Privacy policy

This is a draft that has not yet been reviewed by a lawyer. The wording may change before the app is released.

Jiɛ̈ɛ̈ŋ Heritage helps people learn Thuɔŋjäŋ (Dinka) and keep Jiɛ̈ɛ̈ŋ stories alive. This policy explains what the app collects, why, and the choices you have. We do not sell your data, show ads, or use advertising or analytics trackers.

What we collect

• Account: your email address and the name and picture you choose. Sign-in is handled by Google Firebase Authentication; we never see your password.
• Learning progress: lessons completed, letters practised, points and streaks, so your progress follows you between devices.
• What you share: stories you record or upload (audio or video, title and description), comments, likes, and reports you send about content.
• Members you block: so their stories and comments stay hidden for you. Only you can see this list; the member is not told.
• Consent you give: when you share a story, we record that you confirmed you may share it, and when.
• Notifications: if you turn them on, a device token so we can send announcements.
• Anonymous usage counts: daily totals such as "lessons completed on Android today", so we know which parts of the app help learners. They contain no account, device or personal identifier and cannot be linked to you. Turn them off in Settings → Share anonymous usage.
• Crash reports: when the app hits an error, a report with the error, the app version and your phone model and system version, so we can fix it. It contains no account details, and you can turn it off in Settings → Send crash reports.
• Technical logs: our servers keep short-lived request logs (such as IP address and time) to keep the service secure and working.

What others can see

Your display name appears on the leaderboard and next to stories and comments you share. Stories are reviewed by our moderators before anyone else can see them. Your email address is never shown to other members.

Who processes your data

We use Google Cloud and Google Firebase (servers, database, file storage and sign-in) and Expo (to deliver push notifications). Sentry receives the crash reports described above and deletes them automatically within 90 days. They process data only to provide these services to us.

How long we keep it

We keep your data while you have an account. When you delete your account, we delete your profile, progress, comments, likes, the members you blocked, unpublished stories, uploaded files and sign-in. Stories that were already published stay in the archive without your name, unless you choose to remove them too when deleting your account.

Your choices

• Edit your name and picture in the app at any time.
• Reset your learning progress in Settings.
• Turn notifications off in your phone's settings.
• Turn off anonymous usage counts and crash reports in Settings.
• Block a member from their story or comment, and unblock them in Settings → Blocked members.
• Delete your account in the app (how).
• Ask us for a copy of your data or to correct it using the contact below.

Children

Families use Jiɛ̈ɛ̈ŋ Heritage together. Children under 13 should use the app with a parent or guardian, who can delete the account at any time.

Changes

If we change this policy in a way that matters, we will say so in the app before the change applies.

Contact

Questions or requests: makurmajengm@gmail.com.