Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

FreshMinds Academy ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information when you use our mobile application (the "App").

By using FreshMinds Academy, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree with this policy, please do not use our App.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Personal Information

When you register for an account, we collect:

• Phone Number (Required) - Primary identifier used for login and account authentication
• Full Name (Required) - To personalize your learning profile and competition rankings
• Password (Required) - Encrypted and securely stored using bcrypt hashing
• Email Address (Optional) - For account notifications, support, and password reset

2.2 Learning Data

To provide our educational services, we collect:

• Course Progress - Chapters completed, videos watched, time spent
• Exam Results - Scores, answers, completion time, attempts
• Video Watch History - Which videos you watched and for how long
• Competition Participation - Rankings, scores, participation status
• Study Statistics - Learning patterns, progress metrics, achievements
• Notes and Bookmarks - Content you save for later review

2.3 Device Information

We automatically collect certain technical information:

• Device ID - Unique identifier for data synchronization across devices
• App Version - To ensure compatibility and provide updates
• Operating System Version - For app optimization and support
• Crash Logs and Error Reports - Via Sentry for bug fixing and stability
• Network Status - To enable offline functionality

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for the following purposes:

3.1 Providing Core Services

• Create and manage your account
• Deliver educational content (videos, exams, courses)
• Track your learning progress and performance
• Sync your data across multiple devices
• Enable offline access to downloaded content
• Facilitate competition participation and rankings

3.2 Communication

• Send important notifications about your account
• Notify you about new courses or content
• Respond to your support requests
• Send exam results and progress updates

3.3 Improvement and Analytics

• Analyze app usage to improve features
• Identify and fix bugs and crashes
• Understand which content is most helpful
• Optimize app performance

3.4 Security and Fraud Prevention

• Detect and prevent exam cheating
• Protect against unauthorized access
• Ensure fair competition rankings
• Verify payment transactions

4. Data Sharing and Third Parties

We share your information with the following third-party services to provide our App functionality:

4.1 Service Providers

• Sentry - Error tracking and crash reporting. Collects crash logs and error data to help us fix bugs.
  Sentry Privacy Policy
• Cloudflare R2 - Cloud storage for video content delivery. Stores and delivers educational videos securely.
  Cloudflare Privacy Policy
• Cloud VPS Infrastructure - Secure server hosting and API services.

4.2 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law, such as:

• Compliance with legal obligations or court orders
• Protection of our rights and property
• Prevention of fraud or illegal activities
• Protection of user safety

5. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information:

5.1 Technical Safeguards

• Encryption in Transit - All data transmitted uses HTTPS/TLS encryption
• Password Security - Passwords are hashed using bcrypt (never stored in plain text)
• Encrypted Downloads - Video downloads are encrypted on your device
• Secure Authentication - JSON Web Tokens (JWT) for secure sessions
• Regular Security Audits - Periodic security reviews and updates

5.2 Access Controls

• Limited employee access to personal data
• Two-factor authentication for admin accounts
• Regular security training for our team

Note: While we implement robust security measures, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Your Rights and Choices

You have the following rights regarding your personal data:

6.1 Access and Portability

• Right to Access - Request a copy of all personal data we hold about you
• Right to Portability - Export your learning data in a portable format

6.2 Correction and Deletion

• Right to Correct - Update inaccurate or incomplete information in your profile
• Right to Delete - Request permanent deletion of your account and all data

6.3 Control and Opt-Out

• Notification Preferences - Manage notification settings in the app
• Data Collection - Opt-out of crash reporting (may affect support quality)
• Account Deactivation - Temporarily deactivate your account

6.4 How to Exercise Your Rights

To exercise any of these rights, you can:

• Email us at: freshmindssupport@gmail.com
• Use the in-app support feature
• Contact us through the contact information below

We will respond to your request within 30 days.

7. Data Retention

We retain your data for the following periods:

After deletion, your data may remain in backup systems for up to 90 days before permanent removal.

8. Children's Privacy

FreshMinds Academy is designed for students aged 13 years and above. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child under 13 has provided personal information to us, please contact us immediately at freshmindssupport@gmail.com, and we will delete the information promptly.

9. International Data Transfers

Your data is primarily stored on servers located in the United States and Europe. By using our App, you consent to the transfer of your information to these locations.

We ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your data in compliance with applicable data protection laws.

10. Cookies and Tracking

Our mobile app does not use cookies. However, we may use similar technologies such as:

• Local Storage - To save your preferences and offline data
• Device Identifiers - For authentication and data synchronization
• Analytics - To understand app usage patterns (aggregated data only)

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for legal, operational, or regulatory reasons.

When we make significant changes, we will notify you by:

• Displaying a prominent notice in the app
• Sending an email notification to your registered email address
• Updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy

Your continued use of the App after changes become effective constitutes your acceptance of the revised Privacy Policy.

12. Your Consent

By using FreshMinds Academy, you consent to this Privacy Policy and agree to its terms. If you do not agree, please discontinue use of the App.

14. Governing Law

This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of Ethiopia. Any disputes arising from this policy will be resolved in accordance with Ethiopian law.