Privacy Policy for PinBack App

Effective Date: April 20, 2025

Introduction

Welcome to PinBack ("we," "us," or "our"). We are committed to protecting the privacy of our users ("you" or "your"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application or visit our website [Add your website link if applicable] (collectively, the "Service").

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. By using the Service, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree with the terms of this privacy policy, please do not access or use the Service.

1. Information We Collect

We may collect different types of information from and about you, including:

• Personal Information You Provide Voluntarily:
  • Registration and Account Information: When you create an account, we may collect your name, email address, password (hashed), and possibly other information like a phone number or profile picture (optional).
  • Content Information: If you add listings, reviews, comments, or other content to PinBack, we will collect that information.
  • Contact Information: If you contact us directly (e.g., for customer support), we may keep a record of your correspondence, including your name, email address, and the content of your message.
• Information We Collect Automatically:
  • Location Data: To provide location-based services (like showing nearby places), we may collect precise geolocation data from your device (with your prior consent) or approximate location data inferred from your IP address. You can control the collection of precise location data through your device settings.
  • Usage and Device Data: We may collect information about how you access and use the Service, including your device type, operating system, unique device identifiers (like Advertising ID), IP address, app/browser version, the pages of the Service you visit, the time and date of your visit, the time spent on those pages, crash logs, and other diagnostic data. We may use analytics tools like Google Analytics for Firebase for this purpose.
  • Cookies and Similar Technologies: We may use cookies and similar tracking technologies (like pixels and beacons) to collect information about your interactions with the Service and remember your preferences.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for various purposes, including:

• To provide, operate, maintain, and improve our Service (e.g., personalize content, display relevant listings based on your location).
• To create and manage your account and authenticate your identity.
• To allow you to post content and participate in interactive features of the Service.
• To communicate with you, including responding to your inquiries, providing support, and sending administrative notices, updates about the Service, or changes to our policies.
• To understand and analyze how you use the Service, monitor trends, and gather demographic information for analytics and Service improvement.
• To personalize your experience, including displaying relevant advertisements (if applicable, and in compliance with laws and platform policies like Google Play's).
• For security purposes, such as detecting and preventing fraud, unauthorized activities, or illegal actions.
• To comply with legal and regulatory obligations.

3. How We Share Your Information

We may share your information with third parties in the following situations:

• Service Providers: We may share your information with third-party companies and service providers that assist us in operating the Service (e.g., cloud hosting providers, analytics tools, payment processors [if applicable], customer support services). These providers are contractually obligated to protect your data and use it only for the purposes we specify.
• For Legal Purposes: We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., a court, subpoena, or government agency).
• To Protect Rights and Interests: We may disclose your information when we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, property, or safety, or the safety of our users or the public, or to investigate fraud or violations of our terms of service.
• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, asset sale, restructuring, or bankruptcy, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you before your personal information is transferred and becomes subject to a different privacy policy.
• With Your Consent: We may share your information with other third parties after obtaining your explicit consent to do so.
• Aggregated or Anonymized Information: We may share aggregated or anonymized information that does not directly identify you with third parties for analysis, research, or marketing purposes.

4. Data Security

We take reasonable and appropriate security measures (administrative, technical, and physical) to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. However, no method of transmission over the Internet or method of electronic storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

5. Data Retention

We will retain your personal information only for as long as is necessary for the purposes set out in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law (such as for tax, accounting, or other legal requirements). When we no longer need your personal information for the stated purposes, we will securely delete or anonymize it.

6. Your Rights and Choices

You have certain rights regarding your personal information, which may vary depending on your local laws. These generally include:

• Right to Access: You can request access to the personal information we hold about you.
• Right to Rectification: You can request correction of any inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Right to Erasure: You can request the deletion of your personal information under certain circumstances.
• Right to Restrict Processing: You can request the restriction of processing your personal information under certain circumstances.
• Right to Object to Processing: You can object to our processing of your personal information under certain circumstances.
• Right to Withdraw Consent: If we rely on your consent to process your information, you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time.
• Right to Data Portability: You can request a copy of your personal information in a commonly used format.

To exercise any of these rights, you can usually do so through your account settings within the Service, or by contacting us directly using the contact information provided below. We may need to verify your identity before processing your request.

Additional Choices:

• Location Data: You can control the collection of precise location data through your mobile device's privacy settings.
• Marketing Communications: You can opt-out of receiving marketing emails from us by following the unsubscribe instructions included in those emails.
• Cookies: You can usually set your browser to refuse cookies or alert you when cookies are being sent.

7. Children's Privacy

Our Service is not directed to children under the age of 13 (or a higher age as required by local law, such as 16 in Europe). We do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from children under this age. If we discover that we have collected personal information from a child under the legal age without verifiable parental consent, we will take steps to promptly delete that information from our servers. If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child has provided us with personal information without your consent, please contact us.

8. Third-Party Services and Links

Our Service may contain links to other websites or services that are not operated by us (e.g., links in directory listings or advertisements). If you click on a third-party link, you will be directed to that third party's site. We strongly advise you to review the Privacy Policy of every site you visit. We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party sites or services. We may also use third-party tools and services (like Google Analytics, Firebase, advertising platforms) that may independently collect your information and are subject to their own privacy policies.

9. International Data Transfers

Your information, including personal information, may be transferred to — and maintained on — computers located outside of your state, province, country, or other governmental jurisdiction where the data protection laws may differ from those in your jurisdiction. By using the Service, you consent to this transfer. We will take all steps reasonably necessary to ensure that your data is treated securely and in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Effective Date" at the top. We may also notify you through the Service or via email prior to the change becoming effective. You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Changes to this Privacy Policy are effective when they are posted on this page.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:

• Email: PROFESSOR

Disclaimer: This is a template Privacy Policy. Please customize it to accurately reflect your data practices and consult with a legal professional to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, including Google Play policies. Remember to host this policy at a publicly accessible URL.