Global Privacy Policy

Global Commitment & Statutory Scope

NewsDhara operates in full compliance with international and regional privacy laws, including:

• Google Play Developer & Data Safety Policies: Full transparency regarding collected data, advertising IDs, and user account deletion mechanisms.
• EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) & UK DPA: Lawful data processing, rights to access and erasure, and IAB TCF v2.2 consent compliance.
• US State Privacy Laws (CCPA / CPRA): Strict non-sale of personal data and opt-out transparency.
• India Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act 2023: Lawful consent, specified legitimate purpose, and Grievance Redressal compliance.
• Google AdMob & AdSense Publisher Policies: Safe ad placement, invalid click prevention, and family safety standards.

1. Information We Collect

We only collect data strictly necessary to deliver, personalize, and secure our news and weather services:

• User Profile Data (Voluntary): Name, email address, and profile photo when voluntarily registering or signing in via Google Sign-In or Email.
• Coarse Geographic Location: City, district, or regional location derived from coarse device permission or IP address. This is strictly used to display localized weather forecasts and regional news. We do NOT collect or store continuous background GPS tracking data.
• Device & Diagnostic Telemetry: Device model, operating system version, anonymous app installation tokens, and crash logs to resolve performance issues.
• Advertising Identifiers: Google Advertising ID (GAID) processed by Google Mobile Ads (AdMob) for ad serving, frequency capping, fraud prevention, and performance analytics.
• Push Notification Tokens: Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM HTTP v1) registration tokens required to deliver opt-in breaking news and weather alerts.

2. Third-Party Developer SDKs & Services

NewsDhara integrates trusted, industry-standard developer SDKs:

• Google Mobile Ads (AdMob): Monetization partner serving banner, native, interstitial, medium rectangle, and rewarded ads. Google Ads Policy.
• Firebase Authentication: Secure authentication handling for Google Sign-In and email accounts.
• Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM): Real-time push notification infrastructure.
• Google Play Services: Core application integrity, in-app updates, and licensing.

3. Google AdMob & Monetization Compliance

We uphold strict standards for advertisement delivery:

• Ad Personalization Control: Users can opt out of personalized tracking anytime via Android Settings (Settings > Google > Ads > Delete / Reset Advertising ID).
• Rewarded Ads Transparency: Rewarded video ads are strictly user-initiated. Points earned are purely for temporary in-app ad-free sessions and carry no cash value.
• Clear Labeling: Advertisements are distinctly separated from news editorial text with visible "Ad" or "Sponsored" labels.

4. Instant Account & Data Deletion

You have full control over your data. You can delete your account and all associated personal data permanently at any time:

• In-App Deletion: Open NewsDhara, go to Profile > Account Settings > Delete Account. Deletion is executed in real-time.
• Web Portal Request: Visit our dedicated web deletion portal to submit a deletion request without opening the app.
• Direct Email: Email support@sbsphere.online with the subject "Account Deletion Request".

5. Children's Privacy (COPPA Compliance)

NewsDhara is a general audience news application designed for users aged 13 and older (or 16 and older in the EEA). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately for expedited deletion.

6. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Content, Translation & Visual Disclosures

NewsDhara incorporates Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning tools to assist our editorial workflow and deliver prompt regional news to readers across Maharashtra:

• Assisted Drafting & Summarization: AI tools assist in analyzing public government notifications, drafting news summaries, and formatting data tables.
• Regional Language Translation & Nuances: Automated language models assist in translating technical notices into Marathi. While we aim for linguistic accuracy, machine translation may occasionally present minor phrasing quirks or typos. Key statutory rules, dates, and figures are verified against primary records.
• Illustrative Visual Media: Certain thumbnails, category illustrations, and conceptual header graphics are synthesized or enhanced using AI visual models. These images serve an illustrative purpose only and are never used to generate misleading deepfakes, counterfeit living persons, or fabricate crime/disaster scenes.
• No User Data for AI Training: We strictly protect user data. Your personal credentials, comments, search queries, and reading bookmarks are never sold, shared, or used to train public or proprietary generative AI models.

7. Data Security & Storage

We employ HTTPS/TLS encrypted communication, secure database tokenization, and strict access controls. We never sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties.

8. Data Protection & Grievance Officer

For privacy inquiries, rights requests, or grievance redressal:

• Official Support Email: support@sbsphere.online
• Direct Helpline: +91 96865 38569
• Official Website: https://sbsphere.online/
• Office Address: At Post Deolali, Taluka Bhoom, District Dharashiv - 413504, Maharashtra, India.