Privacy Policy

Welcome to BenchmarkMe, your personal benchmarking and progress tracking companion. We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your data when you use our mobile application and services.

1. Information We Collect

Personal Information

• Account Information: Email address, display name, and profile preferences
• Identity Verification: Age verification (18+ requirement) and location data for legal compliance
• Communication Data: Messages sent through our support system and feedback forms

Benchmark Data

• Fitness Metrics: Workout logs, performance data, health measurements, and progress photos (if provided)
• Financial Data: Income tracking, savings goals, budget categories, and spending patterns (all stored locally and encrypted)
• Career Information: Professional goals, skill assessments, career milestones, and achievement records
• Social Metrics: Relationship quality scores, social engagement data, and personal satisfaction ratings

Usage Analytics

• App Interaction: Feature usage, session duration, navigation patterns, and preference settings
• Performance Data: App crashes, loading times, error reports, and technical diagnostics
• Engagement Metrics: Notification interactions, goal completion rates, and content preferences

Device Information

• Device Identifiers: Device model, operating system version, unique device identifiers
• Technical Data: IP address, network information, time zone, and app version
• Location Data: General location (city/state level) for content personalization and legal compliance

2. How We Use Your Information

Core App Functionality

• Provide personalized benchmarking experiences across fitness, finance, career, and social life
• Generate progress reports, insights, and achievement tracking
• Sync your data across devices while maintaining privacy and security
• Deliver customized content and recommendations based on your goals

Communication and Support

• Send important app updates, feature announcements, and security notifications
• Provide customer support and respond to your inquiries
• Deliver motivational content and progress celebrations
• Process subscription renewals and payment notifications

App Improvement and Analytics

• Analyze app usage patterns to improve user experience and develop new features
• Conduct A/B testing for feature optimization (using anonymized data)
• Monitor app performance and fix technical issues
• Understand user preferences to enhance content and recommendations

Legal and Safety

• Comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes
• Protect against fraud, abuse, and unauthorized access
• Enforce our Terms of Service and investigate violations
• Protect the rights, safety, and security of our users and services

3. Firebase and Google Cloud Integration

BenchmarkMe uses Firebase and Google Cloud Platform services to provide secure, reliable cloud infrastructure. Here's how your data is handled:

Firebase Services Used

• Firebase Authentication: Secure user login and account management
• Cloud Firestore: Encrypted storage of progress data and app preferences
• Firebase Analytics: Anonymized usage analytics for app improvement
• Cloud Functions: Server-side processing for data synchronization and notifications
• Firebase Security Rules: Ensures users can only access their own data

Data Processing and Storage

• All data is encrypted in transit and at rest using industry-standard encryption
• Google Cloud servers are located in secure data centers with SOC 2 Type II compliance
• Data is automatically backed up and replicated for reliability and disaster recovery
• We implement strict access controls and regularly audit data access patterns

4. Apple App Store and In-App Purchases

Subscription Management

• BenchmarkMe Pro subscriptions are processed through Apple's App Store
• Apple handles all payment processing and subscription billing
• We receive subscription status updates but never see payment details
• Refunds and billing disputes must be handled through Apple Support

Data Shared with Apple

• Purchase receipts and subscription validation data
• App usage analytics through Apple's App Store Connect
• Crash reports and performance metrics (anonymized)

Apple's privacy practices are governed by their Privacy Policy. Visit Apple Privacy for more information.

5. Data Sharing and Third Parties

We Do NOT Share Your Personal Data With:

• Advertisers or marketing companies
• Data brokers or analytics companies for profiling
• Social media platforms (unless you explicitly connect accounts)
• Other users (your benchmarks remain completely private)

Limited Data Sharing for Service Delivery:

• Cloud Infrastructure: Google Cloud Platform for secure hosting and data processing
• Analytics: Firebase Analytics for app improvement (anonymized data only)
• Support Services: Customer support platforms for ticket management
• Legal Requirements: Government authorities when required by law

6. Your Privacy Rights and Controls

Account Management

• Access: View all personal data we have collected about you
• Update: Modify your profile information, preferences, and benchmarking data
• Export: Download your data in a portable format (JSON/CSV)
• Delete: Request complete account and data deletion

Privacy Controls

• Data Sync: Choose what data syncs to the cloud vs. stays local
• Analytics: Opt-out of usage analytics and crash reporting
• Notifications: Control what types of notifications you receive
• Location Services: Manage location access permissions

Communication Preferences

• Unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time
• Customize push notification frequency and types
• Choose your preferred communication channels

7. Data Security and Protection

Technical Safeguards

• Encryption: AES-256 encryption for data at rest, TLS 1.3 for data in transit
• Access Controls: Multi-factor authentication and role-based access for our team
• Network Security: Firewalls, intrusion detection, and regular security audits
• Data Isolation: Your data is logically separated and protected from other users

Operational Security

• Regular security training for all team members
• Incident response procedures for potential data breaches
• Third-party security audits and penetration testing
• Automatic security updates and patch management

Data Retention

• Active Accounts: Data retained while your account is active
• Inactive Accounts: Data deleted after 2 years of inactivity
• Deleted Accounts: Most data deleted within 30 days, some backup data within 90 days
• Legal Requirements: Some data may be retained longer for legal compliance

8. Children's Privacy

BenchmarkMe is designed for users aged 18 and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under 18 years of age. If we discover that we have inadvertently collected information from someone under 18, we will delete that information immediately.

Parents or guardians who believe their child under 18 has provided information to us should contact us immediately at the information provided below.

9. International Data Transfers

BenchmarkMe operates globally, and your data may be transferred to and processed in countries other than where you reside. We ensure that all international data transfers comply with applicable privacy laws and regulations.

Transfer Safeguards

• All transfers use appropriate safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses
• Recipients are required to maintain equivalent privacy protections
• We regularly assess the privacy laws of destination countries

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, services, or applicable laws. When we make material changes, we will:

• Notify you through the app with a prominent notice
• Send an email to your registered email address
• Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
• For significant changes, request your explicit consent

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy regularly to stay informed about how we protect your information.