Privacy Policy

When you use JapMarg — either the Android app or the website — we may collect the following categories of information:

Account Information

• Email / Phone — used only for account creation and login. We do not share it with third parties.
• Display name — the name you choose to show on your profile and within Sangat groups.
• Profile photo — optional. Uploaded at your discretion.

Spiritual Activity Data

• Jap counts and mala records — the number of naam japs and malas you complete each session.
• Daily goal settings — the mala targets you set for yourself.
• Spiritual Diary entries — offline mala rounds you log manually.
• Streak data — your consecutive days of practice.
• Selected mantra — which mantra mode you are using (e.g. Radha Naam, Hare Krishna).

Device & Technical Information

• Device type and Android version — collected to diagnose compatibility issues and improve app performance.
• App version — to ensure you are on a supported version and to push relevant updates.
• Crash logs — anonymous technical reports generated when the app encounters an error. These contain no personal information.

Usage Information

• App open/close timestamps — used solely to calculate streak continuity.
• Feature interactions — basic, aggregated analytics (e.g. "X% of users use dark mode") that help us prioritise development. No individual behaviour is tracked or stored.

Every piece of data we collect is used for one purpose: to make JapMarg work better for you and the Sangat. Specifically:

• To run core features — counting japs, tracking malas, maintaining streaks, and syncing your progress across sessions.
• To power Sangat Groups — sharing your count (display name + mala total) with members of groups you have voluntarily joined.
• To display the Leaderboard — showing your display name and verified jap count on the global and group leaderboards, if you participate.
• To fix bugs — anonymous crash logs help us identify and resolve technical problems quickly.
• To improve the app — aggregated, anonymised usage patterns inform which features to prioritise in future updates.
• To provide support — if you contact us at [email protected], we use the information you provide to assist you.

We do not use your data for advertising, profiling, behavioural tracking, or any commercial purpose beyond operating the app.

We want to be explicit about what we do not do, because we know trust is earned through specificity:

• We do not collect your GPS location or track where you chant.
• We do not access your contacts, call logs, or SMS messages.
• We do not record audio or activate your microphone.
• We do not read your camera — unless you voluntarily upload a profile picture.
• We do not collect your email address unless you voluntarily write to us.
• We do not collect financial or payment information of any kind.
• We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal data to any third party.
• We do not use your data to show you targeted advertisements.
• We do not share your data with social media platforms or data brokers.
• We do not build a profile about your interests, religion, or identity for commercial use.

Where your data is stored: Your jap counts and account information are stored on secure servers. Offline jap counts are saved locally on your device first and synced when you reconnect to the internet.

How long we keep it: We retain your account data for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account, all your data — counts, profile, and group memberships — is permanently deleted from our servers within 30 days. Some anonymised, aggregate statistics may be retained for internal analytics but cannot be traced back to any individual.

Security measures: We use industry-standard encryption for data in transit (HTTPS/TLS) and at rest. Access to user data is restricted to the core technical team and only when necessary to resolve support issues.

Data breach notification: In the unlikely event of a security breach that affects your personal data, we will notify affected users within 72 hours through the app or via email if provided.

JapMarg uses a small number of third-party services to operate. Each is listed below with its purpose:

• Google Play Services — required for app distribution and updates on Android devices. Subject to Google's Privacy Policy.
• Firebase (Google) — used for anonymous crash reporting and app performance monitoring. We use Firebase in a privacy-preserving configuration that does not collect personally identifiable information. Subject to Firebase Privacy Policy.

We do not use Facebook SDK, advertising SDKs, marketing analytics platforms, or any third-party data brokers. We deliberately keep our third-party dependency list minimal to reduce your exposure.

If we ever add a new third-party service that processes personal data, this Privacy Policy will be updated before that service goes live.

JapMarg is a spiritual tool designed for use by all ages. However, the account registration features (phone number login, Sangat groups, and leaderboard) are intended for users aged 13 and above.

Children under 13 can use the counter and mala features freely without creating an account. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have inadvertently collected data from a child under 13, please contact us immediately at [email protected] and we will delete it promptly.

For children using JapMarg with Sangat group features, we recommend parental guidance and supervision in setting up the account.

You have full control over your data. Regardless of where you are in the world, you can exercise the following rights by contacting us at [email protected]:

• Right to Access — you can request a copy of all personal data we hold about you.
• Right to Correction — you can update your display name and profile information directly within the app at any time.
• Right to Deletion — you can request complete deletion of your account and all associated data. We will process this within 30 days.
• Right to Portability — you can request an export of your jap count history and account data in a readable format.
• Right to Object — you can opt out of any non-essential data processing. Since we do no marketing, this mainly applies to aggregate analytics, which you can opt out of in app settings.
• Right to Withdraw Consent — you may withdraw consent at any time, including by deleting the app and/or your account.

We will respond to all rights requests within 30 days. We will never charge a fee for exercising your rights.

Android App: The JapMarg app does not use browser cookies. It uses Android's local storage (SharedPreferences) to save your settings — such as dark mode preference, selected mantra, and daily goal — on your device only. This data never leaves your phone.

Website (japmarg.com): Our website uses browser localStorage exclusively to remember your dark/light mode preference and your online counter session progress. We do not use tracking cookies, advertising cookies, or third-party analytics cookies on our website.

There are no cookie consent banners on our site because we genuinely don't set any cookies that require consent. The only storage we use is functional and stays in your browser.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time as the app evolves. When we do:

• The "Last updated" date at the top of this page will be revised.
• If the changes are significant (e.g. we start collecting a new type of data), we will notify users through an in-app notification at least 7 days before the new policy takes effect.
• For minor, clarifying changes, the updated date will reflect the change without a separate notification.

Continued use of JapMarg after the effective date of a revised policy constitutes your acceptance of the changes. If you disagree with any change, you may delete your account before the new policy takes effect.

We will never retroactively apply changes to data already collected under a prior policy in a way that disadvantages users.

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please reach out to us. We read every message personally and take privacy matters seriously.