Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Images You Upload

When you use VeganChecker to analyze a product, we temporarily process the photos you take of product labels. These images are:

• Sent to our AI analysis service to identify ingredients and determine dietary compatibility
• Compressed before transmission to reduce data usage
• Processed on our secure servers
• Not shared with third parties for any purpose other than the dietary analysis

1.2 Device Information

To provide our service reliably and prevent abuse, we collect limited device information:

• Device ID: A unique identifier for your device that persists across app reinstalls but resets if you factory reset your device
• Installation ID: A unique identifier for your specific app installation that changes if you uninstall and reinstall the app
• Platform Information: Your device type (iOS/Android) and version for compatibility purposes

1.3 App Usage Data

We collect minimal usage data to improve our service:

• Your dietary preference settings (vegan/vegetarian)
• Your strictness level preferences
• Basic error logs to help us fix issues
• Analytics about app crashes or performance issues

1.4 Advertising Data

Our app displays advertisements through Google AdMob. In connection with serving ads, the following data may be collected:

• Advertising ID: A unique identifier for advertising purposes that can be reset by users
• Device Information: Device type, operating system, screen size, and app version
• Usage Data: How you interact with ads and app features
• Location Data: Approximate location (if permitted) for location-based ads
• Ad Performance Data: Information about ad views, clicks, and interactions

This data is collected and processed by Google AdMob according to their privacy policy. We do not have access to your personal information collected by ad networks.

2. How We Use Your Information

2.1 Primary Service

We use your information solely to:

• Analyze product images to determine vegan/vegetarian compatibility
• Provide accurate dietary analysis based on your preferences
• Maintain service quality and reliability
• Authenticate your requests to prevent abuse

2.2 Service Improvement

We may use anonymized data to:

• Improve our AI analysis accuracy
• Fix bugs and enhance app performance
• Understand usage patterns to guide feature development

2.3 Advertising

We use advertising data to:

• Display relevant advertisements through Google AdMob
• Measure ad performance and effectiveness
• Support the free version of our app

Ad personalization is handled by Google AdMob based on your advertising preferences and settings.

3. Data Sharing and Disclosure

3.1 Service Providers

We may share data with trusted service providers who help us operate our service:

• Cloud hosting providers for secure data processing
• AI analysis services for ingredient recognition
• Analytics services for app performance monitoring
• Google AdMob: For serving advertisements in our app

All service providers are contractually bound to protect your data and use it only for the specified purposes.

3.2 Advertising Partners

We work with Google AdMob to display advertisements. Google AdMob may collect and use data including:

• Advertising identifiers and device information
• Usage and interaction data with ads
• Location data (if you have granted location permission)

Google AdMob's data collection and use is governed by Google's Privacy Policy and AdMob's Privacy Policy.

3.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law, such as:

• To comply with legal process or government requests
• To protect the rights, property, or safety of VeganChecker, our users, or others
• To prevent fraud or abuse of our service

4. Data Security

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

• Encryption of data in transit and at rest
• Secure servers with regular security updates
• Access controls limiting who can view your data

5. Data Retention

We retain your data only as long as necessary:

• Images: Processed and deleted immediately after analysis (typically within minutes)
• Device/Installation IDs: Retained while you use the app and for a reasonable period after to maintain service quality
• Settings: Stored on your device and our servers while you use the app
• Logs: Kept for up to 30 days for troubleshooting purposes
• Advertising Data: Retained by Google AdMob according to their data retention policies, typically for advertising optimization and reporting purposes

6. Your Rights and Choices

6.1 Access and Control

You have the right to:

• Access the personal data we have about you
• Request correction of inaccurate data
• Request deletion of your data
• Object to processing of your data
• Request data portability

7. Children's Privacy

VeganChecker is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately.

8. International Data Transfers

Your data may be processed in countries other than your own. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your data in accordance with applicable privacy laws.

9. Third-Party Links and Services

Our app may contain links to third-party websites or services, and ads may redirect you to external sites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to review their privacy policies.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will:

• Update the "Last Updated" date below
• Notify you through the app if the changes are significant
• Continue to handle your data according to the policy in effect when it was collected

11. Contact Us