Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to Boichokro ("we," "us," "our," or "Company"). Boichokro is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application and website (collectively, the "Service").

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our Service.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

• Account Information: Name, phone number, email address, profile photo
• Authentication: OTP verification for phone number validation
• Book Information: Title, author, ISBN, condition, photos, description, genre
• Location Data: Your address and GPS coordinates (with permission)
• Communication: Messages sent through in-app chat
• Payment Information: If applicable (premium features, though currently free)
• User Preferences: Search history, favorite books, wishlist items

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

• Device Information: Device type, OS, unique identifiers, app version
• Usage Data: Features used, time spent, pages visited, clicks, interactions
• Location Data: GPS coordinates (only while actively using the app's location-based features)
• IP Address & Connection: For security and analytics purposes
• Cookies & Similar Technologies: On web platform for user experience

2.3 Information from Third Parties

• Google Services: Authentication data (if using Google Sign-In)
• Firebase: Analytics and crash reporting data
• Other Users: Ratings, reviews, and reports about your behavior
• Service Providers: Cloudinary for image storage and processing

3. How We Use Your Information

We use collected information for the following purposes:

• Service Provision: To create and maintain your account, process transactions, send confirmations
• Communication: To send service updates, respond to inquiries, send notifications
• Matching: To match book requests and exchanges between users
• Safety & Security: To prevent fraud, protect against malicious activity, verify user identity
• Improvement: To analyze usage patterns and improve our Service
• Ratings & Reviews: To display verified user ratings and trust scores
• Location-Based Services: To show nearby books and users
• Marketing: To send you promotional emails (with opt-out option)
• Legal Compliance: To comply with laws and regulations
• Dispute Resolution: To handle complaints and disputes between users

4. Data Sharing & Disclosure

4.1 Sharing with Other Users

When you list a book, other users will see your name, profile photo, rating, and location (approximate distance only). When you message another user, they can see your profile information necessary for the exchange.

4.2 Third-Party Service Providers

We share data with trusted service providers who assist us in operating our Service:

• Firebase (Google): Cloud infrastructure, authentication, analytics, messaging
• Cloudinary: Image storage and processing for book covers
• Cloud Functions: For geo-queries and background processing
• Analytics Providers: For usage analytics and improvement

4.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information when required by law, court order, or government request, and when necessary to protect our rights or the safety of our users.

4.4 Business Transfers

If Boichokro is acquired or merges with another company, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.

4.5 Non-Sharing Policy

We do NOT sell your personal data to third parties for marketing purposes.

5. Data Security

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

• Firebase Firestore database with encrypted connections (HTTPS/TLS)
• OTP-based phone verification to prevent account takeover
• Encrypted storage of sensitive data
• Regular security audits and monitoring
• Access controls and role-based permissions
• Automatic error reporting to detect vulnerabilities

However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Your Privacy Rights

6.1 Access Your Data

You can access, view, and download your personal data through your account settings at any time.

6.2 Correct Your Data

You can update your profile information, including name, photo, and preferences directly in the app.

6.3 Delete Your Account

You can delete your account and all associated data directly within the app by navigating to Profile > Settings > Delete Account.

For detailed instructions and information on what data is removed, please visit our dedicated Account Deletion Instructions page.

6.4 Data Portability

You can request a copy of your data in a portable format.

6.5 Opt-Out Communications

You can opt-out of promotional emails and notifications through your account settings.

6.6 Location Data Control

You can enable/disable location services through your device settings at any time.

6.7 GDPR & Regional Rights

If you're in the EU or other jurisdictions with privacy regulations, you have additional rights. Contact us to exercise these rights.

7. Data Retention

• Account Data: Retained while your account is active, deleted upon account deletion
• Chat Messages: Retained for 1 year for dispute resolution, then deleted
• Transaction Records: Retained for 3 years for legal compliance
• Ratings & Reviews: Retained indefinitely as part of user history
• Book Listings: Deleted when you delete the listing or book is exchanged/donated
• Backup Data: Firebase backups may retain data for up to 30 days after deletion

8. Children's Privacy

Boichokro is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, we will delete such information and terminate the child's account.

Parents or guardians who believe their child has registered with Boichokro should contact us immediately.

9. Contact Us

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us:

• Email: zaman6545@gmail.com
• Developer: Md. Shamsuzzaman
• Company: ProgrammerNexus
• GitHub: github.com/zamansheikh

We will respond to privacy inquiries within 30 days.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for other reasons. We will notify you of any material changes by updating the "Last Updated" date and sending you an in-app notification.

Your continued use of our Service after such modifications constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.