Privacy Policy

TheShieldedPath is a free parental control application developed and operated by CircleRootTech LLC, the parent company behind this product. TheShieldedPath is designed to help families protect children from harmful online content. We are committed to protecting the privacy of every user, especially children. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your rights as a user.

01 Information We Collect

Information Stored Only on Your Device

TheShieldedPath stores the following information locally on your device only. This information is never transmitted to our servers or shared with third parties:

• Parent PIN — used to protect parental settings
• Shield and blocking settings — your content blocking preferences
• Custom blocked sites — websites you have chosen to block
• Blocked app list — apps you have chosen to restrict
• Screen time limits — daily usage limits per device
• Device profiles — names and settings for devices you manage
• SOS settings — parent phone number and child name for emergency alerts
• SOS alert history — a log of when the SOS button was used
• Weekly report settings — your email address for weekly reports
• Location data — GPS coordinates stored locally and used only to display location to the parent and to assist with SOS alerts

Information We Do NOT Collect

We do not collect, store, or transmit:

• Browsing history
• Personal photos or contacts
• Financial information
• Social Security numbers or government IDs
• Any data from children under 13 to our servers

02 How We Use Information

All information collected by TheShieldedPath is used solely to provide the app's safety features:

• Location data is used to show parents where a protected device is located and to include a location in SOS alert text messages
• Your email address is used only to send the weekly safety report you request — we do not use it for marketing
• SOS alert logs are stored locally so parents can review past alerts

03 Third-Party Services

SMS and Email

When the SOS button is activated, the app opens your phone's native SMS application to send a text message to the parent's phone number. This uses your phone carrier's standard SMS service. We do not have access to the content of these messages. When you send a weekly report, the app opens your device's native email application. We do not have access to your email account or the content of emails sent.

Sex Offender Registry

The sex offender registry feature opens official government websites (nsopw.gov, familywatchdog.us) in your device's browser. We do not collect or store any information from these searches. Please review those websites' own privacy policies for information about how they handle your data.

Expo / React Native

TheShieldedPath is built using Expo, a mobile development platform. Expo may collect anonymous crash reports and diagnostic data to help improve app stability. Please review Expo's privacy policy at expo.dev/privacy for details.

Firebase (Google)

TheShieldedPath uses Firebase, a platform provided by Google LLC, for account authentication and to securely record a timestamp when a parent or guardian accepts our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. This timestamp is stored as legal proof of consent and is associated with your account only. Firebase may collect certain device and usage diagnostic data. Please review Google's privacy policy at policies.google.com/privacy for details.

04 Children's Privacy (COPPA Compliance)

TheShieldedPath is designed to be used by parents and legal guardians to protect their children. We take children's privacy very seriously and comply fully with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

• We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13
• The app does not require children to create accounts or provide any personal information
• All personal information (such as a child's name used in SOS alerts) is stored only locally on the device and is entered by the parent or guardian

If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately at TheShieldedPath@gmail.com and we will promptly delete it.

05 Data Security

All data stored by TheShieldedPath is kept locally on your device and protected by your device's built-in security features (including device encryption and PIN/biometric lock). We do not operate servers that store your personal information, which means there is no central database that could be hacked or breached.

The limited data stored via Firebase (consent timestamp and authentication) is protected by Google's enterprise-grade security infrastructure.

06 Data Retention and Deletion

Since all data is stored locally on your device, you can delete all app data at any time by:

• Using the "Reset App" feature within the app's settings
• Deleting TheShieldedPath from your device entirely

Deleting the app removes all locally stored data permanently. To request deletion of your Firebase authentication record and consent timestamp, please contact us at TheShieldedPath@gmail.com.

07 Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access the information stored by the app (visible within the app's settings)
• Correct any information (editable within the app's settings)
• Delete all information (via the Reset App feature or by deleting the app)
• Request deletion of your Firebase authentication and consent record by contacting us directly

08 Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this document. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Continued use of the app after changes are posted means you accept the updated policy.

09 Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, please reach out: