Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Udayam ("we", "our", or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our website and mobile application ("Platform").

By using our Platform, you consent to the data practices described in this policy.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Personal Information

When you register or use our Platform, we may collect:

• Name
• Phone number (used for OTP-based authentication)
• Email address
• City and state (for regional news delivery)

2.2 Usage Data

We automatically collect information about how you interact with the Platform, including:

• Articles you read, like, dislike, or bookmark
• Comments you post
• Advertisements you view or interact with
• Device information and identifiers
• IP address and approximate location

2.3 Device Information

For push notification delivery, we collect Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) tokens from your device. Guest users are identified by a unique device identifier stored locally on the device.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information to:

• Provide, maintain, and improve the Platform
• Authenticate your identity and secure your account
• Deliver personalized news based on your city and preferences
• Send breaking news push notifications
• Display relevant advertisements based on your region
• Track article engagement metrics (views, likes, comments)
• Moderate user-generated content and handle reports
• Analyze usage patterns to improve user experience
• Communicate with you about your account or the Platform

4. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your data in the following circumstances:

• Service Providers: We use third-party services such as MSG91 (OTP delivery), Firebase (push notifications), and BunnyCDN (media hosting) that may process your data to provide their services.
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information if required by law, regulation, or legal process.
• Protection: We may share information when necessary to protect the rights, safety, or property of Udayam, our users, or the public.

Your public interactions such as comments and display names are visible to other users of the Platform.

5. Data Storage and Security

Your data is stored on secure servers. We implement industry-standard security measures including encrypted data transmission (HTTPS), secure authentication via JWT tokens, and password hashing with bcrypt for admin accounts.

While we strive to protect your information, no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Cookies and Local Storage

We use browser cookies and local storage to store authentication tokens for session management and device identifiers for guest users. These are essential for the Platform to function properly.

7. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access and update your personal information through your profile settings
• Request deletion of your account and associated data
• Opt out of push notifications through your device settings
• Withdraw consent for data processing (which may limit Platform functionality)

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at the email address provided below.

8. Children's Privacy

Our Platform is not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such information, please contact us immediately.

9. Third-Party Links

Our Platform may contain links to external websites and source articles. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of third-party sites. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of any external sites you visit.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by posting the updated policy on the Platform. Your continued use after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at: