1. Introduction
Welcome to Okuze. We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security
of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard
your data when you use our mobile application and web services.
By using Okuze, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Personal Information
- Account Information: Name, email address, username, profile photo
- Authentication Data: Login credentials through Google, Facebook, or email
- Profile Data: Bio, location, cooking preferences
2.2 User-Generated Content
- Recipes: Recipe titles, descriptions, ingredients, instructions, photos
- Comments & Interactions: Comments, likes, shares, bookmarks
- Messages: Chat messages, voice messages (audio files)
- Media: Photos and images you upload for recipes and profiles
2.3 Communications Data
- WebRTC Calls: We facilitate peer-to-peer encrypted voice and video calls. Call
metadata (duration, participants) is stored, but call content is NOT recorded or stored on our
servers
- Real-time Data: Online/offline status, typing indicators, read receipts
2.4 Automatically Collected Information
- Device Information: Device type, operating system, app version
- Usage Data: Pages viewed, features used, time spent in app
- Analytics: Firebase Analytics data (crash reports, performance metrics)
- IP Address: For security and fraud prevention
3. How We Use Your Information
We use collected information for the following purposes:
- Provide Services: Enable recipe sharing, messaging, and social features
- Authentication: Verify your identity and secure your account
- Communication: Send notifications about interactions, messages, and updates
- Improve App: Analyze usage patterns to enhance user experience
- Safety & Security: Detect fraud, abuse, and enforce our Terms of Service
- Legal Compliance: Comply with applicable laws and regulations
4. Third-Party Services
Okuze uses the following third-party services that may collect information:
Firebase Services (Google):
- Firebase Authentication: User login and identity management
- Cloud Firestore: Real-time database for recipes, messages, and user data
- Firebase Storage: Image and media file hosting
- Firebase Analytics: Usage analytics and crash reporting
- Firebase Crashlytics: Automated crash detection and reporting
- Firebase Cloud Messaging: Push notifications
Learn more: Firebase Privacy
Policy
Authentication Providers:
- Google Sign-In: OAuth authentication
- Facebook Login: OAuth authentication
WebRTC (Peer-to-Peer Calls):
Voice and video calls use WebRTC technology with end-to-end encryption (DTLS-SRTP). Call audio/video
streams are transmitted directly between users (peer-to-peer) and are NOT routed through our
servers. We use Google's STUN servers for NAT traversal.
5. Data Sharing and Disclosure
We do NOT sell your personal information. We may share data in the following circumstances:
- Public Content: Recipes, comments, and profile information you choose to make
public
- Service Providers: Firebase (Google) for hosting, storage, and analytics
- Legal Requirements: When required by law or to protect rights and safety
- Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets
We do NOT share your private messages or personal data with advertisers.
6. Data Retention
- Active Accounts: We retain your data as long as your account is active
- Deleted Accounts: Data is permanently deleted within 30 days of account deletion
- Legal Requirements: Some data may be retained longer if required by law
- Backup Systems: Deleted data may persist in backups for up to 90 days
7. Your Rights and Choices
You have the following rights regarding your personal information:
- Access: View your personal data stored in your profile settings
- Correction: Update or correct your information at any time
- Deletion: Delete your account and all associated data via Settings > Delete Account
- Export: Request a copy of your data by contacting support
- Opt-Out: Disable push notifications in device settings
8. Security Measures
We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your data:
- Encryption in Transit: All data transmitted using HTTPS/TLS encryption
- Encryption at Rest: Data stored in Firebase is encrypted
- End-to-End Call Encryption: WebRTC calls use DTLS-SRTP encryption
- Access Controls: Strict database security rules limit data access
- Authentication: Secure login via Firebase Authentication
However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute
security.
9. Children's Privacy
Okuze is not directed at children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect
personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has
provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately, and we will delete such
information.
10. International Data Transfers
Your data may be transferred to and stored on servers located outside your country of residence. By using
Okuze, you consent to the transfer of your information to countries that may have different data
protection laws.
We use Firebase (Google Cloud Platform), which stores data in europe-southwest1 region
by default, with compliance standards including GDPR.
11. Cookies and Tracking
Our web version may use cookies and similar technologies for:
- Session management and authentication
- Analytics and performance monitoring
- Improving user experience
You can disable cookies in your browser settings, but this may affect app functionality.
12. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any significant changes by:
- Posting the new Privacy Policy in the app
- Updating the "Last Updated" date
- Sending a notification (for material changes)
Your continued use of Okuze after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.