Privacy Policy

Effective Date: December 18, 2025

TransparencyApp LLC ("Transparency," "we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use the Transparency mobile application (the "App" or "Service").

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. By using the Service, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree with this policy, please do not use the Service.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide

Account Information

  • Email address (obtained through Google Sign-In or Apple Sign-In)
  • Username and display name (may be pseudonymous)
  • Profile information you choose to provide

User Content

  • Posts, comments, and text you create
  • Likes, reposts, and other social interactions
  • Correlations linking politicians, trades, and bills
  • Preferences and settings within the App

1.2 Information We Collect Automatically

Usage Information

  • Features you use and actions you take in the App
  • Time, frequency, and duration of your activities
  • Content you view and interact with
  • Search queries and filters you apply

Device Information

  • Device type and model
  • Operating system and version
  • Mobile network information
  • Unique device identifiers

Technical Information

  • JWT authentication tokens (stored securely in device Keychain)
  • App version and settings
  • Crash logs and error reports (when they occur)
  • Local preferences (such as display settings)

1.3 Information from Third Parties

Authentication Providers

When you sign in using Google Sign-In or Apple Sign-In, we receive:

  • Your email address
  • Name (if you choose to share it)
  • Unique identifier from the authentication provider

We do NOT receive or store your Google or Apple account password.

Data Providers

We obtain public information from third-party sources:

  • Congressional stock trade data from financial data providers
  • Politician information from Congress.gov and public databases
  • Legislation details and status from Congress.gov
  • Stock price information from financial data providers
  • AI-generated bill summaries from Google Gemini AI

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

2.1 Provide and Improve the Service

  • Create and maintain your account
  • Enable you to post, comment, like, and interact with content
  • Display congressional stock trades, bills, and politician information
  • Generate personalized feed recommendations
  • Improve app functionality and user experience
  • Optimize performance and fix bugs

2.2 Communication

  • Send you service-related notifications
  • Respond to your inquiries and support requests
  • Notify you of changes to the Service or policies

2.3 Security and Safety

  • Detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and illegal activity
  • Enforce our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines
  • Protect the security and integrity of the Service
  • Comply with legal obligations

2.4 Analytics and Optimization

  • Understand how users interact with the App
  • Analyze usage patterns and trends
  • Develop and improve recommendation algorithms
  • Test new features and functionality

We do NOT currently sell your personal information to third parties. If we decide to do so in the future (such as providing anonymized poll data to market research companies), we will update this Privacy Policy and provide you with notice and choice.

3. How We Share Your Information

3.1 Public Information

The following information is publicly visible to other users of the App:

  • Your username and display name
  • Your profile information (if provided)
  • Your posts, comments, and correlations
  • Your likes and reposts
  • Politicians, trades, and bills you've interacted with

3.2 Service Providers

We share information with third-party service providers who help us operate the Service:

Cloud Infrastructure

  • Google Cloud Platform (GCP) for hosting and database services
  • Data is stored on secure servers in the United States

Authentication

  • Google (for Google Sign-In)
  • Apple (for Apple Sign-In)

Data Providers

  • Financial data providers for stock trade information
  • Google Gemini AI for bill summary generation

These service providers are obligated to protect your information and may only use it to provide services to us.

3.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to:

  • Valid legal process (subpoena, court order, warrant)
  • Requests from law enforcement or government agencies
  • Protection of our rights, property, or safety
  • Prevention of fraud or illegal activity

3.4 Business Transfers

If Transparency is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will provide notice before your information is transferred and becomes subject to a different privacy policy.

3.5 With Your Consent

We may share your information for other purposes with your consent or at your direction.

4. Data Retention

4.1 Active Accounts

We retain your information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you the Service.

4.2 Account Deletion

If you delete your account:

  • Your information will be removed from our active systems within 90 days
  • Some information may be retained for longer periods for:
    • Legal compliance and record-keeping requirements
    • Resolution of disputes
    • Enforcement of our agreements
    • Backup and disaster recovery purposes

4.3 Legal Retention

Certain information may be retained for longer periods as required by law or for legitimate business purposes, such as preventing fraud.

5. Data Security

5.1 Security Measures

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your information:

Encryption

  • All data transmitted between your device and our servers is encrypted using HTTPS/TLS
  • Database encryption at rest using Google Cloud SQL security features
  • JWT tokens stored securely in iOS Keychain

Access Controls

  • Limited employee access to personal information
  • Authentication and authorization mechanisms
  • Regular security audits and monitoring

Infrastructure Security

  • Secure cloud hosting on Google Cloud Platform
  • Regular security updates and patches
  • Firewall and network security protections

5.2 No Guarantee

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

5.3 Your Responsibility

You are responsible for:

  • Keeping your Google or Apple account credentials secure
  • Not sharing your account with others
  • Logging out of shared devices
  • Reporting any unauthorized access

6. Your Rights and Choices

6.1 Access and Update

You can access and update your account information through the App settings.

6.2 Delete Your Account

You can request account deletion by contacting us at support@transparencyapp.io. Upon deletion:

  • Your account will be deactivated immediately
  • Your data will be removed from active systems within 90 days
  • Some information may be retained as described in Section 4.2

6.3 Data Export

You can request a copy of your personal information by contacting us at support@transparencyapp.io. We will provide your data in a machine-readable format.

6.4 Opt-Out of Communications

You can opt out of non-essential communications through your device settings or by contacting us.

6.5 Cookie and Local Storage

The App stores certain preferences locally on your device. You can clear this data through your device settings, though this may affect your user experience.

7. Children's Privacy

The Service is not intended for children under 13 years of age. 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 at support@transparencyapp.io, and we will take steps to delete that information.

8. Third-Party Links and Services

The Service may contain links to third-party websites, services, or content (such as external articles, Congress.gov, or stock charts). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to read their privacy policies.

9. International Users

The Service is operated from the United States. If you are located outside the United States, please be aware that information we collect will be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States. By using the Service, you consent to this transfer.

10. State-Specific Privacy Rights

10.1 California Residents (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have the right to:

  • Know what personal information we collect, use, and share
  • Request deletion of your personal information
  • Opt-out of the sale of your personal information (we do not currently sell personal information)
  • Non-discrimination for exercising your rights

To exercise these rights, contact us at support@transparencyapp.io.

10.2 Other States

Residents of other states may have additional rights under applicable state privacy laws. Contact us for more information.

10.3 European Users (GDPR)

If you are in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), including:

  • Right to access your personal data
  • Right to rectification of inaccurate data
  • Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten")
  • Right to restrict processing
  • Right to data portability
  • Right to object to processing
  • Right to withdraw consent

To exercise these rights, contact us at support@transparencyapp.io.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors.

11.1 Notice of Changes

When we make material changes, we will:

  • Update the "Effective Date" at the top of this policy
  • Notify you through the App or via email
  • Provide a prominent notice within the Service

11.2 Continued Use

Your continued use of the Service after the effective date of an updated Privacy Policy constitutes your acceptance of the changes. If you do not agree to the changes, you must stop using the Service and may delete your account.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or complaints about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us at:

Email: support@transparencyapp.io
Website: transparencyapp.io/privacy
Mail: TransparencyApp LLC, 3232 Amberley Ln, Fairfax, VA, 22031

We take privacy concerns seriously and will investigate and attempt to resolve complaints in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

TransparencyApp LLC
Last Updated: December 18, 2025

Your privacy matters to us. Thank you for trusting Transparency with your information.