Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Audio Data

• We collect audio recordings of your cough when you use the App's analysis feature. The App requires microphone access solely for this purpose, and the microphone is only active while you are recording a cough
• Audio recordings are temporarily processed and are not permanently stored on our servers
• Audio data is converted to technical parameters for analysis and the original recording is deleted immediately after processing

1.2 Health Information

• Analysis results including cough type, severity assessment, and potential causes
• Timestamp of when analyses were performed
• This information is stored locally on your device and in your secure Firebase account

1.3 Technical Information

• Anonymous user identifier (Firebase Authentication ID)
• Device type and operating system version
• App version
• General geographic location (timezone only)
• Error logs and performance data

1.4 Analytics and Usage Data

• We use Firebase Analytics (provided by Google) to collect anonymous usage data such as app opens, screen views, session duration, and general engagement metrics
• Analytics data is used solely to understand how the App is used and to improve the user experience
• This data is collected automatically and does not include personally identifiable information
• You may disable analytics data collection through your device's settings

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for the following purposes:

• To provide the service: Analyze your cough and provide educational health insights
• To maintain your history: Store your analysis results for your personal reference
• To improve the App: Understand usage patterns and improve our AI models (using aggregated, anonymized data only)
• To ensure security: Detect and prevent fraudulent or harmful activities
• To communicate: Send important updates about the App (if you've provided contact information)

3. Data Storage and Security

• Your data is stored using Google Firebase, which employs industry-standard security measures
• All data transmission is encrypted using SSL/TLS protocols
• Audio recordings are processed in memory and immediately deleted after analysis
• We do not store raw audio files on our servers
• Access to user data is strictly limited to authorized personnel only

4. Data Sharing and Third Parties

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

• Service Providers: With Firebase (Google) for authentication, data storage, and analytics
• Legal Requirements: If required by law or to protect our rights and safety
• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets
• With Your Consent: When you explicitly agree to share your information

Important: We never use your health data for advertising, marketing, or data mining purposes.

5. Your Rights and Choices

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Access: View your stored analysis history within the App
• Deletion: Delete individual analyses or your entire account and all associated data
• Portability: Export your analysis history (feature availability may vary)
• Correction: Report any inaccuracies in your data
• Opt-out: Choose not to participate in anonymized data aggregation for App improvement

6. Children's Privacy

Cough Checker is not intended for use by children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.

7. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and maintained on servers located outside of your state, province, country, or other governmental jurisdiction. By using the App, you consent to such transfers.

8. AI and Machine Learning

• We do not use your individual data to train our AI models
• Only aggregated, anonymized insights may be used to improve our algorithms
• You can opt-out of contributing to aggregated insights in the App settings

9. Health Data Special Provisions

As a health-related app, we adhere to strict guidelines regarding health information:

• Health data is never used for advertising or marketing purposes
• We do not share health data with insurance companies or employers
• All health insights provided are for educational purposes only
• We encourage users to consult healthcare professionals for medical advice

10. Data Retention

• Analysis results are retained as long as you maintain your account
• Deleted analyses are permanently removed from our systems within 30 days
• Account deletion results in permanent removal of all associated data within 90 days
• Some anonymized, aggregated data may be retained for App improvement purposes

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Effective Date" at the top. You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes.

12. California Privacy Rights

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), including:

• The right to know what personal information we collect, use, disclose, and sell
• The right to request deletion of your personal information
• The right to opt-out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell personal information)
• The right to non-discrimination for exercising your privacy rights

13. European Privacy Rights (GDPR)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA) or the United Kingdom, you have additional rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), including:

• The right to access, rectify, or erase your personal data
• The right to restrict or object to the processing of your personal data
• The right to data portability
• The right to withdraw consent at any time
• The right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority

Our legal basis for processing your data includes: your consent (for audio recording and analytics), the performance of our service (for cough analysis), and our legitimate interests (for App improvement and security).

14. Contact Us

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