Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to LID Trainer. We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring transparency about how our mobile application operates. This Privacy Policy explains what information is collected when you use our mobile application for training for the "Leben in Deutschland" test and "Einbürgerungstest" (German citizenship/integration test).

By using LID Trainer, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree with the terms of this privacy policy, please do not access the application.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Local Data Storage (On Your Device Only)

The following information is stored exclusively on your device and is never transmitted to our servers:

• Learning Progress: Your quiz results, completed exercises, performance statistics, and training history
• App Preferences: Your language preferences, selected regions (German federal states), and app settings
• Bookmarks and Notes: Any questions you've marked or notes you've made

This data remains entirely on your device. If you uninstall the app or clear app data, this information will be permanently deleted.

2.2 Automatically Collected Information (Third-Party Services)

While we don't collect your data directly, we use third-party services that may collect certain information automatically to help us improve the app and provide advertising support:

• Usage Analytics: Information about how you use the app, including session duration, features accessed, and interaction patterns (via Firebase Analytics)
• Device Information: Device type, operating system version, app version, and general device identifiers
• Crash Reports: Technical diagnostic information when the app crashes (via Firebase Crashlytics)
• Ad Identifiers: Advertising identifiers used to display relevant ads (via Google AdMob)

3. How Information Is Used

The information collected by third-party services is used for the following purposes:

• App Improvement: To understand how users interact with the app and identify areas for improvement
• Bug Fixing: To identify and fix crashes and technical issues
• Performance Optimization: To measure app performance and optimize loading times
• Advertising: To display relevant advertisements that support the free version of the app
• Analytics: To understand which features are most popular and guide development priorities

4. Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services. Each service has its own privacy policy governing how they handle data:

4.1 Firebase Analytics (Google)

Firebase Analytics helps us understand how users interact with the app by collecting anonymous usage statistics.

Data collected: App usage patterns, session duration, device information, and in-app events

Purpose: Improve app functionality and user experience

Privacy Policy: https://firebase.google.com/support/privacy

4.2 Firebase Crashlytics (Google)

Firebase Crashlytics automatically collects crash reports and diagnostic information to help us identify and fix bugs.

Data collected: Crash logs, device state at time of crash, stack traces

Purpose: Improve app stability and fix bugs

Privacy Policy: https://firebase.google.com/support/privacy

4.3 Google AdMob

We use Google AdMob to display advertisements that support the free version of the app. AdMob may use your advertising ID and collect data about your interactions with ads.

Data collected: Advertising identifier, ad impressions, ad clicks, device information

Purpose: Display relevant advertisements

Your Control: You can opt out of personalized advertising through your device settings (Google Ad Settings on Android, Limit Ad Tracking on iOS)

Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy

AdMob Partners: https://support.google.com/admob/answer/9012903

5. Data Storage and Security

5.1 Local Data

All your personal data (learning progress, preferences, bookmarks) is stored exclusively on your device using secure local storage mechanisms provided by your mobile operating system. We have no access to this data.

5.2 Third-Party Data

Data collected by third-party services (Firebase, AdMob) is stored on their secure servers. These services implement industry-standard security measures including:

• Encryption of data in transit using SSL/TLS protocols
• Secure data centers with physical and digital security
• Regular security audits and compliance certifications
• Access controls and authentication mechanisms

However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we and our service providers strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect data, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Data Retention

6.1 Local Data

Your learning progress and preferences remain on your device until you uninstall the app or clear the app's data. You have complete control over this data.

6.2 Third-Party Data

• Analytics Data: Retained according to Firebase Analytics data retention settings (default: 14 months)
• Crash Reports: Retained for 90 days by Firebase Crashlytics
• Advertising Data: Retained according to Google AdMob's policies

All data collected by third-party services is anonymized and aggregated, making it impossible to identify individual users.

7. Your Rights and Choices

7.1 Control Over Local Data

• Clear Progress: You can reset your learning progress at any time through the app settings
• Delete All Data: Uninstalling the app will permanently delete all locally stored data
• Change Settings: You can change your language and regional preferences at any time

7.2 Control Over Third-Party Data Collection

• Analytics Opt-Out: You can opt out of analytics tracking through your device settings or by contacting us
• Personalized Ads Opt-Out:
  • Android: Go to Settings → Google → Ads → Opt out of Ads Personalization
  • iOS: Go to Settings → Privacy → Advertising → Enable "Limit Ad Tracking"
• Reset Advertising ID: You can reset your advertising identifier in your device settings

7.3 GDPR Rights (European Users)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have the following rights:

• Right to Access: Request information about what data third-party services have collected
• Right to Deletion: Request deletion of data held by third-party services
• Right to Object: Object to certain types of data processing
• Right to Portability: Request a copy of your data in a machine-readable format

Since we don't collect or store your data ourselves, these rights primarily apply to the third-party services. To exercise these rights, you can contact us, and we'll help direct you to the appropriate service provider.

7.4 California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have the following rights:

• Right to know what personal information is collected
• Right to know whether personal information is sold or disclosed (we do not sell personal information)
• Right to say no to the sale of personal information
• Right to access your personal information
• Right to equal service and price, even if you exercise your privacy rights

8. Children's Privacy

Our app is designed to help users prepare for the German citizenship/integration test. While there is no minimum age requirement to use the app, we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 years of age.

Since all learning data is stored locally on the device and we don't maintain user accounts, children can use the app safely under parental supervision. The only data collection comes from third-party services (analytics and advertising) as described in this policy.

Parents can disable personalized advertising and analytics tracking through device settings to further protect their children's privacy.

9. International Data Transfers

The third-party services we use (Firebase Analytics, Crashlytics, and AdMob) are provided by Google and may transfer data to servers located in the United States and other countries outside of your country of residence.

These services comply with applicable data protection laws and frameworks such as:

• EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework
• Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs)
• GDPR compliance measures

By using our app, you consent to the transfer of information to countries outside of your country of residence, which may have different data protection laws.

10. No User Accounts or Remote Backup

LID Trainer does not require user accounts, and we do not offer cloud backup or synchronization features. This means:

• You don't need to provide an email address or create an account
• Your progress is not backed up to any server
• If you switch devices, you'll need to start fresh (your progress won't transfer)
• We cannot recover your data if you uninstall the app or lose your device
• No one can access your learning progress remotely

This approach prioritizes your privacy by ensuring that your personal learning data never leaves your device.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of any material changes by:

• Posting the new Privacy Policy on this page
• Updating the "Last Updated" date at the bottom of this page
• Displaying a notification in the app (for significant changes)

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information. Your continued use of the app after any changes to this Privacy Policy constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.

12. Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR)

If you are from the European Economic Area (EEA), the legal basis for data processing is as follows:

• Legitimate Interests: Processing by third-party services is necessary for our legitimate interests in improving app functionality, fixing bugs, and maintaining the service
• Consent: By using the app and not opting out, you consent to analytics and advertising data collection by third-party services
• Contract Performance: Processing necessary to provide you with the app's functionality

You can withdraw your consent at any time by opting out of analytics and personalized advertising through your device settings.

13. Contact Us

14. Data Controller Information

For the limited data processing that occurs through third-party services integrated in our app, the respective third-party service providers (Google LLC for Firebase and AdMob) act as data processors, while we act as the data controller for the purpose of integrating these services.

For questions about how Google processes your data, please refer to:

• Google Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy
• Google Privacy Controls: https://myaccount.google.com/privacy

15. Important Legal Disclaimer

16. Consent

By using LID Trainer, you hereby consent to our Privacy Policy and agree to its terms. Your continued use of the application following the posting of changes to this policy will be deemed your acceptance of those changes.