Privacy Statement for KounterPunch
Last Updated: April 5, 2025
This Privacy Statement describes how KounterPunch (“we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, and shares information about you when you use our mobile application (the “App”). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information.
1. Information We Collect
We collect the following types of information when you use KounterPunch:
- Information You Provide Directly:
- Account Information (Optional): While the core functionality of KounterPunch may not require an account, if you choose to create one (for features like saving preferences or personalized feeds), we may collect your name, email address, and any other information you provide during the registration process.
- Preferences and Settings: Information about your preferred news sources, topics, political leanings (if you choose to provide this for personalization), and other settings you configure within the App.
- Feedback and Communications: If you contact us for support or provide feedback, we may collect your name, email address, and the content of your communication.
- User-Generated Content (if applicable): If the App allows users to post comments or engage in discussions, we will collect the content you submit.
- Information We Collect Automatically:
- Device Information: Information about your mobile device, including the device model, operating system, unique device identifiers (such as advertising ID and device ID), mobile network information, and IP address.
- Usage Data: Information about how you use the App, including the news articles you view, the time and date of your access, the features you use, the links you click, the bias analysis and commentary you interact with, and your navigation within the App.
- Log Data: Server logs that may include information such as your device IP address, browser type, referring/exit pages, and timestamps.
- Location Data (Optional): With your explicit consent, we may collect your device’s precise or approximate location to provide location-based news or features. You can typically control location sharing through your device settings.
- Information from Third-Party Sources:
- Analytics Providers: We may use third-party analytics services (such as Google Analytics or Firebase) to collect and analyze usage data to help us understand how users interact with the App and improve its functionality. These providers may collect information about your use of the App, along with other websites and apps.
- Advertising Partners (if applicable): If we display advertisements in the App, our advertising partners may collect information about your device and your interactions with ads to personalize the advertising content you see. This may include the use of cookies, web beacons, and other tracking technologies.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
- To Provide and Maintain the App: To operate the App, provide you with access to news feeds, display bias analysis and commentary, and ensure the App’s stability and security.
- To Personalize Your Experience: To tailor the news feeds, bias analysis, and commentary displayed to your interests and preferences (if you choose to share them).
- To Improve the App: To analyze usage patterns, identify areas for improvement, and develop new features and functionalities.
- To Communicate with You: To respond to your inquiries, provide support, and send you important notices and updates about the App.
- To Display Advertisements (if applicable): To show you relevant advertisements based on your usage and interests (you may have options to limit ad tracking through your device settings).
- To Enforce Our Terms of Service: To investigate and prevent violations of our terms and conditions.
- For Research and Analysis: To conduct research and analyze trends in news consumption and bias perception. This data will generally be aggregated and anonymized.
3. How We Share Your Information
We may share your information with the following categories of recipients:
- Service Providers: We may share your information with third-party service providers who assist us in operating, maintaining, and improving the App, such as analytics providers, hosting providers, and customer support services. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the purposes for which we disclose it.
- Advertising Partners (if applicable): If we display advertisements, we may share certain device identifiers and usage data with our advertising partners to enable targeted advertising.
- Affiliates and Subsidiaries: We may share your information with our affiliates and subsidiaries for internal business purposes.
- Legal Compliance and Protection: We may disclose your information if required to do so by law, legal process, or government request, or when we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to protect our rights,property, or safety, or the rights, property, or safety of others.
- Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, reorganization, sale of assets, or other business transaction, your information may be transferred to the acquiring entity or other third party as part of the transaction. We will notify you via email and/or a prominent notice in the App of any change in ownership or uses of your personal information, as well as any choices you may have regarding your personal information.
- With Your Consent: We may share your information with third parties with your explicit consent.
- Aggregated and Anonymized Data: We may share aggregated and anonymized data that does not directly identify you with third parties for research, analytics, or other purposes.
4. Your Choices and Rights
You have the following choices and rights regarding your personal information:
- Account Information: If you have created an account, you may be able to access, update, or delete certain personal information through your account settings within the App.
- Location Data: If you have granted us permission to collect your location data, you can typically withdraw your consent at any time through your device settings.
- Advertising Preferences: You may be able to limit ad tracking through your device settings (e.g., “Limit Ad Tracking” on iOS or “Opt out of Ads Personalization” on Android).
- Access and Correction: You may have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you and to request that we correct any inaccuracies.
- Deletion: You may have the right to request the deletion of your personal information, subject to certain exceptions.
- Objection to Processing: You may have the right to object to the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.
- Data Portability: You may have the right to receive a copy of your personal information in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at [email protected]. We will respond to your request in accordance with applicable law. We may need to verify your identity before fulfilling your request.
5. Data Security
We take reasonable measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include:
- Using encryption to protect sensitive data during transmission.
- Implementing technical and organizational safeguards to secure our servers and databases.
- Limiting access to personal information to authorized personnel who need to know it to perform their job duties.
However, no method of transmission over the internet or method of electronic storage is completely secure. Therefore, while we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.
6. Data Retention
We will retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this PrivacyStatement, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. The retention period may depend on the type of information, the purpose for which it was collected, and our legitimate business interests.
If you delete your account, we will retain your information for a reasonable period for backup, archival, and audit purposes, or as required by law. Anonymized and aggregated data may be retained indefinitely.
7. Children’s Privacy
KounterPunch is not intended for children under the age of [Specify Age, e.g., 13]. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under this age. If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child has provided us with personal information without your consent, please contact us at [email protected], and we will take steps to delete the information.
8. Links to Other Websites and Services
The App may contain links to other websites or online services that are not operated by us. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third-party websites or services. We encourage you to review the privacy statements of any website or service you visit.
9. International Data Transfers
Your personal information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence, which may have data protection laws that are different from the laws in your country. By using the App, you consent to the transfer of your personal information to these countries. We will take appropriate safeguards to ensure that your personal information remains protected in accordance with this Privacy Statement and applicable law.
10. Changes to This Privacy Statement
We may update this Privacy Statement from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or applicable law. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the updated Privacy Statement within the App or by other means, such as sending you an email. The “Last Updated” date at the top of this Privacy Statement indicates when the latest changes were made. Your continued use of the App after the posting of the revised Privacy Statement constitutes your acceptance of the changes.
11. Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Statement or our privacy practices, please contact us at:
Email: [email protected]
We will do our best to address your concerns and resolve any issues in a timely manner.