Privacy Policy

Introduction

At HistorySphere, we respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and safeguard your data when you use our mobile and web application for historical exploration.

Information We Collect

How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information to:

• Provide location-based historical content and landmark information
• Personalize your exploration experience based on your interests
• Enable AR features and 3D reconstructions of historical sites
• Track achievements, badges, and gamification progress
• Sync your data (bookmarks, achievements, preferences) across devices
• Process and validate subscription payments
• Enable community features (stories, reviews, discussions)
• Improve app functionality and develop new features
• Send important service updates and notifications
• Provide customer support and respond to inquiries
• Analyze usage patterns to enhance user experience
• Prevent fraud and ensure app security

Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services to provide and enhance our app:

• Firebase/Firestore (Google Cloud) - For user authentication, database storage, and real-time data synchronization
• Apple App Store - For iOS payment processing and subscription management
• Google Play Store - For Android payment processing and subscription management
• Wikipedia API - For historical content and article information (no personal data shared)
• OpenStreetMap Nominatim - For location search and geocoding services (no personal data shared)
• ARKit (iOS) / ARCore (Android) - For augmented reality features (processed locally on device)

These third-party services have their own privacy policies governing their collection and use of information. We encourage you to review their privacy policies.

Data Storage and Security

• All user data is stored securely in Firebase/Firestore (Google Cloud infrastructure)
• Data is encrypted in transit using HTTPS/TLS protocols
• Data is encrypted at rest using industry-standard encryption methods
• Your data is automatically synced across your devices using secure connections
• Payment information is processed securely through Apple's and Google's payment systems - we never store credit card information
• We use modern StoreKit validation without shared secrets for enhanced security
• AR processing happens locally on your device - AR data is not transmitted to our servers
• We implement regular security audits and updates to protect against vulnerabilities

Location Data Specifics

Location data is central to HistorySphere's functionality. Here's exactly how we use it:

• GPS Usage: Your location is used only when the app is active to show nearby historical sites and landmarks
• Manual Location Entry: You can search for any location worldwide without sharing your GPS coordinates
• Check-ins and Achievements: We verify your proximity to historical sites to award achievements when you visit them
• Not Shared: Your location data is NEVER shared with third parties, advertisers, or other users
• No Background Tracking: We do not track your location when the app is closed or running in the background
• Optional: You can deny location permissions and still use the app with manual location search

Data Sharing and Disclosure

We respect your privacy and limit data sharing as follows:

• We DO NOT sell your personal information to advertisers or data brokers
• We DO NOT share your location data with third parties
• We DO NOT share your exploration history or bookmarks with others
• Community Content: Stories, reviews, and comments you post are visible to other users (you control what you share)
• Aggregated Analytics: We may share anonymized, aggregated usage statistics (e.g., "1000 users visited historical site X") that cannot identify individual users
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or to protect our legal rights
• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger or acquisition, user data may be transferred (you will be notified)

Your Rights and Choices

You have the following rights regarding your data:

• Access: View all data we have about you by going to Profile → Settings → View My Data
• Export: Download a copy of all your data (Profile → Settings → Export Data)
• Correction: Update your account information and preferences at any time
• Deletion: Delete your account and all associated data (Profile → Settings → Delete Account). This action is permanent and cannot be undone
• Location Control: Enable or disable location permissions in your device settings at any time
• Marketing Opt-out: Unsubscribe from promotional emails (we send very few of these)
• Data Portability: Request your data in a machine-readable format

Children's Privacy

HistorySphere is designed for users aged 13 and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we discover that we have inadvertently collected data from a child under 13, we will delete it immediately. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child under 13 has provided us with personal information, please contact us.

Data Retention

• Account data is retained as long as your account is active
• Location history is retained to provide achievement tracking and personalized recommendations
• Deleted accounts and associated data are permanently removed within 30 days
• Backup copies are purged within 90 days of account deletion
• Community contributions (stories, reviews) may be retained anonymously after account deletion to preserve historical discussions
• Aggregated analytics data may be retained indefinitely in anonymized form

International Data Transfers

Your data may be stored and processed in the United States and other countries where our service providers (primarily Google Cloud/Firebase) operate data centers. By using HistorySphere, you consent to the transfer of your data to these locations. We ensure that all data transfers comply with applicable data protection laws and regulations.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use limited tracking technologies to improve the app experience:

• Authentication tokens to keep you logged in
• Local storage for app preferences and offline map data
• Analytics to understand feature usage and app performance
• We do NOT use third-party advertising cookies or trackers

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new Privacy Policy in the app and updating the "Last Updated" date. Continued use of the app after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact Us

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

GDPR and CCPA Rights

If you are a resident of the European Economic Area (EEA) or California, you have additional rights:

• Right to know what personal data we collect and how it's used
• Right to access your personal data
• Right to rectification of inaccurate data
• Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten")
• Right to data portability in a structured, machine-readable format
• Right to object to processing of your data
• Right to withdraw consent at any time
• Right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority

To exercise these rights, please contact us through the app support system.