Summary: BookShook collects only the information necessary to provide our services. We do not sell your personal data to third parties. Your data is stored securely and you can request deletion at any time.
1. Information We Collect
We collect information you provide directly to us, as well as data generated through your use of the BookShook platform. This includes:
- Account Information: Your first name, last name, email address, and profile photo when you register for an account.
- Authentication Data: Your 4-digit PIN (stored in encrypted form) used to secure your account.
- Referral Information: The User ID of the member who introduced you to BookShook ("Introducer ID"), used to attribute referral relationships within the platform.
- Payment Information: Subscription payment details and bank account information provided for earnings withdrawals. Payment card details are processed by our third-party payment provider and are not stored on our servers.
- Usage Data: Information about how you use the app, including books viewed, reading activity, and feature interactions.
- Device Information: Device type, operating system, and app version for technical support and optimisation purposes.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to:
- Create and manage your BookShook account and subscription.
- Provide access to our eBook library and all platform features.
- Process subscription payments and manage billing.
- Calculate, track, and disburse referral bonus earnings to eligible members.
- Send you important service notifications including account updates, subscription renewals, and security alerts.
- Improve and personalise the BookShook experience, including book recommendations.
- Ensure the security and integrity of our platform.
- Comply with our legal obligations and enforce our Terms of Use.
We will not use your personal information for marketing communications without your explicit consent.
3. Information Sharing & Disclosure
BookShook does not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to any third parties. We may share your data only in the following limited circumstances:
- Service Providers: Trusted third-party vendors who help us operate our platform (e.g., payment processors, cloud hosting, email delivery services). These providers are contractually obligated to protect your data and may only use it to provide services on our behalf.
- Referral Network Visibility: Your display name and profile photo may be visible to members in your direct referral network as part of the platform's referral tracking features. Your email address, PIN, and payment details are never shared with other members.
- Legal Requirements: We may disclose information if required to do so by law, court order, or governmental authority, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of BookShook, our members, or the public.
- Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of all or part of our assets, user data may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you via email before your data is transferred and becomes subject to a different privacy policy.
4. Data Storage & Security
Your data is stored on secure servers with industry-standard encryption. We implement the following security measures:
- All data transmissions between your device and our servers are encrypted using TLS (Transport Layer Security).
- PINs and passwords are stored using one-way cryptographic hashing and are never stored in plain text.
- Access to user data within our organisation is strictly limited to personnel who need it to perform their job functions.
- We conduct regular security reviews and maintain logging of access to sensitive data.
- Payment data is processed by PCI-DSS compliant third-party payment processors.
While we take all reasonable precautions, no system is completely secure. We encourage you to use a strong, unique PIN and to contact us immediately if you suspect any unauthorised access to your account.
Your data is retained for as long as your account is active, and for up to 3 years after account closure for legal and financial compliance purposes.
5. Your Rights & Choices
You have the following rights with respect to your personal data:
- Access: You may request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
- Correction: You may update or correct inaccurate information through the app's Account settings or by contacting our support team.
- Deletion: You may request the deletion of your account and personal data. Note that we may be required to retain certain financial records for legal compliance purposes.
- Portability: You may request your data in a structured, machine-readable format.
- Withdrawal of Consent: Where processing is based on your consent, you may withdraw it at any time by contacting us.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at privacy@bookshook.in. We will respond to all requests within 30 days.
6. Cookies & Tracking
Our website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience. These include:
- Essential Cookies: Required for the website to function, such as maintaining your login session.
- Analytics Cookies: Used to understand how visitors use our website (e.g., pages visited, time spent). We use this data in aggregate form to improve our service.
- Preference Cookies: Used to remember your settings and preferences.
You can control cookie preferences through your browser settings. Disabling essential cookies may affect the functionality of the website.
7. Children's Privacy
BookShook is not directed at individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal data, please contact us at privacy@bookshook.in and we will promptly delete the information.
8. Third-Party Links
Our platform may contain links to third-party websites or services. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those external sites, and we are not responsible for their privacy practices. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.
9. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. When we make material changes, we will:
- Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page.
- Notify registered users via email at least 14 days before the changes take effect.
- Display a prominent notice in the BookShook app.
Your continued use of BookShook after any changes take effect constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.
10. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal data, please reach out to us: