Kongvene Privacy Policy
Effective Date: August 29, 2026
CircleRootTech LLC (“CircleRootTech LLC,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) operates Kongvene, a mobile application that helps mahjong circles schedule play days, coordinate hosting, and keep informal records of shared dues (the “App”). This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have. By creating an account or otherwise using the App, you agree to the practices described here.
1. Information We Collect
Account Information
When you create an account, we collect your email address and the display name you choose. This information is used to identify you within your circles and to let other members recognize you.
Sign-In Providers
You can create an account with an email address and password, or use Sign in with Apple or Sign in with Google. When you use Apple or Google, that provider verifies your identity and shares your name and email address with us. We never receive your password. Apple may provide a private relay email address instead of your real one; we store and use it the same way as any other email address.
Circle and Activity Information
The App stores the information you and your circle members generate while using it, including:
- Circles you create or join, and their invite codes
- Play day dates, notes, and RSVP status (seated at a table, on the subs list, etc.)
- Host assignments and host rotation order
- Who is bringing the mahjong set for a play day
- Dues amounts and paid/unpaid status that you or your circle organizer enter
- A Venmo or Cash App username, if an organizer chooses to add one to their circle settings
- A short activity record when you take an action in a circle (for example, signing up for a play day or sending a “Need a Fourth” request), so organizers can see recent activity
Push Notification Token
If you turn on notifications, we register a push notification token for your device and store it with your account. This token lets us send you alerts about activity in your circles (see Section 2). Notifications are optional and you can turn them off at any time — see Section 4.
Information We Do Not Collect
We do not collect or have access to any payment card numbers, bank account details, or Venmo/Cash App account credentials. Dues amounts and paid/unpaid status shown in the App are self-reported or organizer-reported records only — see Section 5 for more detail on how this works.
Automatically Collected Information
Our infrastructure provider (Firebase, operated by Google) may automatically log limited technical information, such as device type and crash diagnostics, to help us keep the App running reliably.
2. How We Use Information
We use the information described above to:
- Operate the core features of the App (scheduling, RSVPs, host rotation, dues tracking)
- Let circle members see who is participating in a play day and who is hosting
- Send you push notifications about activity in your circles, such as when someone signs up for a play day, drops out, is asked to host, or sends a “Need a Fourth” request — only if you have notifications turned on
- Maintain the security of accounts and circles
- Respond to support requests
- Improve and maintain the App
We do not use your information for advertising, and we do not sell your personal information to third parties.
3. How Information Is Shared
Information within a circle (such as your display name, RSVP status, and dues status) is visible to other members of that circle, and in some cases only to the circle organizer, consistent with how each feature is described in the App.
We share information with the following categories of third parties only as necessary to operate the App:
- Firebase/Google Cloud — our hosting and database provider, which stores App data on our behalf
- Expo (650 Industries, Inc.) — the push notification service we use to deliver alerts to your device
- Apple Push Notification service — Apple’s system that passes notifications to your device
When we send you a push notification, your device’s notification token and the text of the notification (which may include another member’s display name, such as “Sarah is in”) are sent to Expo’s push notification service and to Apple’s Push Notification service so the message can reach your device. We do not use these services for advertising or tracking.
We do not share your information with Venmo, Cash App, or any other payment service. When you tap a “Pay via Venmo” button in the App, your device opens a link directly to Venmo using information already stored in your circle (the organizer’s Venmo username and a dues amount) — this happens on your own device, not through our servers, and we do not receive any information back from Venmo about whether a payment was completed.
4. Your Choices
- You can update your display name and circle settings at any time within the App.
- You can turn push notifications on or off at any time from Settings in the App, or in your device’s system settings.
- You can leave a circle at any time.
- You can delete your account at any time from Settings. This permanently removes your account. Circles you created remain available to their other members, consistent with the confirmation shown in the App when you delete your account.
To request a copy of your data, or to ask questions about this Privacy Policy, contact us at thecircleroottechllc@gmail.com.
5. Dues Tracking Is Not a Payment Service
Kongvene is a coordination and record-keeping tool, not a payment processor. Dues amounts and “paid”/“unpaid” statuses shown in the App reflect what a circle organizer or member has manually entered — the App does not verify that any money has actually changed hands, and does not process, hold, or transmit funds. Any actual payment happens entirely within Venmo, Cash App, or another service the members choose to use, outside of the App.
6. Data Security
We use commercially reasonable safeguards, including database access rules, to protect the information stored in the App. No method of storage or transmission is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
7. Children’s Privacy
Kongvene is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us at thecircleroottechllc@gmail.com so we can remove it.
8. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will update the effective date at the top of this document. Continued use of the App after changes take effect means you accept the revised policy.
9. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, contact CircleRootTech LLC at thecircleroottechllc@gmail.com.