Ala – Privacy Policy

This policy explains what the Ala app ("Ala") collects, why, and how to have it deleted. Ala is made by Alacard, which runs self-service card-printing kiosks in shops across India.

What we collect

When you use Ala, these reach Alacard's servers:

• Your mobile number — to sign you in with a one-time code, and to find your cards when you enter it at a kiosk.
• Your account ID — a number Alacard gives your account.
• The cards you save — including any photo you add and the words you write — so a kiosk can print them for you.
• A secret video, if you add one to a card that comes alive — so it plays when the card is scanned.
• Your name as you give it in Me, if you ask someone for their days — it is shown to them on the link.
• The name and number of the person you ask, when you tap Ask — to make their link. We keep their name and only a masked number, never the full number.
• Anything you write in a feedback box.

Cards that come alive

When a card that comes alive is printed, a picture of its front, the first name typed in it (on cards that carry a name) and its secret video are stored under the code inside the card. Anyone who has the card can see them by scanning it. The person who sent it can see whether it has been watched. One video per card; it can be added up to 30 days after printing. We count how many times each card is opened, with no personal data.

A secret video is stored so the card can play it. If the card is not printed within 24 hours, the video is removed. Once the card is printed, the video is kept until you ask us to remove it.

Your days and address (when someone asks for them)

If you fill in an Ala link sent by a friend or family member, we keep what you enter so that they are reminded of your days. If you add an address, it is private by default: Ala keeps it only for delivering cards to you, and the person who asked never sees it — on no phone, including theirs — unless you choose "Let them see my address". You can change anything later from the same link. The link and what you entered are removed after 180 days.

What stays on your phone

These are kept only on your phone and are never sent to Alacard:

• Your name, email address and saved addresses, if you add them.
• The people you add to People, with their numbers, and your reminders. The one exception: when you tap Ask for someone, their name and number are sent to make their link (see above).
• Your location. If you allow it, Ala uses it only on your phone to sort the kiosk list nearest first. It is not sent anywhere or stored.
• The camera. Ala uses it to make a printed card come alive, to read a card's QR and, if you choose, to record a secret video. Nothing from the camera leaves your phone except a video you choose to send.

How we use it

Only to run the app: to sign you in, to save your cards, to print them at a kiosk, to play a card's secret video and, where someone has allowed it, to remind you of their days. We do not use your data for advertising, we do not track you across other apps or websites, and we do not sell your data.

Who else handles it

• Amazon Web Services stores your saved cards and account, and the picture and details of each card that comes alive, on servers in India.
• Google Cloud stores secret videos, the days and addresses people add through Ala links, and feedback, on servers in Mumbai.
• SMS and WhatsApp providers deliver your sign-in code.

They handle your data only to provide these services to us.

How long we keep it

A saved card stays until you collect it at a kiosk or remove it in the app (My cards). Your account stays until you delete it. Records of cards you have bought are kept for as long as Indian tax law requires. Secret videos on printed cards are kept until you ask us to remove them. Ala links and what people entered in them are removed after 180 days. Feedback is kept for 365 days.

Deleting your account

In the app: Me > Delete my account. We send a code to your number, and once you enter it your account is closed and the app removes your details from your phone. You can also email us at care@alacard.io and we will delete it for you.

Deleting your account does not remove: records of cards you have bought (tax law), pictures of cards already saved, secret videos on printed cards, Ala links (removed after 180 days) or feedback (removed after 365 days). To have your saved card pictures or secret videos removed, email us.

To delete only some of your data, you can remove a saved card in My cards, a person in People, a reminder in Reminders, or an address in Me > My addresses, at any time.

Your rights

Under India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, you can ask to see, correct or erase your personal data, and you can withdraw your consent at any time by deleting your account. Email us to do any of these.

Children

If you are under 18, please use Ala with the consent of a parent or guardian.

Changes

If this policy changes, we will update it here and change the date at the top.

Contact

M/S KADO · care@alacard.io

Credits

Music: Happy Ukulele by BombinSound; Party New Year Countdown Celebration; Diwali Festival Lights Celebration by alex-morgan; Indian Festive by Kulakovka; Free Soul Happy Indian Festive Music by kalsstockmedia (Pixabay).