# Privacy Policy for Duplicate Photos Find & Remove
**Effective Date: August 16, 2026**
This Privacy Policy describes how **Duplicate Photos Find & Remove** ("we", "our", "us", or "the App"), developed under Android Package ID `com.aarsh.duplicatephotofinder`, handles your information.
Duplicate Photo Finder is a local utility application designed to help users identify, organize, and delete duplicate or visually similar photos on Android devices.
We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of data privacy and transparency. Please read this Privacy Policy carefully to understand how your information is handled.
## 1. Zero Personal Data Collection
We believe your personal photos and data belong solely to you. **Duplicate Photo Finder DOES NOT collect, transmit, store, sell, or share any personal data.**
- **No Remote Servers:** We do not operate remote servers, cloud databases, or online user accounts.
- **No Personal Identifiers:** We do not collect names, email addresses, phone numbers, location data, IP addresses, advertising IDs, or hardware identifiers.
- **No Analytics Tracking:** The App does not integrate third-party analytics SDKs (such as Firebase Analytics, Adjust, or AppsFlyer) that track your personal usage.
## 2. Prominent Disclosure: Photo & Media Permissions
To perform its core functionality (finding exact duplicate copies and visually similar photos), Duplicate Photo Finder requires access to files on your device.
### Permissions Requested:
- **`READ_MEDIA_IMAGES` (Android 13+) / `READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE` (Android 12 and below)**:
- **Purpose:** Used **exclusively** to read local image metadata and photo pixel arrays on your device storage to calculate MD5 byte hashes and dHash perceptual fingerprints.
- **Strict Local Boundary:** All image processing, perceptual hashing, and duplicate comparisons take place **100% locally on your device RAM**. Photos and image hashes are never uploaded to any remote server or cloud service.
- **`POST_NOTIFICATIONS`**:
- **Purpose:** Used solely to alert you when an active photo duplicate scan has finished processing on your device.
- **`FOREGROUND_SERVICE_DATA_SYNC`**:
- **Purpose:** Used strictly to allow the local photo scanning algorithm to run continuously in the background when processing large photo galleries without being terminated by Android OS memory management.
## 3. Data Safety & Data Deletion Compliance
In compliance with Google Play’s User Data and Data Safety Policies:
- **Data Types Handled:** Photos and videos on local device storage only.
- **Data Retention Period:** **Zero (0) days**. No photo data, metadata, or image hashes are retained on external servers or transmitted off your device.
- **How Users Delete Data:**
- All photo deletions are initiated explicitly by you.
- The App uses Android's native `MediaStore.createDeleteRequest` API to confirm deletion before any file is removed.
- Deleting photos from the App deletes them directly from your device storage or sends them to your device system Trash Bin according to your Android OS settings.
## 4. Third-Party Services & Data Sharing
- **No Data Sharing:** We do not share, sell, rent, or trade any user data or media content with any third party, advertising network, or data broker.
- **Third-Party Libraries:** The App utilizes standard open-source Android libraries (such as Jetpack Compose, Kotlin Coroutines, and Coil for local image loading). None of these libraries collect or transmit personal information.
## 5. Children's Privacy (COPPA & Play Families Policy)
Duplicate Photo Finder does not address or target anyone under the age of 13. The App is a general storage utility and does not collect any personal information from children or adults.
## 6. Security
Your privacy and security are safeguarded by Android's built-in sandbox security architecture. Because all scanning and file management take place locally on your device, your photos remain protected by your device's security controls (PIN, passcode, pattern, fingerprint, or face unlock).
## 7. Compliance with Global Privacy Laws
This Privacy Policy complies with international privacy standards, including:
- **Google Play Developer Program Policies (2026 Updates)**
- **General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)**
- **California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)**
## 8. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update our Privacy Policy periodically. Any modifications will be posted on this page with an updated "Effective Date".
## 9. Developer Contact Information
If you have any questions, concerns, or inquiries regarding this Privacy Policy or the App, please contact us at:
- **Developer:** Aarsh Patel
- **Support Email:** aarsh.official.dev@gmail.com