About this policy
This policy applies to the K53 Next Android application, web application and marketing website (together, “K53 Next”). K53 Next is an independent educational service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or operated by the South African government or any driving licence testing authority.
Information we collect
Depending on how you use K53 Next, we may process:
- Account information: your name, email address, account identifier and authentication information. If you use Google sign-in, Google supplies the basic account details needed to sign you in; K53 Next does not receive your Google password.
- Study and app activity: selected licence or vehicle preferences, quiz answers, results, progress, mistakes, bookmarks, streaks and feature interactions.
- Technical information: device and browser type, operating system, IP address, app version, timestamps, crash information, diagnostics and security logs.
- Information you choose to provide: messages or other details included in a support or privacy request.
How we use information
- To create and secure your account and keep you signed in.
- To provide quizzes, mock tests, bookmarks and progress tracking in the version of K53 Next you use. The native Android app and the Base44 web app use separate account and payment systems. Your account, study progress and Premium access are not automatically shared between them.
- To operate, maintain, troubleshoot and improve K53 Next.
- To detect misuse, fraud and security threats.
- To respond to support, privacy and legal requests.
- To comply with applicable law.
Native Android accounts and progress
The native Android app uses Google Firebase for sign-in, account management, cloud study progress and Premium access verification. Google sign-in supplies your basic account details; K53 Next does not receive your Google password. You can also use email and password sign-in. Guest study progress is saved on your device. Signing in enables progress to be stored for your account and synchronised between native Android devices.
Android Premium payments
Google Play processes Premium payments made in the native Android app. K53 Next receives purchase identifiers and purchase status information needed to verify your purchase, activate or restore Premium, acknowledge successful purchases, and respond to cancellations, refunds and reversals. We associate the purchase with the K53 Next account used at checkout and send Google Play an obscured account identifier for verification. Our app and Firebase payment server do not receive your full payment-card number or card security code.
The web app continues to use its existing Base44 and Yoco payment system. A web purchase does not automatically unlock native Android Premium, and an Android purchase does not automatically unlock web Premium.
Advertising in the native Android app
The free native Android app uses Google AdMob. When the advertising SDK runs, Google may collect and share device or other identifiers, including advertising and app-set identifiers, IP addresses from which approximate location can be inferred, app and advertising interactions, and diagnostic information. This information supports advertising, performance measurement, analytics, and fraud prevention. The app does not request precise device location for advertising.
Consent and privacy choices are presented where applicable. You can review available advertising privacy choices in the app and use Android's advertising-ID controls. Premium removes adverts from the app. Removing adverts does not delete information previously processed by Google.
For further information, see Google's Privacy Policy and advertising information.
Service providers and sharing
We do not sell your personal information. The native Android app uses Google Firebase for authentication, cloud storage, security and purchase verification, Google Play for payments, and Google AdMob for advertising as described above. The web app uses its existing Base44/Wix and Yoco services. Providers process information according to their roles and applicable terms and privacy policies. Advertising data may be shared with Google and its advertising partners. We may also disclose information where legally required or where necessary to protect users, K53 Next or the public.
Storage, security and international processing
Information is protected in transit using encryption and is subject to technical and organisational safeguards. No online system can guarantee absolute security. Our service providers may process information outside South Africa; where this occurs, we require appropriate protections consistent with applicable law.
Retention and account deletion
We keep account and study information while your account is active and for as long as reasonably needed to provide the service, resolve disputes, maintain security and meet legal obligations. You can request or start account deletion from the profile or settings area of the app. When an account is deleted, associated personal information is deleted or de-identified unless retention is required for security, legal or legitimate operational reasons. Backups may take a limited period to expire.
Deleting a native Android account removes its Firebase account, cloud study data, Premium entitlement and our associated purchase-verification records. A temporary deletion-completion record supports reliable cleanup; it is marked to expire after 24 hours, with removal occurring through the provider's automatic cleanup process. Google Play retains its own transaction records under its policies. Account deletion does not itself request or issue a refund. Native Android account deletion does not delete a separate web account. Guest data can be removed through Android's app-storage controls or by uninstalling the app.
Your rights and choices
Subject to applicable law, including South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), you may ask to access, correct or delete your personal information, object to or restrict certain processing, or withdraw consent where processing relies on it. You may also complain to the Information Regulator of South Africa.
Children
K53 Next is intended for learner’s licence candidates aged 16 and older. It is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided information contrary to this policy, please contact us so that we can investigate and delete it where appropriate.
Marketing website and external links
The marketing website works without an account. Its hosting and security systems may still process standard technical information such as IP address, browser type, requested pages and timestamps. Links to Google Play, Google sign-in or other third-party services are governed by those services’ own privacy terms.
The marketing website uses Google AdSense to display advertising. Google and its advertising partners may use cookies or similar technologies to show ads, measure their performance and prevent fraud. Depending on your location and privacy choices, ads may be personalised or non-personalised. You can manage available choices through any consent notice shown on the website and through your browser settings. See Google's advertising information for more details.
Contact us
For privacy questions or requests, email info@swartlanddigital.co.za.
Changes
We may update this policy when K53 Next, our service providers or legal requirements change. The effective date above will be updated when material changes are published.