Privacy Policy

Hare Krishna! Welcome to the official ISKCON Hadapsar mobile application. We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal data. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our mobile application, in strict compliance with Google Play Developer policies.

1. Information We Collect

Our app is mostly accessible without creating an account. Most features (like Live Darshan, Kirtan, Daily Schedule) do not require any personal data. We operate on a "No Forced Login" model. However, we process information in the following specific scenarios:

Note on Financial Data: We do not store your credit/debit card numbers or UPI PINs. All financial transactions are processed securely through regulated, third-party payment gateways.

2. Device Permissions Transparency

To function correctly and efficiently, our app requests minimal device permissions. We declare the following for complete transparency based on Google Play Store listings:

• Network & Internet: (Full network access, view Wi-Fi/network connections, receive data) Required to fetch Live Darshan, Kirtan Media, and dynamic temple schedules from our servers.
• Foreground Service & Prevent Sleeping: Required to prevent your phone from sleeping while you are actively listening to continuous Kirtan or watching Live Darshan.
• Google Play License Check: A standard Android integrity check to ensure the app is securely installed via official channels.
• Read Basic Telephony Status and Identity (Phone State): This permission is strictly used by our audio player to detect incoming phone calls. It automatically pauses the Kirtan/Audio playback when your phone rings to avoid audio overlapping. We DO NOT read, collect, or store your call logs, personal phone numbers, contacts, or device IMEI identity.
• Location (Map Redirection): Our app features a "Temple Directory" and "Map" navigation. We do NOT track or store your real-time GPS location. Clicking on Map links safely redirects you to third-party mapping applications.

3. External Links, E-commerce & Other Apps

Our app includes buttons and links to our official external E-commerce website where users can purchase physical spiritual items, books, and merchandise. Additionally, we may cross-promote and provide links to download our other official mobile applications and social media channels (YouTube, Facebook, Instagram).

We want to be fully transparent that once you click these links and leave the ISKCON Hadapsar app, your interactions, purchases, and data are governed by the Privacy Policies and Terms of Service of those specific external websites, platforms, or applications.

4. Third-Party Services, Ad Networks & Technologies

To ensure the app runs smoothly globally and to support server maintenance costs, we use trusted third-party services and advertising networks. These services may collect device identifiers and usage data according to their own privacy policies:

• Google Firebase: Used for app analytics, remote configuration, and real-time database management to ensure the app doesn't crash.
• Blogger API & YouTube: Used to fetch high-quality images, gallery content, and live video darshan directly to your screen.
• Zoom Web SDK / API: Integrated to facilitate the 'Live Global Japa' interactive video conferencing sessions.
• Advertising Networks (AdMob, Unity & Start.io): To support our application development, we display advertisements. We have integrated trusted ad networks including Google AdMob, Unity Ads, and Start.io (StartApp). These third-party ad networks may collect and use your device's Advertising ID, IP address, and app interaction data to serve non-personalized or personalized ads based on your preferences.
• AdId & AdServices (Privacy Sandbox): As reflected in our app permissions, we utilize the Advertising ID permission, AdServices Topics API, AdServices Attribution APIs, and Play Install Referrer API. These modern Android Privacy Sandbox technologies allow ad networks to measure performance and serve relevant ads securely without tracking sensitive personal identifiable information (PII). You can manage or reset your personalized ad settings directly from your phone's Android Google settings.

5. Push Notifications

We use Firebase Cloud Messaging to show notifications and send you important spiritual updates, such as Ekadashi reminders, festival alerts, and Live Darshan timings. You can enable or disable these notifications at any time through your device settings.

6. Spiritual Stories, Games & Quizzes (For All Users)

Our app features a dedicated section containing spiritual stories, quizzes, and interactive games (like Memory match and puzzles). These features are designed for users of ALL age groups to engage with Vedic knowledge and improve their spiritual understanding. We want to assure you that no personal data, account logins, or tracking identifiers are collected while using these features. They operate securely without requiring any user information.

7. General Audience Privacy

This application is built for a General Audience and provides spiritual content suitable for everyone. We operate on a strict "No Forced Login" model. We do not knowingly collect, request, or store personal information from any user (including children) just to use the app's primary features, stories, or games. The only time information is explicitly collected is during voluntary monetary donations or specific event registrations (which are actions intended for adults). If you are a parent or guardian and believe a minor has submitted personal information through a form without your consent, please contact us immediately so we can remove such data.

8. User Feedback & Communication

Our app includes features allowing you to contact our administration via direct WhatsApp integration or Email clients. When you use these features, your phone number or email address becomes visible to our support team. This information is strictly used to address your query and is never shared with or sold to third parties.

9. Data Retention & Deletion Policy

Since our app does not require account creation, there is no permanent user profile to delete. However, we keep your personal data (like donation records or event registration data) only as long as required for legal, accounting, tax compliance, or event management purposes. Audio and video data from interactive sessions is never retained.

10. Data Security & Future Updates

We use standard industry security protocols (including HTTPS/SSL encryption) to protect your data in transit, whether submitted via in-app forms or external secure links. While we strive to protect your personal information, please remember that no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We reserve the right to update this Privacy Policy at any time to reflect new features or Google Play policy changes. Continued use of the app signifies your acceptance of these terms.