Privacy Policy for WhatsApp Tools

Package Name: com.lighteast.whatsapptools

Developer Email: esmatullahsangary@gmail.com

WhatsApp Tools ("we", "our", or "the app") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we handle your information, including advertising-related data collection via Google AdMob. We do not collect personal data for any other purpose. All core functions (Status Saver, Auto Reply, Scheduler) run entirely on your device.

1. Information We Collect – General (Zero Personal Data)

WhatsApp Tools does NOT collect, store, or share any personal information such as your name, email, phone number, contacts, messages, or media files. All operations happen locally on your device. We have no proprietary servers, no analytics tracking, and no user profiles.

            ✔️ No location (GPS) tracking   |   ✔️ No crash logs sent   |   ✔️ No device identifiers (IMEI, MAC, Serial)   |   ✔️ No WhatsApp chat data
        

2. Google AdMob – Advertising Data Collection (Updated)

To keep WhatsApp Tools free for all users, we integrate Google AdMob SDK to display advertisements. AdMob is a trusted advertising platform by Google. The AdMob SDK may collect certain device and interaction data to provide relevant, non-personalized or personalized ads (based on user consent region). Below we detail the exact data collected, purpose, and user controls.

2.1 What AdMob Collects (based on Google's AdMob policies)

Advertising ID (AAID): Google Play Advertising ID – resettable by the user. Used for ad frequency capping, analytics, and (if consented) personalized ads.
IP Address: Approximate location (city/region level) to serve geo-relevant ads, not precise GPS.
Device Information: Device make/model, operating system version, screen size, language settings, and mobile network carrier.
App interaction data: Ad impressions, ad clicks, and limited engagement events (to measure performance).
Android identifiers (non-resettable not accessed): AdMob does NOT collect IMEI, MAC address, or Android ID for advertising purposes under modern Google Play policies.

2.2 Ad Personalization & User Consent (GDPR / CCPA / Google’s requirements)

Depending on your location (EEA, UK, Brazil, etc.), we respect your choice regarding personalized ads:

Personalized ads: Use your Advertising ID and interests to show relevant ads. You can disable this anytime via device settings.
Non-personalized ads: Based on contextual information (app content, approximate location) without using interest profiles.
Children-directed treatment: If we detect the user is under the age of consent, AdMob will serve only non-personalized ads with no behavioral targeting.

For users in the European Economic Area (EEA), UK, or Switzerland, we display a consent dialog (Google UMP SDK) before loading ads, asking for permission to use cookies/AAID for personalized advertising. You can change your choice anytime in the app's privacy settings.

🔐 Opt-out of Ad Personalization (global)
Go to Settings → Google → Ads → Opt out of Ads Personalization on your Android device. This resets your Advertising ID and restricts interest-based ads across all apps.

2.3 AdMob SDK & Third-Party Data Sharing

The AdMob SDK may share limited data with Google's ad mediation partners only when required for ad serving. WhatsApp Tools does not add any additional tracking or analytics SDK (such as Firebase Analytics, Crashlytics, or Facebook SDK). All data handling by AdMob is governed exclusively by Google's Privacy Policy and Google AdMob Data Disclosure.

Important: WhatsApp Tools does not share, sell, or transfer any local user content (statuses, messages, reply rules) to AdMob or any third party. The advertising ID is used solely by AdMob, not by us.

3. Feature-Specific Data Handling (100% Local)

3.1 Status Saver Feature

Reads WhatsApp status folders only after you grant storage permission.
Saves statuses to Downloads/WhatsAppTools/Statuses/ – never uploaded anywhere.
No media leaves your device. No analytics about which status you save.

3.2 Auto Reply Feature

Notification Listener permission (explicit user approval) detects incoming WhatsApp notifications.
All rule matching happens locally using Room database. No text messages stored in cloud.
We never log or transmit the content of your messages or contacts.

3.3 Message Scheduler & Direct Chat

Scheduled messages stored offline in local database; removed upon uninstall.
Direct chat uses standard wa.me deep links; no phone numbers saved.

4. Permissions Explained (For Transparency)

READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE / READ_MEDIA_IMAGES/VIDEO: Access WhatsApp status folder.
WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE: Save statuses to Downloads folder.
POST_NOTIFICATIONS (Android 13+): Show local notifications (status saved, auto-reply triggers).
Notification Listener Service: Enables Auto Reply; optional and disabled by default.
INTERNET: Required only for loading AdMob ads and opening wa.me links. No personal data transmitted.
RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED: Restore scheduled messages after reboot.
SCHEDULE_EXACT_ALARM / USE_EXACT_ALARM: Trigger scheduled messages at precise time (user-defined).

5. Data Storage and Security – Local-First Approach

All user-generated content (auto-reply rules, scheduled messages, settings) is stored in app-private directories (Room database & DataStore). No cloud backup. Saved statuses are in public Downloads folder under your control. Uninstalling WhatsApp Tools deletes every piece of app-generated data except statuses saved manually (you can delete them via file manager).

AdMob-related data (AAID, IP address) is managed by Google’s secure infrastructure, subject to Google’s data retention policies. We have no server-side logs.

6. Your Rights & Control Over Ad Data & Personal Info

Because we collect no personal data aside from AdMob’s advertising ID (which you control directly via Android settings), your privacy rights are easily exercisable:

Reset or disable Advertising ID: Settings → Google → Ads → Reset advertising ID or Opt out of Ads Personalization.
Delete all app data: Uninstall the app → removes all rules & scheduled messages.
Revoke permissions (storage / notification access) at any time from system settings.
Request data deletion from us: Since we hold zero personal data on servers, nothing to delete. If you need confirmation, email us.

📧 Data deletion or privacy inquiries: esmatullahsangary@gmail.com (we respond within 7 days)

7. Children’s Privacy (COPPA & Google Families Policy)

WhatsApp Tools is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly solicit or collect personal information from minors. AdMob is configured to limit ad content and not serve personalized ads to children when indicated. If you believe a child under 13 has used our app, please contact us so we can take appropriate steps (including resetting any local data if needed).

8. International Data Transfers – GDPR & CCPA Alignment

AdMob may transfer data to Google servers in the United States and other countries. Google adheres to EU-US Data Privacy Framework and standard contractual clauses for data transfers. For EU users, we request explicit consent before enabling any ad personalization. Non-personalized ad option is always available. Under CCPA (California residents), you have the right to opt-out of “sale” or “sharing” of personal information – we do NOT sell your data, and AdMob’s limited data usage for ads can be turned off via the “Opt out of Ads Personalization” toggle on your device.

9. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in ad technology, legal requirements, or app functionality. Material changes (e.g., new ad SDK or data collection) will be notified via an in-app dialog or update description on Google Play. The “Last Updated” date above indicates when the policy was last revised. Continued use of WhatsApp Tools after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.

10. Contact Information & Google Play Compliance

Developer Name: Esmatullah Sangary (LightEast)

Email: esmatullahsangary@gmail.com

Package ID: com.lighteast.whatsapptools

Address: Developer based in Afghanistan (for compliance queries, email preferred)

Data Safety Section on Play Store: Our Google Play data safety form states that we collect no user data except Advertising ID via AdMob (limited to ad serving), which is clearly declared. We do not collect any financial, health, or contact data.

11. Specific AdMob Data Types & Retention – Detailed Declaration

In accordance with Google Play’s “Advertising ID” requirement and User Data Policy, we provide the following breakdown:

Data type: Advertising ID (AAID) – Purpose: Ad frequency capping, analytics, personalized ads (if consented). Retention: Google's ad tech retains for variable period but not linked to user identity.
Data type: IP address – Purpose: Approximate geo-location to show region-relevant ads. Retention: Logs anonymized after short period.
Data type: Device information (model, OS, screen density) – Purpose: Ad compatibility and performance measurement.

No sensitive user data (fingerprints, passwords, contacts, SMS, call logs, WhatsApp messages, photos except temporary status preview) is ever accessed by AdMob.

12. User Consent Flow for EEA & UK (GDPR Transparency)

When you open WhatsApp Tools for the first time (if your IP indicates EEA/UK region), a Google UMP consent dialog will appear:

Option to accept personalized ads (uses AAID).
Option to reject personalized ads (serves non-personalized ads only).
Manage options anytime via the “Privacy Choices” link inside app settings.

Your ad preferences are stored locally and never shared with us. If you clear app data, the consent dialog may reappear.

            🛡️ Summary: AdMob update clarity — This policy now fully reflects Google AdMob SDK's data collection, user opt-out methods, and compliance with Google Play's new “advertising ID” declaration requirement. WhatsApp Tools remains a privacy-first utility.
        