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FairShare

Privacy policy

We respect your data and explain how it's collected, used, and protected across FairShare.

Introduction

Last Updated: February 9, 2026

Welcome to FairShare! We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring you have a positive experience while using our expense-sharing application. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use the FairShare mobile application.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Personal Information

  • Email address: Used for authentication and account recovery.
  • Display name: How you appear to other users in shared groups.
  • Profile photo (optional): Avatar image for your profile.
  • UPI Virtual Payment Address (VPA) (optional): Used to facilitate peer-to-peer settlements if you choose to enable UPI payments.

1.2 Expense Data

  • Group information: Names and icons of expense-sharing groups you create or join.
  • Bill details: Titles, amounts, dates, and notes for expenses you add.
  • Receipt images (optional): Photos of receipts you choose to upload.
  • Payment records: Settlement transactions between group members.
  • Comments: Any notes or comments you add to bills.

1.3 Usage Data

  • Authentication data: Firebase authentication tokens.
  • Device information: App version, device type (collected by Firebase).
  • Usage analytics: Anonymous app usage statistics.

2. How We Use Your Information

  • Provide core functionality: Enable expense tracking, bill splitting, and group management.
  • Calculate balances: Determine who owes what to whom in shared groups.
  • Sync data: Keep your expense data synchronized across devices.
  • Authentication: Securely log you into your account.
  • Improve our service: Analyze usage patterns to enhance user experience.
  • Communicate: Send important updates about the app or notify you of group invites.

3. Data Storage and Security

FairShare uses Google Firebase for secure data storage. Data is stored on servers managed by Google, primarily located in the United States and other global regions.

  • Firestore Database: Stores your groups, bills, payments, and user profiles.
  • Firebase Authentication: Manages secure user login.
  • Firebase Storage: Stores receipt images you upload.
  • Firebase Cloud Functions: Processes invitations and background cleanup.

Note on Financial Data: FairShare does NOT store sensitive financial information such as bank account numbers, PINs, or transaction passwords. All actual financial transactions occur within third-party UPI applications.

Security Measures

  • All data transmission is encrypted using HTTPS/SSL.
  • Firebase Authentication provides industry-standard security.
  • Access controls ensure users can only view data from groups they belong to.

4. Data Retention and Deletion

Your data is retained as long as your account is active.

Account Deletion: You can delete your account from the Settings screen. Upon deletion:

  • Your personal identifiable information (PII) such as email, avatar, and name will be removed from your profile.
  • To preserve the financial integrity of shared groups, your name on historical bills will be replaced with "Deleted User".
  • Receipt images associated with bills you created will be permanently deleted.
  • Groups you own will be deleted in their entirety.

5. Communications & Emails

We use your email address to send essential service notifications, including:

  • Account Verification: To confirm your identity when you sign up.
  • Security Alerts: If we detect suspicious activity on your account.
  • Activity Summaries: Periodic reports of your groups' expenses (e.g., monthly summaries).

You can opt-out of non-essential activity summaries within the app settings, but crucial security and account notifications cannot be disabled.

6. Specific Disclosures for EU and UK Residents (GDPR)

If you are a resident of the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA), or the United Kingdom:

  • Data Controller: FairShare App Team (contact: fairshare.contact@gmail.com).
  • GDPR Compliance: We comply with the EU GDPR and UK GDPR.
  • Legal Basis: We process your data based on Contractual Necessity (to provide service) and Legitimate Interests (security, fraud prevention).
  • International Transfers: Your data is stored on Firebase servers (provided by Google) which may be located outside the EEA/UK. We ensure a high level of protection through Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs).
  • Data Subject Rights: You have the right to access, rectify, or erase your data ("Right to be Forgotten"), restrict processing, and the right to data portability. You can exercise these directly within the app's Settings.
  • Right to Lodge a Complaint: You have the right to lodge a complaint with your local Data Protection Authority (DPA) or the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) in the UK.

7. Specific Disclosures for California Residents (CCPA/CPRA)

  • Notice at Collection: We collect the categories of personal information listed in Section 1.
  • Categories of Information: Identifiers (email, name), Financial Info (bill amounts), and Internet Activity (device info).
  • No Sale of Data: We do not sell your personal information to third parties.
  • No Sharing for Cross-Context Behavioral Advertising: We do not share your data with advertisers.
  • Right to Opt-Out: Since we do not sell or share data for advertising, no opt-out is necessary, but you can delete your data at any time.

8. UPI Payments

FairShare provides a convenient way to settle debts using UPI (Unified Payments Interface) deep links.

  • VPA Visibility: If you save your UPI ID (VPA), it is only visible to other members of groups you are in, and only when they are initiating a settlement with you.
  • Payment Processing: FairShare is NOT a payment aggregator or processor. We simply generate a secure link that opens your installed UPI apps (like Google Pay, PhonePe, or BHIM).
  • NPCI Guidelines: All transactions are governed by the security protocols of the NPCI and your chosen UPI service provider.

Your Rights (Global)

Regardless of your location, you have the following rights:

  • Access: You can view all your personal data within the app.
  • Correction: You can update your profile information in Settings.
  • Deletion: You can delete specific expenses or your entire account.
  • Portability: You can export your expense data as a CSV file via Settings > Export Data.