Effective Date: May 11th, 2025

AquaSprouts Inc. ("we", "us", or "our") operates the Ponics.Ai Data Tracker app. We are committed to protecting user privacy, with specific protections for student data in compliance with COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act) and FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act).

1. Information We Collect

We limit data collection to what is necessary for the app's educational function:

• Account Data: Name and email (for Teachers/Adults). For students, we recommend using Student IDs or pseudonyms where possible.
• Environmental Data: Water quality logs (pH, ammonia, etc.) and system photos.
• AI Chat Data: Queries sent to the AI and the AI's responses.
• Device Info: Browser type and OS for technical support.

2. How We Use Your Data

• To visualize water quality trends for educational analysis.
• To provide AI-driven insights and answer aquaponics questions.
• To improve the accuracy of our AI models (using anonymized, aggregated data).

We do not sell student data. We do not use student data for behavioral targeting or third-party advertising.

3. Student Data (COPPA & FERPA)

Under 13 Users:

This app may be used by children under 13 only under the direct supervision of a School or Educational Institution.

School Consent:

We rely on the Educational Institution to obtain necessary parental consent for students to use the App. The School acts as the agent for the parent in consenting to the collection of the student's personal information within the school context.

Data Rights:

Parents or eligible students may review, correct, or request deletion of personal information by contacting their School Administrator. We will assist the School in fulfilling these requests.

4. Data Sharing

We do not share personal data with third parties except:

• Service Providers: Trusted partners (e.g., cloud hosting, AI API providers) who process data on our behalf under strict confidentiality and security agreements.
• Legal Requirements: If required by law or to protect the safety of users.

5. AI Interactions

Please note that text entered into the AI Chatbot is processed by third-party Large Language Models (LLMs).

Warning: Users should not enter Personally Identifiable Information (PII)—such as full names, home addresses, or phone numbers—into the chat interface.

6. Data Security

We use industry-standard encryption (SSL/TLS) to protect data in transit and at rest. However, no online transmission is 100% secure.

7. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy. If we make material changes to how we treat student data, we will notify the School/Account Holder via email prior to the change becoming effective.

8. Contact

For privacy concerns or to request data deletion: