Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

This Privacy Policy explains how Around ("we", "our", or "us") collects, uses, stores, and discloses information about you when you use our mobile application and website (collectively, the "Service"). By using the Service, you agree to the collection and use of information as described in this policy.

2. Data We Collect

We collect the following categories of data:

2.1 Account Information

• Email address — used for account registration, authentication, and communication.
• Password — stored securely; never stored or transmitted in plain text.
• Display name and username — publicly visible on your profile.
• Bio and profile images — optional content you provide to personalize your profile.

2.2 Location Data

• Precise location — collected only while the app is in active use to display nearby content and enable location-based posting.
• We do not collect location data in the background.

2.3 Content You Create

• Posts, comments, and images — content you create and share through the Service, including the location where it was posted.
• Interactions — likes and other engagement actions.
• Image metadata — technical information from uploaded photos (such as camera model and date taken) may be extracted and stored.

2.4 Device and Login Information

• IP address, device type, and browser information — collected to support account security and detect unauthorized access.

2.5 Third-Party Sign-In

• If you sign in using Google or Apple, we receive your email address from the provider to create or link your account. We do not retrieve additional data from your Google or Apple account.

2.6 Locally Stored Data

• Session tokens and cookies are stored on your device to keep you signed in.
• A cached copy of your location may be stored locally to improve app responsiveness.

3. How We Use Your Data

• Providing the Service — displaying nearby posts, enabling content creation, and managing your account.
• Account security — detecting unauthorized access and protecting your account.
• Content moderation — reviewing reported content and enforcing our Terms of Use.
• Communication — sending essential account-related emails (e.g., email verification, password reset). We do not send marketing emails.
• Service improvement — analyzing aggregated, non-identifiable usage patterns to improve performance and reliability.

4. Data Sharing and Third Parties

• No sale of data: We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal data to third parties.
• No advertising: We do not serve ads or share data with advertising networks. We do not track you across apps or websites.
• Service providers: We use trusted third-party providers for essential operations such as email delivery and infrastructure hosting. These providers process data on our behalf and do not have rights to use your data for their own purposes.
• Law enforcement: We may disclose your data if required by law, to comply with legal process, or to protect the safety of our users. We will cooperate with authorities and report instances of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (CSAE) as outlined in our Child Safety Standards.

5. Data Retention

• Account data is retained for as long as your account is active.
• Content (posts, comments, images) is retained until you delete it or delete your account.
• Security-related data (such as login records) is retained for a reasonable period to protect your account.

6. Account Deletion

You can request deletion of your account at any time from Settings → Delete Account within the app. Upon confirmation:

• Your account will be scheduled for deletion after a 30-day grace period.
• If you log back in within 30 days, the deletion request is automatically cancelled.
• After 30 days, your account and all associated personal data will be permanently deleted.

You may also contact us at info@around.place to request data deletion.

7. Your Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you.
• Request correction of inaccurate data.
• Request deletion of your data (see Section 6).
• Withdraw consent for data processing at any time.
• Lodge a complaint with a data protection authority.

To exercise these rights, contact us at info@around.place.

8. Children's Privacy

The Service is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 13. If we become aware that we have collected data from a child under 13, we will take steps to delete that information promptly. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us with personal data, please contact us at info@around.place.

9. Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your data, including encrypted connections and secure authentication. However, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by posting the updated policy within the app. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page indicates when the policy was last revised. Continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at info@around.place.