Privacy Policy

Effective Date: October 11, 2025

Last Updated: October 11, 2025

Welcome to HelperCard. We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application and services.

            Important: By using HelperCard, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy, including the use of your data for research and service improvement purposes as described below.
        

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Personal Information

When you create an account or use HelperCard, we collect the following personal information:

Google Account Information: Email address, first name, last name, and profile picture from your Google account when you authenticate via Google OAuth
User ID: A unique identifier assigned to your account
Device Information: Device type, operating system version, unique device identifiers, and mobile network information

1.2 Card Information

To provide our digital wallet services, we collect and process:

Card Images: Photos of physical cards (front and back) that you upload or capture using your device camera
Card Data: Information extracted from cards including card names, numbers, expiry dates, holder names, issuer information, and card types
OCR Data: Text extracted from card images using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology, including confidence scores
Metadata: Member IDs, plan types, insurance company names, and other card-specific metadata

1.3 Usage Information

We automatically collect information about how you interact with HelperCard:

App usage patterns and feature interactions
Session information and authentication logs
Error reports and crash data
Performance metrics and analytics

1.4 Apple Wallet Information

Apple Wallet pass IDs and download URLs when you add cards to Apple Wallet
Pass update and notification preferences

2. How We Use Your Information

2.1 Service Provision

We use your information to:

Create and manage your HelperCard account
Store and organize your digital cards
Process OCR and extract text from card images
Generate Apple Wallet passes
Provide customer support and respond to inquiries
Authenticate and secure your account

2.2 Research and Development

Important: We use your data for research and service improvement purposes, including:

Machine Learning: Training and improving our OCR models and card recognition algorithms
Product Development: Analyzing usage patterns to develop new features and improve existing functionality
Quality Improvement: Testing and validating card scanning accuracy and system performance
Data Analytics: Conducting research on user behavior, card types, and usage trends to enhance our services
Academic Research: Anonymized and aggregated data may be used for academic studies and publications related to digital wallet technology, OCR performance, and user experience research

2.3 Communication

Send service-related notifications and updates
Respond to your comments, questions, and support requests
Provide information about new features or changes to our services

2.4 Security and Compliance

Monitor and prevent fraud, abuse, and unauthorized access
Comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms of Service
Protect the rights, property, and safety of HelperCard, our users, and the public

3. Data Processing for Research

By using HelperCard, you explicitly consent to the use of your data for research purposes under the following conditions:

3.1 Anonymization and Aggregation

Personal identifiers (names, email addresses, specific card numbers) are removed or encrypted before use in research
Data is aggregated with other users' data to identify trends and patterns
Individual users cannot be identified in research outputs or publications

3.2 Machine Learning and AI

Your card images and OCR data may be used to train and improve our machine learning models
Models are trained to better recognize card types, extract information accurately, and improve service quality
Training data is stored securely and access is restricted to authorized personnel only

3.3 Research Data Retention

Anonymized research data may be retained indefinitely for ongoing research and model improvement
You may request exclusion of your future data from research by contacting us (see Section 10)

4. Data Sharing and Disclosure

4.1 We DO NOT Sell Your Data

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes.

4.2 Service Providers

We may share your information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in:

Cloud storage and hosting services
OCR and image processing services
Authentication services (Google OAuth)
Analytics and performance monitoring
Customer support tools

These providers are contractually obligated to protect your data and use it only for the services they provide to us.

4.3 Apple Wallet Integration

When you add cards to Apple Wallet, certain information is shared with Apple in accordance with their privacy policy and terms of service.

4.4 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information when required by law, such as:

Responding to subpoenas, court orders, or legal processes
Protecting our rights, property, or safety
Investigating fraud or security issues
Complying with regulatory requirements

4.5 Business Transfers

If HelperCard is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any such change and provide choices regarding your data.

5. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information:

Encryption: Data is encrypted in transit using HTTPS/TLS and at rest using AES-256 encryption
Authentication: Secure OAuth 2.0 authentication via Google
Access Controls: Strict access controls and authentication requirements for our systems
Session Management: Secure cookie-based session management with HTTPOnly and Secure flags
Regular Audits: Periodic security audits and vulnerability assessments
Secure Storage: Card images and sensitive data stored on secure, redundant cloud infrastructure

However, no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Data Retention

Active Accounts: We retain your personal information and card data for as long as your account is active
Deleted Accounts: When you delete your account, we delete your personal information and card images within 30 days, except as required by law
Research Data: Anonymized and aggregated data used for research may be retained indefinitely
Backup Data: Deleted data may persist in backups for up to 90 days before permanent deletion
Legal Obligations: Some data may be retained longer to comply with legal, accounting, or regulatory requirements

7. Your Rights and Choices

7.1 Access and Portability

You have the right to:

Access your personal information and card data stored in HelperCard
Request a copy of your data in a portable format
View all cards and information associated with your account

7.2 Correction and Deletion

Update or correct your profile information at any time
Delete individual cards from your wallet
Delete your entire account and associated data

7.3 Opt-Out of Research

Request that your future data not be used for research purposes (existing anonymized research data cannot be retroactively removed)
Contact us at the email below to exercise this right

7.4 Data Download

You may request a complete export of your data, which will be provided in a machine-readable format within 30 days.

7.5 Objection and Restriction

You may object to certain data processing activities or request restrictions on how we process your data.

8. Children's Privacy

HelperCard is not intended for use by individuals under the age of 13 (or the applicable age of digital consent in your jurisdiction). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we discover that we have inadvertently collected information from a child, we will delete it immediately.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.

9. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have different data protection laws. By using HelperCard, you consent to the transfer of your information to these countries.

We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your information in accordance with this Privacy Policy, regardless of where it is processed.

10. California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

Right to Know: Request disclosure of personal information collected, used, or sold
Right to Delete: Request deletion of your personal information
Right to Opt-Out: Opt out of the "sale" of personal information (Note: We do not sell personal information)
Right to Non-Discrimination: Exercise your privacy rights without discriminatory treatment

To exercise these rights, contact us using the information in Section 12.

11. European Privacy Rights (GDPR)

If you are in the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom, or Switzerland, you have rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

Legal Basis: We process your data based on consent, contract performance, legal obligations, and legitimate interests
Data Subject Rights: Access, rectification, erasure, restriction, objection, and portability
Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent at any time without affecting prior processing
Right to Lodge a Complaint: File a complaint with your local data protection authority

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or for other operational reasons. We will notify you of any material changes by:

Posting the updated policy on this page with a new "Last Updated" date
Sending an in-app notification
Sending an email to the address associated with your account (for significant changes)

Your continued use of HelperCard after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

13. Third-Party Links and Services

HelperCard may contain links to third-party websites or services (such as Google Sign-In and Apple Wallet). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.

14. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal information, please contact us:

HelperCard Privacy Team

Email: privacy@helpercard.com

Support: support@helpercard.com

Website: https://helpercard.com

We will respond to your inquiry within 30 days.

15. Acknowledgment and Consent

By using HelperCard, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy and consent to:

The collection, use, and processing of your personal information as described herein
The use of your data for research, machine learning, and service improvement purposes
The storage and processing of your information in accordance with our security practices
The sharing of information with service providers as necessary to operate our services