Privacy Policy for NSS IITP App

Last updated: 1st October 2025

1. Introduction

This Privacy Policy describes how the NSS IITP app collects, uses, and protects your personal information. The App is designed for the National Service Scheme (NSS) activities at the Indian Institute of Technology Patna and facilitates communication, attendance tracking, and event management for students and administrators.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Personal Information

We collect the following personal information:

• Academic Information: Name, roll number, email address, academic year, academic group, NSS group
• Contact Information: Mobile phone number, institute email ID, Gmail ID
• Authentication Data: Login credentials and session information
• Location Data: GPS coordinates for attendance verification (collected only when marking attendance)

2.2 Communication Data

• Messages: Text messages, media files (images, documents, audio) shared in chats
• Media Access: We access media files (images, audio) only when you choose to share them through the app's features
• Group Communications: Messages in group chats and announcements
• Read Receipts: Information about message read status

2.3 Attendance and Event Data

• Attendance Records: Timestamps, location data, verification images
• Event Participation: Information about NSS events attended
• Leave Applications: Leave requests and approval status

2.4 Device and Technical Information

• Device Information: Device model, operating system version
• Push Notification Tokens: Firebase Cloud Messaging tokens for notifications
• App Usage Data: Feature usage patterns and app performance data

3. How We Use Your Information

3.1 Primary Purposes

• Authentication: To verify your identity and provide secure access to the app
• Communication: To facilitate messaging between students and administrators
• Attendance Management: To track and verify attendance at NSS events
• Event Management: To organize and manage NSS activities and events
• Notifications: To send important updates, announcements, and reminders

3.2 Location Services

Location data is collected only when:

• Marking attendance at NSS events
• Verifying presence at specific event locations

Location data is not continuously tracked and is only used for attendance verification purposes.

4. Data Storage and Security

4.1 Data Storage

• Firebase Cloud Firestore: User data, messages, attendance records
• Local Device Storage: App preferences, cached data, and temporary files
• Media Files: Media files (images, documents) are stored only when explicitly shared by users and are subject to the same security measures as other user data

4.2 Security Measures

• Data encryption in transit and at rest
• Role-based access controls
• Secure authentication using Firebase Auth
• Regular security updates and monitoring

5. Data Sharing and Third Parties

5.1 Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services:

• Google Firebase: Authentication, database, cloud messaging
• Google Play Services: Location services and device information

5.2 Data Sharing

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. Data may be shared only in the following circumstances:

• With IIT Patna administration for academic and NSS purposes
• When required by law or legal process
• To protect the rights and safety of users

6. Your Rights and Choices

6.1 Access and Control

• View and update your profile information
• Control notification preferences
• Request deletion of your account and data
• Opt-out of non-essential data collection

6.2 Data Retention

We retain your data for as long as:

• Your account is active
• Required for academic and administrative purposes
• Required by applicable laws and regulations

7. Permissions and Device Access

The app requests the following permissions:

• Camera: For taking photos for attendance verification, profile pictures, and document scanning
• Location: For verifying attendance at specific event locations
• Storage: For saving and accessing media files (images, documents, and audio)
• Media Access (Android 13+): For accessing photos and audio files when needed for app functionality
• Notifications: For sending important updates and announcements
• Microphone: For recording audio messages (optional)

8. Children's Privacy

This app is designed for college students and is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately.

9. International Data Transfers

Your data may be processed and stored on servers located outside India. We ensure that such transfers comply with applicable data protection laws and implement appropriate safeguards to protect your information.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by:

• Posting the new Privacy Policy in the app
• Sending notifications through the app
• Updating the "Last updated" date at the top of this policy

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

12. Compliance

This Privacy Policy complies with:

• Google Play Store requirements
• Indian data protection regulations
• Firebase and Google Cloud Platform terms of service

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