Privacy Policy: BrutusAI: Ask & Search Chatbot

Last Updated: September 17, 2024

Welcome to BrutusAI: Ask & Search Chatbot. This Privacy Policy outlines our practices regarding the collection, use, processing, and disclosure of personal information provided by users of our app, which is available on the Play Store and Apple Store. We are committed to protecting your privacy and managing your personal information transparently and securely.

1. Information We Collect & How We Use It

1.1 Primary Account Information

  • Required Information: To access our app, users are required to authenticate via a social provider such as Gmail or Apple Sign-In. These providers share with us a unique user identifier (UID), which is essential for creating and maintaining your user profile.
  • Purpose: The UID is used for authentication, verifying user identity during each session, and ensuring data privacy.
  • Sharing: We do not share this UID with third parties except when necessary to facilitate authentication or comply with legal requirements.

1.2 User-Generated Content

  • Chat Data: We collect and store the content of your conversations within our app, including text inputs and image uploads.
  • Purpose: This data is used to enhance functionality, provide customized responses, and optimize user experience.
  • Retention and Access: Your chat history is stored securely and is accessible only to you and select personnel who require access to fulfill our service obligations or when legally mandated.

1.3 Device Information

  • Data Collected: We gather information about the devices used to access our app, device types, and operating systems.
  • Firebase Installation ID: Our app uses Firebase SDK, which automatically collects a Firebase Installation ID. This ID is used solely for app functionality and is not used for advertising or tracking purposes.
  • Purpose: This information is used to diagnose system issues, enhance app performance, and support crash analytics efforts.
  • No Advertising: We do not use any advertising services in our app, and we do not collect or use data for advertising purposes.

1.4 Usage Data

  • Data Collected: Information about product interactions and usage patterns.
  • Purpose: This data helps us understand user behavior and improve our services.

2. Use of Information

The information we collect is used to:

  • Provide and maintain the BrutusAI: Ask & Search Chatbot service
  • Process and handle user interactions within the app
  • Analyze and improve the service
  • Respond to user inquiries and provide customer support
  • Send important service-related notifications
  • Comply with legal obligations

3. Data Safety and Device Identifiers

We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the safety of your data. In compliance with Google Play's Data Safety requirements, we want to be fully transparent about our data collection practices, particularly regarding device identifiers:

  • Firebase Installation ID: Our app uses the Firebase SDK, which automatically generates and collects a Firebase Installation ID. This ID is used solely for app functionality, such as ensuring proper operation of Firebase services and providing you with a consistent experience across sessions.
  • Sentry Data Collection: We use Sentry for error tracking and performance monitoring. Sentry collects certain device information including:
    • MAC address
    • Device type
    • Operating system version
    • Other technical details necessary for diagnosing issues
    This information is used solely for the purpose of improving app performance, identifying and fixing errors, and enhancing user experience.
  • Purpose: The collected device information is used to diagnose system issues, enhance app performance, support crash analytics efforts, and provide better user support.
  • Data Protection: All collected data, including Sentry data, is encrypted and securely stored. Access is strictly limited to authorized personnel for the purposes of app improvement and user support.
  • No Advertising: We do not use any advertising services in our app, and we do not use the collected data for advertising purposes.

We are committed to keeping our Data Safety form in the Google Play Console accurate and up-to-date. If you have any questions about our data collection practices or how we use device identifiers, please contact us using the information provided in the "Contact Us" section.

4. Sharing of Information

We do not sell, trade, or transfer your personally identifiable information to outside parties, except in compliance with the law or to trusted third parties who assist us in operating our service, subject to confidentiality agreements.

5. User Rights and Control

You have the right to:

  • Access and update your personal information
  • Request deletion of your data
  • Opt-out of certain data collection practices
  • Withdraw consent at any time, subject to legal or contractual restrictions

6. Data Retention and Deletion

We retain your data for one year from your last login. To delete your account and associated data:

  1. Open the BrutusAI: Ask & Search Chatbot app
  2. Go to App Settings
  3. Navigate to Data Control
  4. Select "Delete Account"

Upon receiving your deletion request, we will promptly process it and remove all your personal information and user data from our systems. Inactive accounts are automatically deleted after 14 days of inactivity.

7. Children's Privacy

Our service is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

8. Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy periodically. Users will be notified of any significant changes.

10. Sign in with Apple

BrutusAI: Ask & Search Chatbot offers "Sign in with Apple" as an authentication option. This feature provides an additional layer of privacy and security for users:

  • Apple acts as an intermediary for authentication, allowing you to sign in without sharing your Apple ID email address.
  • You have the option to mask your email address. If chosen, Apple creates a unique, random email address that forwards to your real email address.
  • The app receives only the information you agree to share, which may include your name and the email address you've chosen to share.
  • Your Apple ID password is never shared with the app.

The information received through Sign in with Apple is used solely for creating and managing your account within the app. You can revoke the app's access to your Apple ID at any time through your Apple ID settings.

11. Security of Google User Data

We take the security of your Google user data seriously. When you grant access to your Google data, we implement the following security measures:

  • Encryption: All data in transit and at rest is encrypted using industry-standard protocols.
  • Access Controls: Only authorized personnel have access to systems processing Google user data.
  • Regular Security Audits: We conduct periodic security assessments to ensure the ongoing protection of your data.
  • Data Minimization: We access and store only the minimum amount of data necessary to provide the requested functionality.

Your Google data is used only for the purposes explicitly stated in this policy and to provide the services you've requested. You have full control over the Google data you share:

  • You can revoke access to your Google data at any time through your Google Account settings.
  • If you revoke access or delete your account, all associated Google data will be promptly deleted from our systems.
  • We adhere to Google's Limited Use requirements and will not use your data for any purposes other than those explicitly stated in this policy.

9. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, please contact us through the app's Support tab.