Privacy Policy

Pitara Stories is a product of Vigorpeak Solutions Private Limited ("we", "our", or "us"), a company registered in India. We are committed to protecting the privacy of our users, especially children. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, and share information when you use the Pitara Stories mobile application (the "App"), available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

1. Children's Privacy

Pitara Stories is designed for children and families. We take children's privacy very seriously and comply with applicable children's privacy laws, including:

• COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, United States)
• GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation, European Union), including provisions for children's data
• Other applicable data protection laws in jurisdictions where the App is available

Our practices for children's data:

• We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13 (or the applicable age in your jurisdiction) without verifiable parental consent.
• The App does not require children to provide any personal information to access stories or use core features.
• We do not serve any advertisements to any users within the App.
• We do not include external links accessible to children within the story experience.
• Account creation is restricted to parents and guardians only, and is gated behind a parental verification mechanism.

If you believe your child has provided personal information to us without your consent, please contact us immediately at [email protected] and we will promptly delete it.

2. Information We Collect

We collect minimal information necessary to operate and improve the App:

a) Parent/Guardian Account Information

When a parent or guardian creates an account, we collect an email address for account management and communication. Account creation is only available to adults and is protected by a parental gate. Children cannot create accounts.

b) Usage Data (Anonymized)

We use Google Firebase Analytics to collect anonymous, aggregated data about how the App is used (for example, which stories are most popular and average session duration). This data is used solely to improve the App experience. Firebase Analytics is configured to:

• Not collect advertising identifiers (IDFA/AAID) from users identified as children
• Not link usage data to individual user identities for child users
• Not enable interest-based advertising or remarketing

c) Crash Reports

We use Google Firebase Crashlytics to collect anonymous crash reports when the App encounters an error. These reports include technical information about the device state at the time of the crash (such as device model, operating system version, and stack traces) but do not include any personally identifiable information. This data helps us identify and fix bugs to improve App stability.

d) Device Information

We collect basic device type and operating system version information for compatibility and performance optimization. This information is collected through Firebase and is not linked to individual user identities.

e) Subscription Data

If you subscribe to premium content, payment processing is handled entirely by Apple (App Store) or Google (Play Store). We do not collect, process, or store any payment card information, bank details, or billing addresses. We receive only a transaction confirmation and subscription status from these platforms.

3. How We Use Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide, maintain, and improve the App and its content.
• Add new stories and features based on aggregated usage patterns.
• Send important updates about the App to parents/guardians who have created accounts (with their consent).
• Identify and fix technical issues using crash reports.
• Ensure the App functions correctly across different devices and operating system versions.

We do not use any collected information for advertising, profiling, or any purpose other than those listed above.

4. Information Sharing

We do not sell, rent, or trade any user information. We may share limited information only in the following cases:

• Firebase Services (Google LLC): Anonymous usage data and crash reports are processed by Google Firebase. Google's privacy policy is available at policies.google.com/privacy. Firebase's data processing terms are available at firebase.google.com/terms/data-processing-terms.
• App Store Platforms: Apple and Google process subscription payments and may collect their own data as described in their respective privacy policies.
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose information when required by law, regulation, legal process, or enforceable governmental request.

We do not share any data with advertising networks, data brokers, or any other third parties beyond those listed above.

5. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect user information, including:

• Encryption of data in transit using HTTPS/TLS.
• Secure storage of account credentials using industry-standard hashing.
• Regular review of our data collection and storage practices.

However, no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Data Retention

We retain personal information (parent/guardian email addresses) only as long as the associated account is active. Upon account deletion, personal information is deleted within 30 days. Anonymous, aggregated usage data and crash reports may be retained indefinitely as they cannot be linked to individual users.

7. Parental Rights

Parents and guardians have the right to:

• Review any personal information we have collected related to their account or their child's use of the App.
• Request correction of inaccurate personal information.
• Request deletion of their personal information and account.
• Refuse further collection of information.
• Withdraw consent for data processing at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at [email protected]. We will respond to all requests within 30 days.

8. International Users

Pitara Stories is available worldwide. If you are located outside India, please be aware that your information may be processed and stored in India, where our servers are located. By using the App, you consent to the transfer of your information to India. We ensure that data transfers comply with applicable data protection laws, including GDPR for users in the European Economic Area.

9. Cookies and Tracking

The App does not use cookies. The Firebase Analytics and Crashlytics SDKs integrated in the App may use device identifiers for anonymous analytics purposes. These identifiers are not used to track users across apps or websites, and are not used for advertising purposes. For users identified as children, we disable advertising identifier collection.

10. Changes to This Policy

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

• Posting the updated policy within the App and on our website.
• Updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page.
• Sending an email notification to registered account holders for significant changes.

Your continued use of the App after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy. If you do not agree with the changes, please discontinue use of the App and contact us to delete your account.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, our data practices, or your child's privacy, please contact us at: