Effective Date: January 2025
This Privacy Policy describes how Wagyingo Hostel ("we," "our," or "us") collects, uses, and protects your personal information when you use our mobile application (the "App"). By using our App, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.
1. Information We Collect
1.1 Personal Information
When you register and use our App, we collect the following personal information:
- Account Information: Full name, username, email address, password (encrypted), and preferred hostel
- Profile Information: Profile picture, cover photo, phone number, and preferred hostel
- Booking Information: Personal details (name, phone, email, gender, academic level, program of study), guardian information (name, relationship, phone number), and payment receipt documents
- Communication Data: Messages sent through the in-app messaging system, posts, comments, likes, and shares on the social feed
- Study Group Data: Study group memberships, group messages, and related activity
1.2 Device Information
We automatically collect certain information about your device:
- Device type and operating system
- Unique device identifiers
- Push notification tokens (for delivering notifications)
- App usage data and analytics
1.3 Media and Files
With your permission, we access:
- Camera: For taking photos to upload as profile pictures, cover photos, post images, or payment receipts
- Photo Library: For selecting existing photos to upload
- Document Picker: For uploading payment receipt files (PDFs, images)
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the collected information for the following purposes:
- Account Management: To create and manage your account, authenticate your identity, and provide access to App features
- Room Booking: To process and manage your hostel room bookings, verify your eligibility, and maintain booking records
- Payment Processing: To verify payment receipts and manage your booking payments
- Social Features: To enable social feed functionality, including posting, commenting, liking, sharing, and mentioning other users
- Messaging: To facilitate private messaging between users and study group communications
- Notifications: To send you push notifications about booking updates, messages, social interactions, and important announcements
- Profile Display: To display your profile information to other users (according to your privacy settings)
- Service Improvement: To analyze usage patterns, improve App functionality, and enhance user experience
- Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes
3. Information Sharing and Disclosure
We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information only in the following circumstances:
- With Other Users: Your profile information, posts, and public activity may be visible to other App users according to your privacy settings
- Service Providers: We use third-party services (Firebase Cloud Messaging for push notifications) that may process your data. These services are bound by confidentiality agreements
- Legal Requirements: We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or government regulation
- Safety and Security: We may share information to protect the rights, property, or safety of Wagyingo Hostel, our users, or others
- Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction
4. Data Storage and Security
We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information:
- Data is stored on secure servers with encryption in transit and at rest
- Passwords are hashed using industry-standard encryption methods
- Access to personal data is restricted to authorized personnel only
- Regular security assessments and updates are performed
Note: While we strive to protect your data, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.
5. Your Rights and Choices
You have the following rights regarding your personal information:
- Access: You can view and update your profile information through the App settings
- Correction: You can correct inaccurate or incomplete information in your profile
- Deletion: You can request deletion of your account and associated data by contacting us
- Privacy Settings: You can control the visibility of your posts and profile information through privacy settings
- Notifications: You can manage push notification preferences in your device settings or App settings
- Permissions: You can grant or revoke camera, photo library, and notification permissions through your device settings
6. Third-Party Services
Our App uses the following third-party services:
- Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM): Google's Firebase service is used to deliver push notifications. FCM may collect device identifiers and usage data. Please review Google's Privacy Policy for more information.
These third-party services have their own privacy policies governing the collection and use of your information. We encourage you to review their privacy policies.
7. Children's Privacy
Our App is intended for users who are at least 15 years old or have parental consent. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 years of age. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately, and we will take steps to delete such information.
8. Data Retention
We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to:
- Provide services to you
- Comply with legal obligations
- Resolve disputes and enforce agreements
When you delete your account, we will delete or anonymize your personal information, except where we are required to retain it for legal purposes.
9. International Data Transfers
Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have data protection laws that differ from those in your country. By using our App, you consent to the transfer of your information to these countries.
10. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by:
- Posting the new Privacy Policy in the App
- Sending you a notification
- Updating the "Effective Date" at the top of this policy
Your continued use of the App after such changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.
11. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:
Last Updated: January 2025
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