Privacy Policy

1. Overview

Local Guide ("we," "our," or "us") respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect information when you use our mobile application and website (collectively, the "Service").

2. Information We Collect

From Public Users (App Users)

When you use the Local Guide app as a general user, we may collect:

• Device Information: Device type, operating system version, and unique device identifiers for analytics purposes
• Usage Data: How you interact with the app, pages viewed, and features used. This usage and analytics data is collected in aggregate and is not linked to your personal identity.
• Location Data: Only when you explicitly grant permission, to show nearby listings and provide directions. Location is used within the app and is not stored on our servers or tied to your identity.
• Favorites and Preferences: Listings and events you save, stored locally on your device.
• Reviews: If you submit a review, we collect your email address to verify it (a one-time verification — your email is never shown publicly), along with your rating and review text.
• Push Notification Token: If you enable notifications, a device push token so we can send event reminders and updates. You can turn notifications off at any time in the app or your device settings.
• Crash & Diagnostics Data: Crash reports and performance diagnostics (via Firebase Crashlytics) to help us fix problems and improve stability.

Public users are not required to create an account to use the app. Aside from submitting a review (which requires email verification) or enabling notifications, you can browse without providing any personal information.

From Admin Users

When you access the admin portal, we collect:

• Account Information: Email address used for authentication
• Authentication Data: Login timestamps and session information
• Audit Logs: Records of administrative actions (creating, editing, deleting content) for accountability and security
• Terms Acceptance: Record of when you accepted our Terms of Service

From Business Customers (Sponsors)

When you become a sponsor or advertiser, we collect:

• Business Information: Business name, address, phone number, website, and description
• Contact Information: Contact name and email address
• Billing Information: Billing address and payment details (processed securely by Stripe)
• Service Data: Sponsorship tier, listing information, and engagement analytics
• Communications: Records of correspondence regarding your account

Business Information Compiled from Public Sources

Our directory includes businesses that have not signed up with us. For those listings we compile business information that is already public:

• What: Business name, address, map location, business phone number, website, hours, and category. We do not collect personal information about business owners or employees for these listings.
• Where from: Public sources such as the business's own website and signage, public business directories and map services, and government business records.
• Correction or removal: If you own or represent a listed business, you can ask us to correct or remove its listing through our contact form or at [email protected]. We review every request and may ask you to show that you represent the business.

From Contact Form Submissions

When you submit an inquiry through our contact form, we collect:

• Contact Details: Name, email address, and optionally phone number
• Business Information: Business name (if provided for advertising inquiries)
• Message Content: The subject and content of your inquiry

3. How We Use Information

We use collected information to:

• Provide and maintain the Service
• Display relevant listings, events, and content
• Improve app performance and user experience
• Ensure security and prevent unauthorized access
• Monitor admin activity for quality control and security
• Analyze usage trends to improve features
• Respond to your inquiries or support requests

4. Third-Party Services

We use trusted third-party services to operate the Service:

• Google Firebase: Authentication, database, cloud storage, web hosting, crash diagnostics (Crashlytics), and push notifications (Cloud Messaging)
• Google Maps / Places: Location services, mapping, and place details
• Stripe: Payment processing for business customers (we do not store credit card numbers)
• SendGrid: Email delivery for transactional and notification emails
• Expo: Mobile app build, distribution, and push notification delivery

These services may collect information according to their own privacy policies. We encourage you to review their policies:

• Google Privacy Policy
• Stripe Privacy Policy
• SendGrid Privacy Policy
• Expo Privacy Policy

5. Cookies and Tracking

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies for:

• Maintaining your session when logged into the admin portal
• Remembering your preferences
• Understanding how you use the website

You can control cookie settings through your browser. Disabling cookies may affect some features of the admin portal.

No tracking or advertising. We do not use your information for cross-app tracking, and we do not sell or share your personal information for advertising. The app contains no third-party advertising or tracking SDKs. "Community Partner" placements shown in the app are our own listings — they are not powered by third-party ad networks and do not track you across other apps or websites.

6. Data Retention

We retain information for as long as necessary to provide the Service and fulfill the purposes described in this policy:

• App Analytics Data: Retained in aggregate form for up to 24 months
• Admin Audit Logs: Retained indefinitely for security and compliance purposes
• Admin Account Information: Retained while the account is active; deleted within 30 days of account closure
• Business Customer Data: Retained while the customer relationship is active and for 7 years thereafter for tax and legal compliance
• Billing Records: Retained for 7 years as required by tax regulations
• Contact Form Submissions: Retained for up to 24 months or until the inquiry is resolved
• Email Communications: Retained for up to 36 months for customer support purposes

Local data (favorites, preferences) stored on your device remains under your control and can be deleted by uninstalling the app or clearing app data.

7. Data Security

We implement reasonable security measures to protect your information, including:

• Secure HTTPS connections
• Authentication and access controls for admin functions
• Regular security reviews

However, no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your data.

8. Children's Privacy

The Service is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such information, please contact us immediately so we can delete it.

9. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your information:

• Access: Request a copy of information we hold about you
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your information (subject to legal retention requirements)
• Portability: Request your data in a portable format
• Opt-Out: Opt out of certain data collection (e.g., location services, marketing emails)

How to Request Account & Data Deletion

You can request deletion of your account and personal data in any of these ways:

• In the app: open More → Privacy & Data → Delete Account & Data.
• On the web: visit our account deletion page and submit the request form.
• By email: write to [email protected] with the subject "Account Deletion Request" and the email address associated with your account.

If you only browse the app, you do not have an account — your saved favorites live solely on your device, and uninstalling the app removes them.

What happens: we verify the request and process it within 30 days. We delete your account login and personal identifiers (name, email, phone, contact details). Financial records such as invoices are retained only as long as required by tax and accounting law, with personal identifiers removed (anonymized). We will inform you of any such limitations.

California Residents (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

• Right to know what personal information is collected, used, shared, or sold
• Right to delete personal information held by businesses
• Right to opt-out of the sale of personal information (Note: We do not sell personal information)
• Right to non-discrimination for exercising your CCPA rights

To exercise your CCPA rights, contact us at [email protected].

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 on this page
• Updating the "Last Updated" date
• For admin users, requiring re-acceptance of terms if changes are material

Your continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

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