Privacy Policy for BookQ

Effective Date: March 8, 2026
Last Updated: March 8, 2026

BookQ (“BookQ,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, disclose, and protect information when you use the BookQ mobile application, related services, and any content, features, or functionality offered through the app (collectively, the “Service”).

By using BookQ, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

1. Scope of This Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy applies to information collected through:

  • the BookQ iOS application

  • user accounts created in connection with the app

  • content and activity submitted by users within the app

  • communications you send to us related to support or account issues

This Privacy Policy does not apply to third-party websites, services, or applications that may be linked to or integrated with BookQ and that we do not control.

2. Information We Collect

We may collect the following categories of information.

A. Information You Provide Directly

When you use the Service, you may provide information such as:

  • your email address

  • display name or username

  • profile information you choose to add

  • books you save, bookmark, mark as currently reading, or mark as finished

  • ratings, reviews, notes, or other written content you submit

  • posts, comments, replies, or other community content you create in book clubs or similar social features

  • messages or information you send when contacting support

You control much of the content you choose to submit to the app.

B. Account and Authentication Information

If you create an account or sign in through an authentication provider, we may collect:

  • a unique user identifier

  • login provider information

  • basic account metadata needed to authenticate and maintain your session

This information is used to identify your account and provide secure access to your data.

C. Usage and Activity Information

When you use the Service, we may automatically collect certain information about how the app is used, including:

  • app interactions and feature usage

  • pages or screens viewed

  • actions taken within the app

  • timestamps related to activity

  • diagnostic events related to app functionality

This helps us understand how the Service is being used and improve the product experience.

D. Device and Technical Information

We may automatically collect limited technical information such as:

  • device model

  • operating system and version

  • app version

  • language and region settings

  • crash logs

  • performance and diagnostic data

  • IP address or approximate network-based location information as technically available through service providers

This information is used for security, debugging, product maintenance, and performance improvement.

E. Information from Third-Party Data Sources

BookQ may retrieve book-related metadata from third-party services, such as:

  • book titles

  • author names

  • cover images

  • descriptions

  • categories and publication details

This content is used to display book information inside the app and enhance the user experience.

3. How We Use Information

We may use collected information for the following purposes:

  • to create and manage user accounts

  • to authenticate users and maintain secure sessions

  • to provide the core functionality of the app

  • to save and display your reading lists, reading history, and preferences

  • to enable community features, including clubs, posts, comments, and other user-generated content

  • to personalize app content and improve usability

  • to monitor, troubleshoot, and improve app performance

  • to detect, investigate, and prevent fraud, abuse, spam, misuse, or violations of our policies

  • to respond to support requests and user inquiries

  • to comply with legal obligations and enforce our rights

Analytics, Advertising, and Measurement

We may also use information to:

  • analyze usage trends and user behavior

  • measure the effectiveness of features, content, and marketing efforts

  • improve the Service and develop new features

  • deliver, personalize, and measure advertising, including interest-based or targeted advertising, where permitted by law

If we engage in advertising, analytics, or tracking activities that require user consent (such as tracking across apps and websites), we will request permission in accordance with applicable laws and platform requirements, including Apple’s App Tracking Transparency framework.

We do not use your personal information to sell it to data brokers.

We may share limited information with service providers, analytics partners, or advertising partners to support the purposes described above, subject to appropriate safeguards and applicable law.

4. Legal Bases for Processing

If you are located in a jurisdiction that requires a legal basis for processing personal information, we process information on one or more of the following grounds:

  • to perform our contract with you by providing the Service

  • with your consent, where consent is required

  • to comply with legal obligations

  • for our legitimate interests, such as improving the Service, maintaining security, preventing abuse, and operating our business, where those interests are not overridden by your rights

5. How Your Information May Be Shared

We may share information in the following limited circumstances.

A. Service Providers

We may share information with vendors and service providers that help us operate the Service, such as providers for:

  • authentication

  • cloud hosting

  • database storage

  • analytics

  • crash reporting

  • customer support infrastructure

  • advertising, marketing, and attribution services

These providers may process information on our behalf only as needed to provide their services.

B. Other Users

If the Service includes social or community features, some information you choose to submit may be visible to other users. For example:

  • your display name or username

  • profile content you choose to make visible

  • reviews, ratings, club posts, comments, and replies

  • clubs you create or participate in, depending on feature design

Please use care when submitting content in community spaces, since content you make visible to others may be copied or shared by those users.

C. Legal and Safety Reasons

We may disclose information if we believe doing so is necessary to:

  • comply with applicable law, regulation, legal process, or government request

  • enforce our agreements, policies, or terms

  • protect the rights, property, or safety of BookQ, our users, or others

  • detect or respond to fraud, abuse, security issues, or technical problems

D. Business Transfers

If BookQ is involved in a merger, acquisition, financing, sale of assets, or similar transaction, user information may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to applicable law.

6. Third-Party Services and Integrations

BookQ may rely on third-party providers to deliver core parts of the Service, including infrastructure, analytics, and (if implemented) advertising or marketing services.

These providers may collect, process, or store information and may use SDKs or similar technologies to:

  • analyze usage and performance

  • measure engagement

  • support analytics, attribution, or advertising efforts

These may include but are not limited to:

  • Firebase / Google for authentication, database storage, hosting, analytics, or related infrastructure

  • Google Books API or similar third-party book metadata providers for book information and cover images

  • Apple for App Store distribution, app analytics, and platform-related services

These third parties may collect, process, or store information in accordance with their own privacy policies and terms. We encourage you to review those policies separately.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party services that we do not own or control.

7. Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary to:

  • provide the Service

  • maintain your account

  • preserve legitimate business records

  • comply with legal obligations

  • resolve disputes

  • enforce our agreements

Retention periods may vary depending on the type of information and the reason it was collected.

If you request deletion of your account, we will take reasonable steps to delete or anonymize your personal information, subject to:

  • legal obligations

  • legitimate security and fraud-prevention needs

  • backup retention cycles

  • records needed to enforce our rights or resolve disputes

Some residual information may remain in backups for a limited period before being deleted.

8. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information, including the right to:

  • access personal information we hold about you

  • request correction of inaccurate information

  • request deletion of your information

  • object to or request restriction of certain processing

  • withdraw consent where processing is based on consent

  • request a copy of certain information in a portable format, where applicable

You may also be able to:

  • update some account information from within the app

  • delete certain content you have created

  • stop using the Service at any time

To exercise privacy-related requests, contact us at amanda@bookq.io

We may need to verify your identity before fulfilling certain requests.

9. Account Deletion

You may request deletion of your account and associated personal data by contacting us at amanda@bookq.io or through any in-app deletion mechanism we may provide.

When we receive a verified deletion request, we will take reasonable steps to delete your account data within a reasonable timeframe, subject to the retention limitations described in this Privacy Policy.

Content you shared in public or community areas may remain visible in limited circumstances if it has been de-identified, dissociated from your account, or retained as necessary for safety, legal, or operational reasons.

10. Data Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards designed to protect personal information against unauthorized access, loss, misuse, alteration, or disclosure.

However, no method of electronic storage or transmission over the internet is completely secure. As a result, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for any activity occurring under your account.

11. International Data Transfers

Your information may be processed and stored in countries other than your own, including where our service providers maintain facilities.

Those countries may have data protection laws that differ from the laws of your jurisdiction. By using the Service, you understand that your information may be transferred to and processed in those locations, subject to applicable safeguards where required by law.

12. Children’s Privacy

BookQ is not directed to children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

If you believe a child under 13 has provided personal information through the Service, please contact us at amanda@bookq.io. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 13 without appropriate authorization, we will take steps to delete that information.

If you are located in a jurisdiction with a different minimum age threshold for data consent, that threshold may apply.

13. California Privacy Notice

If you are a California resident, you may have rights under California law, including rights to know, delete, or correct certain personal information, subject to exceptions.

BookQ does not sell personal information for monetary compensation.

However, we may share certain information with analytics or advertising partners in a way that may be considered “sharing” under California law for purposes such as analytics, marketing, or advertising. Where required, we will provide appropriate rights to opt out of such sharing.

California residents may submit privacy requests by contacting us at amanda@bookq.io

14. Do Not Track

Some web browsers transmit “Do Not Track” signals. Because there is not currently a universally accepted standard for responding to these signals across apps and services, BookQ does not currently respond to them.

15. Communications, Marketing, and Notifications

We may use your contact information, including your email address, to send communications related to your use of the Service.

These communications may include both service-related messages and marketing or promotional communications.

Service Communications

Service communications are necessary for the operation of the Service and may include:

  • account verification emails

  • password reset messages

  • security alerts

  • important updates about the operation of the Service

  • responses to support requests

  • notifications related to activity within the app

These communications are considered part of providing the Service and may not include an option to opt out.

Marketing and Promotional Communications

We may also send marketing or promotional communications, including:

  • announcements about new features or product updates

  • newsletters or updates about reading and books

  • recommendations related to books or reading features

  • invitations to new book clubs or community features

  • promotional messages about improvements to the Service

Marketing communications are optional. You may opt out of receiving these communications at any time by:

  • clicking the unsubscribe link included in marketing emails, or

  • contacting us using the information provided in the Contact section of this Privacy Policy.

Even if you opt out of marketing communications, we may still send service-related communications that are necessary to operate and maintain your account.

Push Notifications

The Service may send push notifications to your device. These notifications may include:

  • responses or replies to your posts or comments

  • activity within book clubs or communities you participate in

  • reading reminders or updates about your activity

  • announcements about new features or updates

  • promotional announcements related to the Service

Push notifications may include both service notifications and promotional notifications.

You can disable push notifications at any time through your device’s notification settings.

Managing Communication Preferences

Where available, you may manage certain communication preferences within the app.

You may also unsubscribe from marketing emails using the unsubscribe link provided in those emails.

Please note that opting out of marketing communications will not prevent you from receiving important service-related messages necessary for the operation or security of your account.

16. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make changes, we will revise the “Last Updated” date above. If changes are material, we may provide additional notice within the app or by other appropriate means where required by law.

Your continued use of the Service after the updated Privacy Policy becomes effective means you acknowledge the revised policy.

17. Contact Information

If you have questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy or your personal information, you may contact us at:

BookQ
Email: amanda@bookq.io