1. Introduction

Welcome to The Kawayan Communicator Mobile App, the official mobile application of Isabela State University - Cauayan City Campus student publication. This app is designed exclusively for ISU Cauayan students, faculty, and staff to access campus news, announcements, and publications.

We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting any personal information you share with us. This Privacy Policy describes what information we collect, how we use it, and your rights regarding your personal data.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Personal Information You Provide

When you create an account on The Kawayan Communicator Mobile App, we collect the following information:

• Name: First name, middle initial (optional), and last name
• Email Address: Preferably your ISU institutional email (e.g., @isu.edu.ph)
• Phone Number: For account verification and important notifications
• Password: Encrypted and stored securely for account access

2.2 Automatically Collected Information

When you use the app, we may automatically collect certain information:

• Device Information: Device type, operating system version, unique device identifiers
• Usage Data: Which articles you read, how long you spend in the app, features you use
• Log Data: App crashes, performance data, and error reports
• App Preferences: Theme settings (light/dark mode), notification preferences

2.3 Information We Do NOT Collect

• We do not collect your precise location data
• We do not access your contacts, photos, or other personal files
• We do not track your activity outside of the app
• We do not sell your personal information to third parties

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• Account Management: To create and maintain your user account
• Content Delivery: To provide you with personalized news and announcements
• Communication: To send you important notifications about campus events and updates
• App Improvement: To analyze usage patterns and improve app performance
• Security: To protect against unauthorized access and fraudulent activity
• Support: To respond to your inquiries and provide customer support

4. Data Sharing and Disclosure

4.1 Within ISU Cauayan Campus

Your information may be shared with authorized personnel from The Kawayan Communicator publication team and ISU Cauayan administration solely for the purpose of managing the app and providing campus news services.

4.2 Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services that may have access to limited data:

• Google reCAPTCHA: To prevent spam and automated abuse during registration
• SMS Gateway (Semaphore): To send verification codes and important notifications
• Web Hosting Service: To store and deliver app content

4.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., university administration, law enforcement).

5. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information:

• Encryption: All passwords are encrypted using industry-standard methods
• Secure Connections: Data transmission is protected using HTTPS/SSL
• Access Controls: Only authorized personnel have access to user data
• Regular Updates: We regularly update our security measures to address new threats

However, please note that no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Your Rights and Choices

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Access: You can request to view the personal information we have about you
• Correction: You can update or correct your account information at any time through the Profile section
• Deletion: You can request to delete your account and associated data
• Opt-Out: You can disable push notifications in your device settings
• Data Portability: You can request a copy of your data in a machine-readable format

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you services. If you wish to delete your account, please contact us and we will remove your data within 30 days, except where we are required to retain it for legal or administrative purposes.

• Active Accounts: Data is retained as long as the account is active
• Inactive Accounts: Accounts inactive for 2 years may be automatically archived
• Deleted Accounts: Data is permanently removed within 30 days of deletion request

8. Children's Privacy

This app is intended for use by ISU Cauayan students, faculty, and staff. While some users may be under 18 years of age, the app is designed for an educational institution context. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are under 13, please do not use this app or provide any information.

9. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for legal and regulatory reasons. We will notify you of any significant changes by:

• Posting the new Privacy Policy in the app
• Updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
• Sending a push notification for material changes

Your continued use of the app after any changes indicates your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

10. Cookies and Similar Technologies

The app uses minimal cookies and similar technologies to:

• Remember your login session
• Store your theme preference (light/dark mode)
• Improve app performance and functionality

These are essential for the app to function properly and cannot be disabled. We do not use tracking cookies or advertising cookies.

11. Scope and Limitations

This Privacy Policy applies only to The Kawayan Communicator Mobile App. When you click on links within the app that take you to external websites (such as the main TKC website or ISU official website), you will be subject to the privacy policies of those sites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of external sites.