Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide

Account Information (Optional)

• First name (entered during onboarding, optional)
• Email address (if you sign in with Apple)

Personalization Preferences

• Faith journey stage (e.g., new believer, growing, deep)
• Devotional style preference (quick, deep, or varies)
• Bible translation preference (KJV or PDT)
• Reading time goals

1.2 User-Created Content

When you use the App, you may create:

• Journal notes: Text entries attached to Bible verses
• Highlights: Color-coded verse highlights
• Stamps: Quick annotations (heart, star, prayer, insight, question)

This content is stored locally on your device. When you are signed in, it syncs to the cloud for backup and access across devices.

1.3 Information Collected Automatically

• Firebase Authentication user ID (anonymous identifier)
• Reading activity (chapters read, minutes spent, verses read)
• Reading streak data
• Margo AI session count (number of AI conversations per day)
• Last app open date

1.4 Purchase Information

If you subscribe to Margo Premium, we store:

• Subscription status (free, monthly, or yearly)
• Product identifier and purchase date
• Subscription expiration date

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide the App: Enable Bible reading, journaling, highlights, stamps, and reading progress tracking
• Personalize Your Experience: Tailor the Margo AI companion’s responses based on your faith journey, devotional style, and reading preferences
• Power the AI Companion: Send conversation context (including your preferences and, when relevant, your notes on the current verse) to our AI service to generate contextual Bible study insights
• Sync Your Data: Store and synchronize your journal entries, highlights, stamps, and reading progress across devices when signed in
• Process Subscriptions: Verify and manage your Margo Premium subscription
• Surface “Your Past Self”: Show you notes you previously wrote when you revisit a Bible verse

3. AI-Powered Features

Margo includes an AI companion that provides historical and cultural context, cross-references, and Greek/Hebrew insights for Bible study. When you use the AI companion:

• Your conversation messages and the current Bible verse context are sent to Google’s Gemini AI model via our secure Firebase Cloud Functions
• Your personalization preferences (faith journey, devotional style) may be included to tailor responses
• AI conversations are not stored permanently on our servers after the session ends
• The AI service is rate-limited to 12 sessions per user per day

4. Data Storage and Security

4.1 Where We Store Data

• Local Storage: All Bible data, journal entries, highlights, and stamps are stored locally on your device using Apple’s SwiftData framework for full offline functionality
• Cloud Storage: When signed in, data syncs to Firebase Firestore (Google Cloud infrastructure) for backup and cross-device access

4.2 Security Measures

• Sign in with Apple uses cryptographic nonce verification
• Authentication tokens stored in the iOS Keychain
• Firestore security rules ensure users can only read and write their own data
• All network communication uses HTTPS/TLS encryption (default App Transport Security)
• API keys for AI services are stored in Google Secret Manager, never exposed to the client app
• No sensitive data (keys, tokens, user content) is written to app logs

5. Third-Party Services

Our App uses the following third-party services:

5.1 Firebase (Google)

• Purpose: Authentication, cloud database, and AI cloud functions
• Data Shared: User ID, email (if signed in), user content (for sync), conversation context (for AI)
• Analytics: Firebase Analytics is disabled in this app
• Privacy Policy: firebase.google.com/support/privacy

5.2 Apple Sign In

• Purpose: Account authentication
• Data Shared: Email address (you may choose to hide your email via Apple’s relay service)
• Privacy Policy: apple.com/legal/privacy

5.3 Google Gemini AI

• Purpose: Power the Margo AI Bible study companion
• Data Shared: Conversation messages, current verse context, and user preferences (routed through Firebase Cloud Functions)
• Privacy Policy: policies.google.com/privacy

5.4 Apple App Store (StoreKit)

• Purpose: Process subscription purchases
• Data Shared: Transaction verification via StoreKit 2
• Privacy Policy: apple.com/legal/privacy

6. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell your personal information. We do not use your data for advertising or tracking.

We may share your information only in the following limited circumstances:

• Service Providers: With the third-party services listed above that help us operate the App (Firebase, Apple, Google Gemini)
• Legal Requirements: If required by law, subpoena, or to protect our legal rights
• Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, with notice to affected users

7. Your Rights and Choices

7.1 Account Options

• Guest Mode: Use the App fully without creating an account or providing personal information
• Sign Out: Disconnect your account at any time from the Settings screen
• Account Deletion: Delete your account and all associated cloud data directly within the App (Settings > Delete Account). This also revokes your Apple Sign In credentials for the App.

7.2 Data Access and Deletion

You have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate data
• Request deletion of your data
• Export your data

To exercise these rights, contact us at: [email protected]

7.3 California Residents (CCPA)

California residents have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act, including the right to know what personal information is collected, the right to delete personal information, and the right to opt out of the sale of personal information. We do not sell personal information.

7.4 European Residents (GDPR)

If you are in the European Economic Area, you have rights under the General Data Protection Regulation, including the rights to access, rectification, erasure, restriction of processing, data portability, and objection. Our legal basis for processing is your consent (for account creation) and legitimate interest (for app functionality).

8. Children’s Privacy

Margo is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are under 13, please do not use the App or provide any information to us.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child under 13 has provided us with personal information, please contact us at [email protected] and we will promptly delete the information.

9. Data Retention

• Account Data: Retained until you delete your account
• User Content: Journal entries, highlights, and stamps are retained as long as your account exists. Local data remains on your device until the App is uninstalled.
• Purchase Records: Retained as required for tax and legal compliance
• AI Conversations: Not stored permanently after the session ends

10. Offline Functionality

Margo is designed as an offline-first application. Bible reading, journaling, highlights, stamps, and reading progress tracking all work without an internet connection. Data is stored locally on your device and only transmitted to our servers when you are signed in and connected to the internet. The AI companion feature requires an internet connection.

11. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own, including the United States, where our service providers (Google/Firebase) maintain servers. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for such transfers in compliance with applicable data protection laws.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

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

• Posting the updated Privacy Policy on this page
• Updating the “Last Updated” date at the top

Your continued use of the App after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Contact Us

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

14. App Store Privacy Details