Nearby Folk Privacy Policy
Overview
This Privacy Policy explains how Nearby Folk ("we", "us", "our") collects, uses, stores, and protects your personal information when you use the Nearby Folk mobile application (the "App") and related services (collectively, the "Service").
By using the Service, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy.
1. Who We Are
Nearby Folk is a nearby social discovery application made for users in India. For any privacy-related questions, contact us at support@nearbyfolk.com.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Account and Profile Information
- Email address, used to create and secure your account, sign you in, and authenticate your access through Firebase Authentication.
- Display name, username, age, gender, bio, and interests.
- Profile photo and any other media you choose to upload.
2.2 Location Information
Nearby Folk uses approximate device location to power nearby discovery features such as the Nearby radar. We do not display your exact GPS coordinates or exact live location to other users. Other users may only see approximate distance ranges such as ‘within 300 m’, ‘within 1 km’, or ‘within 2 km’.
We access your location only when you grant permission through your device settings. You can disable location access at any time from your device settings.
You may also enable Ghost Mode, where available, to stop appearing on the Nearby radar.
2.3 Permissions
The App may request permissions such as location, camera, photos/media, microphone, and notifications depending on the features you use. You can manage these permissions from your device settings.
2.4 User-Generated Content and Visibility
We collect content you create or share through the Service, including chat messages, friend requests, voice room participation, community posts, Spaces or Stories, comments, reactions, and media you upload.
Some information you choose to share, such as your display name, profile photo, bio, interests, posts, comments, reactions, and participation in public or community features, may be visible to other users depending on the feature.
2.5 Device and Technical Data
- Device model, operating system version, app version, language, and time zone.
- App analytics events, such as screens viewed and features used.
- Crash logs and diagnostic information.
- Push notification tokens through Firebase Cloud Messaging.
2.6 Safety Data
We collect reports you submit, blocks you make, and moderation actions taken on your account so we can protect the Service and its users.
3. How We Use Your Information
- To provide core features, including authentication, nearby discovery, chat, voice rooms, communities, Spaces, and friend requests.
- To compute approximate proximity for the Nearby radar.
- To send service-related and safety-related notifications.
- To detect, prevent, and respond to abuse, harassment, security incidents, and platform misuse.
- To improve the App through analytics, crash diagnostics, and product quality insights.
- To comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms.
4. Third-Party Services
We rely on service providers to operate the App, including:
- Firebase by Google for authentication, Firestore database, Cloud Functions, Cloud Messaging, Crashlytics, Analytics, and Storage.
- Google Play Services or Maps geocoding for location functionality on Android.
- Other infrastructure or moderation providers needed to keep the platform reliable and safe.
Each provider has its own privacy practices, and your data is processed under their applicable terms.
5. Sharing of Information
We do not sell your personal information, share it for cross-context behavioral advertising, or show targeted advertising. We share data only:
- With other users to the extent you choose, such as profile details, posts, or presence in voice rooms.
- With service providers strictly to operate and protect the Service.
- To comply with applicable law, a court order, or to protect the rights, safety, and integrity of the Service or its users.
6. Data Retention
We retain your account data while your account is active. If you delete your account, your account enters a 45-day deletion grace window. During this period, your account is disabled and scheduled for deletion.
After 45 days, we delete or anonymize personal data except where retention is required by law or needed to enforce safety measures, such as records of abuse or bans.
7. Your Rights and Controls
- Edit your profile, photos, and bio at any time.
- Toggle location, push notifications, and Ghost Mode, where available, from Settings.
- Block or report any user, message, or post.
- Request account deletion from in-app Settings. For the full process, see our Account Deletion page or email support@nearbyfolk.com.
8. Security
We use reasonable technical and organizational measures to help protect your information, including encrypted data transmission (HTTPS/TLS), Firebase security rules, access controls, and monitoring or audit logs where appropriate.
However, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure. While we work to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
9. Children and Younger Users
Nearby Folk is open to users aged 16 and above. We rely on user-declared age at signup. We do not sell or share personal data with third parties, and we do not show targeted advertising.
If you believe a user under 16 has registered, or if you are a parent who wants to remove a child's account, contact support@nearbyfolk.com. We will delete the account within 7 days. For users aged 16-17, all data is processed solely to provide the Service, with the same protections as adult users.
10. Distribution of the App
Nearby Folk is currently distributed through official app stores, including the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Users should only download or install Nearby Folk from official sources. We are not responsible for modified, repackaged, unofficial, or third-party versions of the App.
If you download Nearby Folk from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, your use of the App may also be subject to the applicable store’s terms, policies, and billing rules.
11. International Users
The Service is operated primarily for users in India. By using the Service, you consent to the processing of your information in India and other jurisdictions where our service providers operate.
12. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be communicated in-app or through the website. Continued use of the Service after such changes means you acknowledge the updated Privacy Policy.
13. Contact
Questions, concerns, or data deletion requests can be sent to support@nearbyfolk.com.