Privacy Policy
This document is a startup template intended for store submission and early users. Have qualified counsel review and adapt it before relying on it as a final production legal policy.
Klar (“we”, “us”, or “our”) operates the Klar mobile and web applications that personalize news and intelligence for readers. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have. By using Klar, you agree to this policy.
1. Who we are
Klar is an AI-powered news personalization product available as a mobile app and at hiklar.com. Questions about this policy: admin@hiklar.com.
2. Information we collect
- Account information: If you create an account, we collect your email (Google or email sign-in) and may store a display name or similar profile fields you provide. When phone sign-in is enabled, we collect your phone number and verify it with a one-time passcode (OTP).
- Guest use: You may browse without an account. Guest sessions may still use device- or browser-stored identifiers so preferences and reading state work on that device.
- Preferences and personalization: Interests, topic preferences, theme settings, and related signals you choose so we can tailor your feed, daily brief, and recommendations.
- Usage and product events: Interactions such as opening stories, saving items, search queries, Ask Klar questions, share actions, and similar in-app events used to operate, secure, and improve Klar.
- Technical data: Approximate device type, app/browser version, network/error diagnostics, and similar logs needed to run the service on our infrastructure.
- Crash and diagnostics (native apps): On Android and iOS builds we use Firebase Crashlytics to collect crash reports and related diagnostic data so we can fix stability issues.
- Share links: When you share a story, the link may include a story identifier and a share referral parameter so the shared page can open correctly.
3. How we use information
- Provide and personalize your feed, saved stories, daily brief, coverage insights, and related features.
- Authenticate you (including phone OTP), maintain sessions, and protect accounts against abuse.
- Power Ask Klar and other AI features by sending relevant story context and your question to our AI providers.
- Measure product performance with Firebase Analytics (native apps), fix bugs with Firebase Crashlytics, and improve ranking and personalization.
- Communicate about the service when needed (for example, security or account notices).
- Comply with law and enforce our terms where applicable.
4. AI features (Ask Klar)
When you use Ask Klar or similar AI features, we process your prompt and relevant story or feed context to generate a response. That content may be sent to third-party AI providers (currently OpenAI) under their processing terms. Do not submit sensitive personal data you do not want processed by these providers.
5. Third parties and processors
We use service providers to operate Klar, including:
- Google Cloud Platform (GCP): hosting, storage, networking, and related infrastructure for APIs and the web app.
- Firebase (Google): Analytics and Crashlytics on native Android and iOS builds for product usage measurement and crash reporting. These SDKs are not active on the web app.
- Twilio: delivery of SMS one-time passcodes when phone sign-in or sign-up is enabled.
- OpenAI: generation of AI responses for Ask Klar and related enrichment features.
These providers process data on our behalf or as needed to provide their services. They are not permitted to use Klar user data for their own unrelated marketing.
6. Cookies and similar technologies (web)
On the web app we may use local storage, cookies, or similar technologies for session continuity, preferences, and basic analytics or diagnostics. You can control cookies through your browser settings; some features may not work if storage is disabled.
7. Retention
We retain account, preference, and event data for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide Klar, then delete or anonymize it within a reasonable period unless a longer retention is required for security, dispute resolution, or legal obligations. Guest and device-local data may persist until you clear app data or browser storage.
8. Your rights and choices
Depending on where you live, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, or export personal data, or to object to certain processing. Contact us at admin@hiklar.com and we will respond within a reasonable time.
You can adjust personalization preferences in the app Profile. Signed-in Google or email users can delete their account in Profile → Delete account. Guests can clear their local session from the same control (guest browsing does not create a full server account to delete). You may also contact us at admin@hiklar.com.
You can opt out of non-essential analytics where we offer a control; core product events required to operate the service, and crash diagnostics via Firebase Crashlytics on native builds, may still be processed.
9. Children
Klar is not directed to children under 13 (or the minimum age required in your jurisdiction). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided data, contact us and we will take appropriate steps.
10. Security
We use industry-standard measures appropriate to our stage (including HTTPS, access controls, and secure handling of authentication tokens). No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure.
11. International transfers
We may process and store information in the United States and other countries where we or our processors operate. Those locations may have different data-protection laws than your home country.
12. Changes
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will post the updated version at https://www.hiklar.com/privacy and revise the “Last updated” date. Continued use after changes means you accept the updated policy.
13. Contact
Email: admin@hiklar.com