Privacy Policy

NowNearby ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application and services (the "Service").

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide

Account Information:

• Phone number (for authentication)
• First name and last name
• Date of birth
• Gender/sex
• Username (handle)
• Profile photo (optional)
• Bio (optional)

Activity Information:

• Activities you create (title, description, category, time, location, capacity)
• Join requests you send
• Messages you send in activity chats
• Ratings and feedback you provide

1.2 Information Collected With Your Permission

Location Data (With Your Consent):

We request access to your device location to provide core functionality. Location data is processed locally on your device and used only for:

• Distance calculation: Show how far you are from nearby activities (approximate location)
• Venue setting: Help you set precise venue locations when creating activities
• Optional notifications: If you choose, receive alerts about activities within your selected radius (e.g., 15km)

Important: We do NOT track or store your location history. Your current location is only used at the moment you view the feed or create an activity. You control location permissions through your device settings and can deny or revoke access at any time.

Device Information:

• Device type and model
• Operating system and version
• Unique device identifiers
• App version

Usage Data:

• Features you use and actions you take
• Activity browsing history
• App performance data and crash reports

2. How We Use Your Information

2.1 To Provide the Service

• Create and maintain your account
• Show you activities near your location
• Enable you to create and join activities
• Facilitate communication between activity participants
• Process ratings and build reputation scores
• Send activity-related notifications
• Provide customer support

2.2 To Improve the Service

• Analyze usage patterns to improve features
• Develop new features
• Conduct research and analytics
• Monitor and prevent technical issues

2.3 To Ensure Safety and Security

• Verify user identity
• Detect and prevent fraud, spam, and abuse
• Enforce our Terms of Service
• Investigate reports and violations
• Protect against unauthorized access

3. How We Share Your Information

3.1 With Other Users

Public Profile Information:

• Your username, profile photo, and bio are visible to other users
• Your activity history (hosted and attended) may be visible on your profile
• Your ratings (aggregated) may be displayed on your profile

Activity Participants:

• When you join an activity, other approved participants can see your profile
• Activity hosts can see join request information
• Participants can see chat messages in the activity

3.2 With Service Providers

We share information with third-party service providers who help us operate the Service:

• Hosting and infrastructure (Supabase, cloud services)
• Analytics providers (usage and performance analytics)
• Communication services (SMS for phone verification)
• Customer support tools

These providers are contractually obligated to use your information only as necessary to provide their services.

3.3 For Legal Reasons

We may disclose your information if required by law or if we believe it's necessary to:

• Comply with legal obligations, court orders, or government requests
• Enforce our Terms of Service
• Protect our rights, property, or safety
• Protect the rights, property, or safety of our users or the public

4. Your Rights and Choices

4.1 Access and Update

• View and edit your profile information in the app
• Update your preferences and settings
• Request a copy of your data

4.2 Delete Your Account

You can delete your account at any time through the app settings. This action is permanent and cannot be undone. When you delete your account, your profile and personal information are permanently deleted.

4.3 Location Permissions

You have full control over location access:

• Before first use: We will ask for your permission before accessing location data
• Grant or deny: You can choose to allow or decline location access at any time
• Device settings: Manage location permissions through your device settings (iOS: Settings > NowNearby > Location; Android: Settings > Apps > NowNearby > Permissions > Location)
• Choose precision: On iOS, you can choose "Approximate Location" for basic features without sharing your precise location
• Feature impact: Without location permission, you won't see distance to activities, but you can still browse and participate

Our commitment: We never track your movements or store location history. Location is only used when you actively use the app.

4.4 Notification Preferences

• Control push notification settings in the app
• Opt out of marketing communications
• Note: You cannot opt out of essential service notifications

4.5 GDPR Rights (EU Users)

If you are in the European Union, you have additional rights:

• Right to access your personal data
• Right to rectification of inaccurate data
• Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten")
• Right to restrict processing
• Right to data portability
• Right to object to processing
• Right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority

4.6 CCPA Rights (California Users)

If you are a California resident, you have rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act:

• Right to know what personal information is collected
• Right to know if personal information is sold or disclosed
• Right to say no to the sale of personal information
• Right to delete personal information
• Right to non-discrimination for exercising your rights

5. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your information:

• Encryption of data in transit and at rest
• Secure authentication systems
• Regular security assessments
• Access controls and monitoring

While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Data Retention

6.1 Account Data

We retain your information as long as your account is active and as necessary to provide the Service. When you delete your account, your personal information is permanently deleted. Some information may be retained for legal compliance.

6.2 Chat Message Retention

Activity chat messages are automatically deleted 30 days after the activity ends.

What this means:

• Chat messages: Text shared in activity chats are permanently deleted 30 days after the activity end date
• Reactions and read receipts: Also deleted with the messages
• Activity records: Information about the activity itself (title, date, participants, ratings) remains in your activity history

Why we do this: Chat messages are for coordinating meetups and are ephemeral by nature. This policy minimizes data retention and protects your privacy. If you need to save important information from a chat, please do so within the 30-day window.

7. Children's Privacy

NowNearby is not intended for users under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If we learn that we have collected information from a child under 18, we will delete it immediately.

8. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date. For material changes, we will notify you through the app or by email.

9. Contact Us

For questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, contact us at:

• Support: hello@now-nearby.com

Exercising Your Rights

To exercise your privacy rights:

1. Email us at hello@now-nearby.com
2. Include your account information
3. Specify which right you wish to exercise
4. We will respond within the legally required timeframe