Privacy Policy

Last Updated: September 16, 2026 | Effective Date: January 1, 2024

🛡️ Our Core Commitment: HAAL is built on a zero-knowledge, on-device architecture. Your journal entries, feelings, and mood history never leave your iPhone or iPad. We do not sell data, track you, or run ads.

1. Introduction & Mission

HAAL ("we," "our," or "the App"), founded by student developer Maya Sharma (2023 Congressional App Challenge Winner, IL-14), was created to provide high school students and adolescents with a secure, compassionate sanctuary for emotional reflection. We believe mental wellness data is deeply private and sacred.

2. Information We Do NOT Collect

Unlike ad-supported social networks and data-broker wellness apps:

No Cloud Accounts: You do not need to register with an email, phone number, password, or social login to use HAAL.
No Journal Telemetry: Your written journal logs, emotional ratings, and reflections are saved strictly to local device memory (via secure on-device AsyncStorage). We have zero technical access to read your journals.
No Location or Biometric Tracking: We never request GPS tracking, contacts, microphone, or camera permissions.
Zero Third-Party Advertising Trackers: The App contains no advertising SDKs (no Facebook Pixel, no Google AdMob, no data aggregators).

3. Emergency Resources & External Links

HAAL provides direct telephone and web links to trusted national crisis response organizations, including the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988), the Crisis Text Line (Text HOME to 741741), and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) (1-800-950-NAMI). When you tap these links, your phone initiates native calls or opens official crisis websites subject to their respective privacy standards.

4. Children & Teen Privacy (COPPA & Student Safety)

Because HAAL does not collect, transmit, or monetize any personally identifiable information (PII), we fully comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), FERPA principles, and strict Apple App Store youth safety standards.

5. Data Deletion & Backup

Because your data lives exclusively on your local device, you maintain 100% control over your data at all times. You can delete individual entries directly from the journal screen (via the delete icon), or completely erase all stored history by deleting the HAAL application from your iOS device.

6. Changes to This Policy

Should any updates be made to this Privacy Policy, the revised policy will be posted on this page with an updated timestamp. Our foundational pledge—never collecting or selling emotional health data—remains immutable.

7. Contact & Inquiries

For questions regarding our privacy architecture or school implementations, please contact:

Maya Sharma
Founder & Creator, HAAL
Neuqua Valley High School | 2023 Congressional App Challenge Winner
Email: [email protected] / [email protected]