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in:

• Cloud hosting and data storage
• Payment processing
• Push notification delivery (Firebase Cloud Messaging)
• Analytics and performance monitoring
• Customer support tools
• Email delivery services

These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the services they provide to us.

3.3 For Legal Reasons

We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to:

• Valid legal requests from government authorities
• Court orders or subpoenas
• Investigations of potential violations of our terms of service
• Protection of rights, property, or safety of Aqra, our users, or the public

3.4 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the acquiring entity.

3.5 With Your Consent

We may share your information for other purposes with your explicit consent.

4. Data Storage and Security

4.1 Security Measures

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your personal information:

• Encryption of data in transit using SSL/TLS
• Encryption of sensitive data at rest
• Secure authentication mechanisms
• Regular security audits and penetration testing
• Access controls and employee training
• Monitoring for suspicious activity

Important: While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

4.2 Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to:

• Provide our services to you
• Comply with legal obligations
• Resolve disputes
• Enforce our agreements

When you delete your account, we will delete or anonymize your personal information within 90 days, except where we are required to retain it by law.

4.3 Data Location

Your information may be stored and processed in servers located in various countries. By using Aqra, you consent to the transfer of your information to countries outside your country of residence, which may have different data protection laws.

5. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your location, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:

5.1 Access and Portability

• Right to Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Data Portability: Receive your data in a structured, commonly used format

5.2 Correction and Deletion

• Right to Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Right to Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information (subject to legal retention requirements)

5.3 Control and Objection

• Right to Object: Object to processing of your personal information for certain purposes
• Right to Restrict: Request restriction of processing in certain circumstances
• Withdraw Consent: Withdraw your consent at any time where we rely on consent

5.4 How to Exercise Your Rights

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at support@aqra.ai. We will respond to your request within 30 days.

5.5 Marketing Preferences

• Push Notifications: Disable in your device settings or app settings
• Email Marketing: Unsubscribe using the link in our emails
• Location Services: Disable in your device settings

6. Children's Privacy

Age Requirement: Aqra is not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information without your consent, please contact us immediately at support@aqra.ai. We will take steps to delete such information from our systems.

For Users Aged 13-17: If you are between 13 and 17 years old, please ensure you have parental or guardian consent before using Aqra.

7. Third-Party Services and Links

7.1 Third-Party Services We Use

Aqra integrates with the following third-party services:

• Firebase (Google): For authentication, cloud messaging, push notifications, and analytics
  Privacy Policy: https://firebase.google.com/support/privacy
• Payment Processors: For secure payment processing (specific provider to be disclosed)
• Cloud Storage Providers: For data storage and backup

7.2 Third-Party Links

Our app may contain links to third-party websites or services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to read their privacy policies before providing any information.

7.3 Social Media

If you connect your social media accounts to Aqra, we may collect information from those accounts as permitted by your privacy settings. Please review the privacy policies of those social media platforms.

8. International Data Transfers

Aqra operates globally, and your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have different data protection laws.

When we transfer your information internationally, we implement appropriate safeguards, including:

• Standard contractual clauses approved by regulatory authorities
• Data processing agreements with our service providers
• Compliance with applicable data protection frameworks

9. California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

• Right to Know: What personal information we collect, use, disclose, and sell
• Right to Delete: Request deletion of your personal information
• Right to Opt-Out: Opt-out of the sale of personal information (Note: We do not sell personal information)
• Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising your CCPA rights

To exercise these rights, contact us at support@aqra.ai

10. European Privacy Rights (GDPR)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom, or Switzerland, you have rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

• Legal Basis for Processing: We process your data based on consent, contract performance, legal obligations, and legitimate interests
• Data Protection Officer: You may contact our DPO at privacy@aqra.ai
• Supervisory Authority: You have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority
• Automated Decision-Making: We do not use automated decision-making or profiling that produces legal effects

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or for other operational reasons.

How We Notify You:

• We will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this policy
• For material changes, we will notify you via email or in-app notification
• Continued use of Aqra after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

12. Cookie Policy

Aqra uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience:

• Essential Cookies: Required for basic app functionality
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how you use our app
• Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and preferences
• Marketing Cookies: Used to deliver relevant advertisements (with your consent)

You can control cookies through your device settings, but disabling certain cookies may limit functionality.

14. Additional Information

14.1 Data Breach Notification

In the event of a data breach that affects your personal information, we will notify you and relevant authorities as required by law, typically within 72 hours of becoming aware of the breach.

14.2 Your California "Shine the Light" Rights

California residents can request information about our disclosure of personal information to third parties for direct marketing purposes. To make such a request, contact us at support@aqra.ai

14.3 Do Not Track Signals

Some browsers have "Do Not Track" features. Currently, we do not respond to Do Not Track signals as there is no industry standard for handling such signals.