Privacy Policy for Merit EMS Portal

Last updated: June 09, 2025

Introduction

Welcome to Merit EMS Portal ("we," "our," or "us"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application (the "App").

This app is developed and published by Burhan Ismael Hassan.

Information We Collect

Information you provide:

• Student credentials (email and password)
• Profile information (name, student ID, contact information)
• Academic information accessed through your institutional account

Automatically collected information:

• Device information (model, operating system version)
• App usage statistics
• Error logs
• Connection information

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Authenticate you with your educational institution
• Provide access to your academic records
• Display your grades, schedules, and documents
• Manage your student profile
• Send important notifications
• Improve app performance and user experience
• Debug and fix technical issues

Data Storage and Security

Firebase Authentication

We use Firebase Authentication to securely manage user authentication. Your login credentials are handled through Firebase's secure systems and are never stored on our servers in plain text.

Cloud Storage

• Academic documents and profile information are stored securely
• All data transmission is encrypted using industry-standard protocols
• We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures

Third-Party Services

Firebase Services

We use Google Firebase for:

• User authentication
• Analytics
• Crash reporting

These services are governed by Google's Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy

Odoo Integration

We integrate with Odoo for accessing institutional data. This integration:

• Follows your institution's data protection policies
• Only accesses data you're authorized to view
• Maintains secure communication channels

Data Retention

We retain your data for as long as:

• Your account remains active
• Required by law or institutional policies
• Necessary for the app's functionality

Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access your personal data
• Request data correction
• Request data deletion (subject to institutional policies)
• Opt-out of non-essential data collection
• Receive your data in a portable format

Children's Privacy

Our App is intended for use by students of higher education institutions and requires institutional credentials. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 13.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. We will notify you of any changes by:

• Posting the new Privacy Policy in the App
• Updating the "Last Updated" date
• Sending an in-app notification

Compliance

This app complies with:

• GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)
• FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)
• Local data protection laws

Data Protection Rights

Under GDPR, you have the following rights:

• Right to access
• Right to rectification
• Right to erasure
• Right to restrict processing
• Right to data portability
• Right to object
• Rights related to automated decision-making

Security Measures

We implement several security measures to protect your data:

• End-to-end encryption for data transmission
• Secure authentication protocols
• Regular security audits
• Access control and monitoring
• Data backup and recovery procedures

Cookies and Tracking

Our App uses local storage and cookies to:

• Maintain your session
• Remember your preferences
• Improve app performance

No third-party tracking cookies are used.