Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

BrainQ ("we", "our", or "us") operates the BrainQ mobile application (the "App"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our App.

By downloading, installing, or using BrainQ, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with the terms of this Privacy Policy, please do not use the App.

This policy applies to all users of BrainQ, regardless of location. We comply with applicable data protection laws including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

2. Information We Collect

We collect information in the following categories:

A. Information You Provide Directly

• Google Account Information: When you sign in with Google Play Games, we receive your Google account display name and unique identifier. We do not access your Google password, contacts, emails, or other personal Google data.

B. Information Collected Automatically

• Game Progress Data: Levels completed, completion times, hint usage, daily challenge streaks, and achievement progress. This data is stored locally on your device and optionally synced to our cloud servers if you sign in.
• Device Information: Device type, operating system version, app version, and general device identifiers for analytics and crash reporting purposes.
• Usage Analytics: Screen views, feature usage patterns, session duration, and interaction events. This data is collected in aggregate and does not personally identify you.
• Crash Reports: Technical information about app crashes including device state, stack traces, and error messages to help us identify and fix bugs.
• Advertising Data: Google Advertising ID (where permitted), ad interaction data (impressions, clicks), and ad format preferences used by Google AdMob to serve relevant advertisements.

C. Information We Do NOT Collect

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for the following purposes:

• App Functionality: To save and restore your game progress, maintain daily challenge streaks, track achievements, and provide cloud sync across devices.
• Advertising: To display advertisements through Google AdMob, including banner ads, interstitial ads, and rewarded video ads.
• Analytics & Improvement: To understand how users interact with the App, identify popular features, detect issues, and improve the overall user experience.
• Crash Reporting: To identify, diagnose, and fix technical issues through Firebase Crashlytics.
• Notifications: To send local notifications including daily challenge reminders, streak warnings, and milestone celebrations. All notifications are processed locally on your device and can be disabled at any time in Settings.
• App Updates: To check for available app updates through Firebase Remote Config.
• Security: To detect and prevent fraud, unauthorized access, and other harmful activities.

4. Advertising

BrainQ is a free app supported by advertising. We use Google AdMob to display ads.

Types of Ads Displayed

• Banner Ads: Small ads displayed at the top or bottom of certain screens (Home, Levels, Daily Challenge). NOT displayed during active gameplay.
• Interstitial Ads: Full-screen ads shown between game levels at natural transition points. Limited in frequency (no more than one every 2 minutes, with at least 4 levels between ads).
• Rewarded Video Ads: Optional video ads you choose to watch in exchange for in-game hints or puzzle solutions. You are never required to watch these ads.

Ad Personalization

• Ads may be personalized based on your interests and app usage, subject to your consent.
• You can manage your ad preferences through your device settings or the consent dialog.
• You may opt out of personalized advertising through your device's advertising settings.

Ad Content Rating

• Ad content is restricted to PG (Parental Guidance) rated content or below.
• Ad requests are configured to show age-appropriate content for users aged 13+.

Google's Role

Google AdMob processes advertising data according to Google's Privacy Policy. We do not control the specific ads shown to you.

For more information about how Google uses your data for advertising, visit:
https://policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites

5. Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services that may collect data:

A. Google AdMob (Advertising)

• Purpose: Display advertisements
• Data collected: Advertising ID, ad interaction data, device information
• Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy

B. Firebase Analytics

• Purpose: Understand app usage patterns
• Data collected: App events, screen views, user properties, session data
• Privacy Policy: https://firebase.google.com/support/privacy

C. Firebase Crashlytics

• Purpose: Identify and fix app crashes
• Data collected: Crash logs, device state, stack traces
• Privacy Policy: https://firebase.google.com/support/privacy

D. Firebase Cloud Firestore

• Purpose: Sync game progress across devices (optional, requires sign-in)
• Data collected: Game progress, achievements, streak data
• Privacy Policy: https://firebase.google.com/support/privacy

E. Firebase Authentication

• Purpose: Authenticate users who sign in with Google
• Data collected: Google account identifier, display name
• Privacy Policy: https://firebase.google.com/support/privacy

F. Firebase Remote Config

• Purpose: Check for app updates and configure features remotely
• Data collected: App version, device type
• Privacy Policy: https://firebase.google.com/support/privacy

G. Google Play Games Services

• Purpose: Track and display game achievements
• Data collected: Player ID, achievement progress
• Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy

All third-party services are governed by their respective privacy policies. We encourage you to review them.

6. Data Storage & Security

Local Storage

Game progress, settings, and preferences are stored locally on your device using encrypted local storage (Hive database and SharedPreferences). This data remains on your device unless you choose to sign in and enable cloud sync.

Cloud Storage

If you sign in with Google Play Games, your game progress and achievements are synced to Google Cloud Firestore servers. Cloud data is encrypted in transit using TLS/SSL and encrypted at rest on Google's servers. Cloud sync is optional and can be disabled by signing out.

Data Retention

• Local data is retained until you delete it through the App's Settings or uninstall the App.
• Cloud data is retained until you request deletion or your account is permanently deleted after the 15-day grace period.
• Analytics data is retained by Google according to their policies (typically 14 months for user-level data).
• Crash reports are retained for 90 days.

Security Measures

• All network communications use HTTPS encryption.
• Firebase services employ Google's enterprise-grade security infrastructure.
• We do not store sensitive personal information on our servers.

7. Children's Privacy

BrainQ is intended for users aged 13 and above. This App is NOT directed at children under the age of 13.

Target Audience

• This App is intended for a general audience aged 13 and older.
• We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.
• We do not target or market the App to children under 13.

If You Are Under 13

Parental Notice

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child under 13 has used this App or provided personal information to us, please contact us at srinfodevelopers@gmail.com. We will promptly investigate and delete any such information.

COPPA Compliance

We comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Since our App targets users aged 13 and above, we do not implement child-directed treatment by default. We do not knowingly collect, use, or disclose personal information from children under 13.

8. Your Rights & Choices

A. All Users

• Access: View your game data within the App (Settings shows your statistics).
• Delete Local Data: Delete all local game progress through Settings → Delete All Data.
• Delete Account: Request account deletion through Settings → Delete Account, including a 15-day cancellable grace period.
• Notification Control: Enable or disable all notifications through Settings → Notifications.
• Ad Preferences: Manage ad personalization through the consent dialog or your device's advertising settings.

B. EU / EEA Users (GDPR Rights)

• Right to Access: Request a copy of your personal data.
• Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate data.
• Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your personal data ("right to be forgotten").
• Right to Restrict Processing: Request limitation of data processing.
• Right to Data Portability: Request your data in a machine-readable format.
• Right to Object: Object to data processing based on legitimate interests.
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for ad personalization at any time.
• Right to Lodge a Complaint: File a complaint with your local data protection authority.

C. California Users (CCPA Rights)

• Right to Know: Request disclosure of personal information collected.
• Right to Delete: Request deletion of personal information.
• Right to Opt-Out: Opt out of the sale of personal information. Note: We do not sell personal information as defined by CCPA.
• Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising your CCPA rights.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at srinfodevelopers@gmail.com. We will respond within 30 days (or as required by applicable law).

9. Data Sharing & Disclosure

We may share data in the following circumstances:

• With Google: As described in Section 5, we share data with Google services (AdMob, Firebase, Play Games) for advertising, analytics, crash reporting, and cloud storage purposes.
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information if required by law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request.
• Protection of Rights: We may disclose information to protect our rights, privacy, safety, or property, or that of our users or the public.
• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your data may be transferred to the acquiring entity.
• With Your Consent: We may share data for any other purpose with your explicit consent.

10. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence, including the United States (where Google's servers are located).

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom, or Switzerland, please note that data transferred to the United States or other countries may not have the same data protection laws as your jurisdiction.

We rely on Google's data processing agreements and Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) to ensure appropriate safeguards for international data transfers.

11. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

The App does not use cookies directly. However, third-party services integrated into the App (such as Google AdMob and Firebase) may use similar tracking technologies including:

• Google Advertising ID: A resettable device identifier used for ad personalization.
• Firebase Instance ID: Used to identify unique app installations for analytics.
• Local Storage: Used to save game progress and preferences on your device.

You can reset your Google Advertising ID or opt out of personalized advertising through your device settings:

• Android: Settings → Google → Ads → Reset advertising ID / Opt out of Ads Personalization.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make changes:

• We will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy.
• For significant changes, we may provide additional notice through the App (such as an in-app notification or update dialog).
• Your continued use of the App after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

• Email: srinfodevelopers@gmail.com
• Developer: BrainQ
• Country: India

For GDPR-related inquiries, you may also contact your local data protection authority.

For Google-specific data concerns, you can visit:

• Google Privacy & Terms
• Google Account Settings