Privacy Policy

At HopeBridge (پل امید), we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your data when you use our mobile application and services.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide

We collect the following information when you use HopeBridge:

• Email Address: Required for account authentication via one-time password (OTP) verification
• Application Information: When you submit or update your IRCC application status, we collect:
  • First name and last name
  • Gender
  • Application type (PR or Citizenship)
  • Application submission date
  • Current application status
  • Background check date (if applicable)
  • Visa office (if applicable)
  • Province of residence
  • Military service status
  • Approval date (if applicable)

1.2 Automatically Collected Information

We may automatically collect certain technical information when you use our app, including:

• Device information (device type, operating system version)
• App usage data and analytics
• IP address (for security and fraud prevention)

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• Service Provision: To provide and maintain the HopeBridge service, including authentication and data storage
• Analytics and Statistics: To generate anonymized, aggregated analytics and statistics about IRCC processing times. Your personal information is anonymized before being used in analytics (we use email hashes instead of actual email addresses)
• Community Support: We may occasionally send broadcast emails to the community for important updates, such as petitions or community-related activities that may benefit applicants
• Security and Fraud Prevention: To protect against unauthorized access, fraud, and security threats
• App Improvements: To understand how users interact with the app and improve our services

3. Data Anonymization and Aggregation

For analytics and statistical purposes, we anonymize your data by:

• Replacing your email address with a cryptographic hash (emailHash) that cannot be reversed to identify you
• Aggregating data points to show trends and statistics without revealing individual identities
• Ensuring that no personally identifiable information is displayed in public analytics or charts

4. Data Storage and Security

4.1 Where We Store Your Data

Your data is stored securely on Amazon Web Services (AWS) infrastructure.

4.2 Security Measures

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your data:

• All data transmission is encrypted using HTTPS/TLS
• Authentication tokens are securely generated and validated
• Access to data is restricted to authorized personnel only
• Regular security audits and monitoring

5. Data Sharing and Third Parties

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. We may share your information only in the following circumstances:

• Service Providers: We use AWS services (DynamoDB, Lambda, SES) to operate our service. These providers are bound by their own privacy policies and security standards
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose information if required by law or to protect our rights and the safety of our users

6. Your Rights and Choices

You have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Access: You can access your application data through the app at any time
• Update: You can update your application information through the app
• Deletion: You can request deletion of your data by contacting us at contact@hopebridge.ca
• Opt-out: You can opt out of community broadcast emails by contacting us

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide our services and for legitimate business purposes. If you request deletion of your account, we will delete your personal information within 30 days, except where we are required to retain it for legal purposes.

8. Children's Privacy

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

9. International Data Transfers

Your data may be stored and processed on servers located outside your country of residence. By using HopeBridge, you consent to the transfer of your data to AWS servers, which may be located in various regions including Canada and the United States.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically.

11. Contact Us

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

• Email: contact@hopebridge.ca

We will respond to your inquiry within a reasonable timeframe.