Privacy Policy

Litguide Inc. operates the Litguide mobile application (starting now referred to as the “Service”) and is committed to protecting the privacy and security of the personal data of all its users, particularly children under 18. This privacy policy explains the types of data that the Service collects, the reasons for its collection, and the choices users have regarding using and disclosing their personal data.

Data

1.1 The Service collects the following data elements:

Email address
Nickname (a name or pseudonym chosen by the user to be used within the Service)
Phone number
Usage Data (such as device type, unique ID, IP address, operating system, browser type, and diagnostic data)

1.2 Collecting these data elements is necessary to provide and improve the Service, notify users of changes, allow for interactive features, provide customer support, gather analysis, and detect and address technical issues.

Consent

2.1 Veriﬁable parental consent is obtained for the collection, use and disclosure of personal information of children under 18 unless there is a legal basis for using the Service as determined by law or established by regulators.

2.2 Users can maintain ownership and control of the content they create and upload to the Service.

2.3 Users can consent to the collection and use of personal information necessary to provide the Service without also agreeing to the use or disclosure of that information to third parties for other purposes. Collection

3.1 The Service collects only the personal information required to operate the Service. It does not access browser history, contact lists, search terms, preferences, device identiﬁcation, location, or other information unless directly related to providing the Service.

3.2 Users are given choices regarding the disclosure of data on their devices, such as location, identiﬁers, and contacts, when downloading the Service onto mobile devices.

3.3 The Service never collects personal information covertly, and users’ proﬁles and activity within the Service are kept private unless the Service is collaborative and requires sharing.

3.4 Educators can create generic accounts for children and/or use as little personal information as possible to avoid excessive data collection.

3.4 The service recognizes the signiﬁcance of safeguarding the privacy of our users, particularly children. As such, we conﬁrm that The Service does not track users’ behaviour outside of the platform, including browsing habits, search inquiries, or use of social media. The Service does not collect or utilize this information for any purpose.

Use, Retention, Disclosure

4.1 The Service uses, discloses and retains personal information only for the purpose of providing the Service.

4.2 The Service does not beneﬁt or proﬁt from the user’s personal information.

4.3 The Service does not proﬁle children for marketing purposes or in ways that lead to unfair, unethical, or discriminatory treatment.

4.4 The Service does not repurpose student data or use it for research without express consent unless authorized by statute or anonymized.

4.5 Personal information that is no longer required to provide the Service is securely destroyed or made anonymous in a timely manner, and retention timelines are explicitly identiﬁed.

4.6 The Service is committed to safeguarding the privacy of our users and adhering to industry-standard data retention practices. Accordingly, inactive, cancelled or lapsed accounts and their associated data are retained in our database for one (1) year following the date of the last activity on the platform. Once this period has elapsed, such data will be permanently destroyed from the database securely and conﬁdentially.

4.7 Users may delete their account from the settings page anytime without additional processing or delay. We encourage our users to review and exercise this option if they wish to have their data destroyed from The Service immediately.

Third Parties

5.1 To enhance the user experience, The Service utilizes a limited number of trusted third-party applications demonstrating their commitment to data protection. These third-party applications may access personal information as part of their processing activities. To ensure the safety of user data, we require all third-party applications to adhere to our data protection policies and implement appropriate technical and organizational measures.

5.2 The Service utilizes Firebase to monitor the app’s performance and gain debugging insights. The data elements shared with Firebase include device identiﬁers, crash logs, and user interactions with the app. Firebase has implemented various security measures to protect user data, such as encryption, access controls, and data retention policies.

5.3 Google Analytics monitors general user activity and engagement within the Service. The data shared with Google Analytics includes information on user behaviour on the app and website and device identiﬁers. Google Analytics IP Anonymization feature masks IP addresses to prevent individual identiﬁcation of user controls.

5.4 The Service utilizes One Signal to send push notiﬁcations, and One Signal is committed to protecting user data by implementing data protection measures such as encryption and access controls. The data shared with One Signal includes device identiﬁers and user interaction with the app.

5.5 Twilio sends conﬁrmation messages to users who sign up using their phone numbers. The data shared with Twilio includes phone numbers and conﬁrmation codes. Twilio adheres to industry-standard security practices and has implemented data protection measures such as encryption and access controls.

5.6 The Service is hosted in AWS and has implemented various security measures, including encryption, access controls, and data retention policies. Cookies and Local Storage

6.1 The Service uses cookies and local storage technologies to provide and improve the platform. Cookies are small text ﬁles placed on your device when you visit our website or use our app. Local storage is an industry-standard technology that allows websites and apps to store information locally on your device.

We use cookies and local storage for the following purposes:

To remember your preferences and settings
To provide and personalize The Service
To measure and analyze the usage of the Service
To detect and prevent fraud and security incidents

6.2 We use both session cookies (which expire when you close your browser) and persistent cookies (which stay on your device until they expire or you delete them). We also use both ﬁrst-party cookies (which we set) and third-party cookies (which are placed by third-party services we use, such as Google Analytics).

6.3 While we do not allow users to control cookies and local storage within the app, you can manage these settings through your browser settings. Disabling cookies and local storage may affect the Service’s functionality. By using the Service, you consent to cookies and local storage as described in this policy.

Security Safeguards

7.1 The Service has a comprehensive security program in place that is reasonably designed to protect the security, privacy, conﬁdentiality, and integrity of student personal information against risks through the use of administrative, technological, and physical safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information.

7.2 The Service’s security safeguards are deﬁned in this policy.

7.3 Vendors used to provide the Service implement the same security safeguards.

7.4 Successor entities must implement the same security safeguards for personal information previously collected. 7.5 The Service has breach protocols in place for a data breach.

Privacy Legislation

8.1 The Service takes into account the following privacy legislation and regulations when creating and operating the Service:

The Service follows the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) to guide our safeguards, policies, and processes. Speciﬁcally, MFIPPA governs the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information by public bodies in Ontario, Canada. At the same time, PIPEDA sets out the rules for how private organizations collect, use, and disclose personal information in Canada.

8.2 The privacy laws are designed to protect individuals’ privacy rights, regulate how organizations handle personal information, and allow individuals to access their data and request its correction or deletion. Our compliance with these laws ensures that we are committed to protecting the privacy and security of our user’s personal information and are transparent in our data handling practices.

Openness and Transparency

9.1 The Service communicates privacy notices, terms of use, contracts, etc., in clear, speciﬁc and unambiguous language that explains to users how their personal information is being used, processed, disclosed and retained by the provider and any third parties.

9.2 Privacy policies and terms of use are easily accessible to users after creating an account.

9.3 The Service provides users with the ability to access, correct, and delete their personal information.

9.4 The Service responds to inquiries or complaints regarding privacy in a timely and eﬃcient manner.

9.5 The Service regularly reviews and updates its privacy policy to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. 9.6 In the event of a data breach, The Service applies a systematic process to notify its users, schools, and school boards utilizing the platform. The process involves verifying the availability of an email address associated with the user’s account and sending a mass email notiﬁcation detailing the nature of the breach and the steps taken to mitigate it. The Service will push notiﬁcations to the user’s device if the email is unavailable to ensure prompt and effective communication.

Contact Information

10.1 If you have any questions or concerns about this privacy policy or the Service’s handling of personal data, please contact Litguide Inc. at the following email: [email protected]

10.2 If you are unsatisﬁed with the response received, you can contact the relevant regulatory body for further assistance.

This privacy policy is effective as of May 18, 2023. It will remain in effect except concerning any changes in its provisions in the future, which will be in effect immediately after being posted on this page. Litguide Inc. reserves the right to update or change this privacy policy and encourages users to check this page periodically for any updates. Your continued use of the Service after any changes to this policy will constitute your acceptance of such changes.

Amendments to our policy

To ensure that this Privacy Policy is kept up to date, we reserve the right to change this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be effective 30 days following our providing you with notice. Notice of changes to the Privacy Policy will be sent via an email associated with the user’s account. Suppose the user does not have an email registered. In that case, the Service will push notifications to the user’s device for prompt and effective communication. Your continued use or access to our mobile app or web platform after the effective date signifies your acceptance of and agreement to any changes. Please check this page regularly. The date last updated will be posted at the top or bottom of this page.

Posted: April 18, 2023

Last Updated: April 16, 2023

Effective Date: May 18, 2023