Gurbani.World ("Gurbani.World", "we", "our", or "us") operates the Gurbani.World website and Android mobile application.
We are committed to respecting user privacy and providing a safe and respectful experience for reading, searching and listening to Gurbani.
1. Information We Collect and Use
Gurbani.World does not require users to create an account or provide a name, email address, phone number or other directly identifying information in order to use the core features of the service.
Certain technical information is processed automatically when you use an internet-connected service.
- Local Preferences: The app and website may store preferences locally on your device, such as text size, theme choices, bookmarks, favorites, reading preferences and audio player state.
- Network Information: When content, Gurbani text, artwork, audio, radio or other resources are requested, our servers or the relevant service provider may receive standard technical request information such as an IP address, browser or WebView information, request time and the resource being requested.
- Audio Streaming: When you listen to Gurbani audio or live radio, network connections are made to Gurbani.World or the relevant audio provider in order to deliver the requested stream.
- Google Cast Technical Data: When Google Cast functionality is available or used in the Android application, Google's Cast SDK may process anonymized technical and usage information related to Cast discovery, Cast sessions, device information, SDK information and application information for Cast functionality, reliability and analytics.
2. Voice Search
Gurbani.World provides an optional voice-search feature on supported Android devices.
When you choose to activate voice search, the app launches the speech-recognition service available on your Android device.
Speech may be processed by your device's speech recognition provider, such as Google or another provider installed or configured on your device.
Gurbani.World itself does not directly record or store raw microphone audio through the Android app.
The recognized text is returned to Gurbani.World and may then be submitted as a search query in order to provide the requested search results.
3. Android Device Permissions
The Android application uses only permissions needed for its features.
- Internet and Network State (INTERNET, ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE): Used to load Gurbani.World, perform searches, retrieve Gurbani text and artwork, and stream audio or radio.
- Notifications (POST_NOTIFICATIONS): On supported Android versions, this permission may be requested so Gurbani audio playback controls can be displayed in the notification area and on supported lock screens.
- Foreground Media Playback (FOREGROUND_SERVICE, FOREGROUND_SERVICE_MEDIA_PLAYBACK, WAKE_LOCK): Used to support audio playback controls and maintain the Android media playback session while audio is active.
- Legacy Storage Permission: On Android 8 and Android 9 only, the application may use the legacy WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission when required to save a file requested by the user. This permission is limited to older Android versions.
The current application does not request broad access to all files on modern Android devices and does not request READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE.
4. Downloads and Saved Content
When you choose to download Gurbani audio, artwork, Hukamnama images, PDF documents or other supported content, the application may use Android's Download Manager or MediaStore system to save the requested file to your device.
Downloads occur only in response to an action initiated by you.
5. Sharing With Other Apps
Gurbani.World allows users to share Gurbani text, links and artwork using Android's sharing system or compatible applications such as WhatsApp, Instagram, Messages and other installed apps.
Content is transferred to another application only when you choose to use a sharing function.
After content is shared with another application, that application's own privacy policy and data practices apply.
6. Third-Party Services
Gurbani.World may use or connect to third-party services in order to provide Gurbani text, search results, audio, streaming, video, casting or voice-search functionality.
Depending on the feature being used, these services may include Gurbani data providers such as GurbaniNow or BaniDB, audio or streaming providers such as SikhNet, Google/Android services, YouTube, Google Cast, or the speech-recognition provider configured on your device.
These services may receive standard technical information necessary to process a request, including IP address, device or browser information and the requested resource.
Their own privacy policies and data practices apply to information processed by them.
7. Google Cast
Gurbani.World supports Google Cast so users can play Gurbani audio and compatible media on Google Cast-enabled devices, including Chromecast, Google TV and Google Home devices.
The Android application uses the Google Cast Android Sender SDK provided by Google.
The Cast SDK may automatically collect anonymized technical and usage information relating to Cast functionality, including Cast device discovery events, Cast session-management events, mobile-device information, SDK information and client application information.
According to Google, this information may be transmitted securely to Google's logging and analytics systems and used in aggregated form to monitor Cast SDK performance, diagnose software issues and improve the Google Cast experience.
Google states that Cast SDK logs do not contain identifiers that can be traced back to a specific individual user and that this information is not used to model an individual user's behaviour.
Gurbani.World does not use Google Cast information for advertising or user profiling.
Information processed by Google through the Google Cast SDK is subject to Google's applicable privacy practices.
8. Cookies and Web Storage
Gurbani.World may use first-party cookies, browser storage, WebView storage or similar technologies where necessary for website functionality, preferences, security and playback state.
The Android application's WebView is configured to block third-party cookies.
9. Data Retention and Deletion
Gurbani.World does not currently require user accounts and therefore does not maintain account profiles that require account deletion.
Local preferences, favorites, cached content and similar data stored by the application can generally be removed by clearing the Gurbani World application's storage or by uninstalling the application.
Technical server logs may be retained where reasonably necessary for security, reliability, troubleshooting, abuse prevention and operation of the service.
For questions or requests relating to privacy or deletion of information associated with Gurbani.World, you may contact us at info@gurbani.world .
10. Data Security
Gurbani.World uses HTTPS and reasonable technical safeguards designed to protect communications between the Android application, our website and supported services.
The Android application restricts trusted in-app web navigation to Gurbani.World domains, blocks cleartext HTTP traffic for trusted app content, and uses Android security mechanisms for file sharing and media handling.
No internet transmission or electronic storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
11. Sale of Personal Information
Gurbani.World does not sell users' personal information.
Gurbani.World does not use personal information for targeted advertising or sell personal information to advertisers.
12. Children's Privacy
Gurbani.World is a general-audience spiritual and educational service that may also be used by families.
We do not knowingly request directly identifying personal information from children through the core application.
If we become aware that information has been collected in a manner that requires deletion under applicable law, we will take appropriate steps to address it.
13. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy when the application, website, services, permissions or applicable requirements change.
Changes will be posted on this page and the effective date at the top of the policy will be updated.
14. Contact Us
If you have questions, concerns, privacy-related requests or requests concerning deletion of information, please contact us:
Email: info@gurbani.world
Website: https://gurbani.world/