Privacy Policy

Last updated: June 28, 2025

Introduction

QuietQuest ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application.

Information We Collect

We collect information you provide directly to us, such as:

• Account information (email address, username)
• Quiet time session data (duration, timestamps)
• App preferences and settings
• Ambient noise levels (with your permission)

Ambient Noise Monitoring

If you enable microphone access in the app settings, QuietQuest may monitor ambient noise levels during your quiet time sessions to help you find and maintain peaceful environments. Please note:

• We only measure noise levels - no audio is recorded or stored
• Noise statistics (average, minimum, and maximum levels) are saved with your session data
• This feature is optional and can be disabled at any time in Settings
• Microphone access is only active during sessions when the feature is enabled
• All noise data remains private and is never shared with third parties

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide and maintain our service
• Track your quiet time progress and achievements
• Send you notifications (if enabled)
• Improve our app and user experience

Data Storage and Security

Your data is securely stored using Supabase, a trusted backend service provider. We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction.

Research and Academic Partnerships

We may use anonymized and aggregated data for research purposes in partnership with educational institutions and academic researchers. This research helps advance understanding of environmental wellness, campus optimization, and student mental health, and may be published in academic journals or presented at conferences.

• All research data is completely anonymized with no personally identifiable information
• Individual users cannot be identified from aggregated data
• Research partnerships require institutional review board approval when applicable
• You may opt-out of research data inclusion at any time through your app settings
• Research findings may inform campus wellness initiatives and policy recommendations

Types of Data Used in Research

Research may include anonymized data such as:

• Noise level measurements and environmental conditions
• Session duration and frequency patterns
• General location categories (e.g., "library," "dormitory," "outdoor space")
• Usage patterns and wellness trends

Note: No personal information, exact locations, or identifiable data is ever shared.

How We Share Your Information

We never sell, trade, or otherwise transfer your personal information to third parties. With your explicit consent through the "Anonymous Insights" setting in the app, we may share fully anonymized, aggregated data with:

• Educational institutions for campus optimization and student wellness research
• Academic researchers studying environmental wellness and mental health
• Public health organizations for population-level wellness insights

This shared data contains no personally identifiable information and cannot be traced back to individual users. You can enable or disable this data sharing anytime by toggling "Anonymous Insights" in your app Settings. Research partnerships with educational institutions comply with institutional review board requirements and ethical research standards, as well as applicable privacy laws including PIPEDA (Canada).

Data Retention for Research

Anonymized aggregate data may be retained indefinitely for research purposes. Personal data is deleted according to our standard retention policy, but anonymized insights may contribute to ongoing research studies that advance environmental wellness understanding.

Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access your personal data
• Correct inaccurate data
• Request deletion of your data
• Export your quiet time history

Your Research Data Rights

• Right to opt-out of research data inclusion with immediate effect
• Right to know which types of research projects may use your anonymized data
• Right to request general information about research findings
• Right to withdraw from future research participation without affecting app functionality

Research participation settings can be managed in your app Settings under "Research Participation."

Children's Privacy

Our app is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

Changes to This Policy

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by updating the "Last updated" date at the top of this policy.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at privacy@quietquest.app