At Nearfo, your privacy is our priority. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information when you use our application. We are committed to transparency and compliance with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP Act), 2023 of India and other applicable data protection laws.
1. Information We Collect
1.1 Information You Provide
| Data Type | Details | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Account Info | Name, email, phone number, profile photo | Account creation & identification |
| Profile Data | Bio, avatar, display name | Profile customization |
| User Content | Posts, comments, likes, messages | App functionality |
| Communications | Chat messages, feedback, reports | Service delivery & safety |
1.2 Information Collected Automatically
| Data Type | Details | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Location Data | GPS coordinates (with your permission) | Hyperlocal feed & nearby discovery |
| Device Info | Device model, OS version, app version | Compatibility & bug fixing |
| Usage Data | Features used, time spent, interactions | App improvement & analytics |
| Log Data | IP address, access times, error logs | Security & troubleshooting |
1.3 Information from Third Parties
When you sign in via Google, we receive your name, email, and profile picture from Google as permitted by your Google account settings. We do not access your Google contacts, calendar, or other Google services.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use your information for the following purposes:
- Core App Functionality: To provide the hyperlocal feed (80% local, 20% global), nearby user discovery, chat messaging, and all App features
- Personalization: To customize your experience based on your location, preferences, and usage patterns
- Safety & Security: To detect and prevent fraud, abuse, spam, and violations of our Terms & Conditions
- Content Moderation: To review reported content and enforce community guidelines
- Communication: To send push notifications (likes, comments, follows, messages) and important service updates
- Analytics: To understand how users interact with the App and improve our services
- Advertising: To display relevant advertisements through Google AdMob (we do not sell your personal data to advertisers)
- Legal Compliance: To comply with legal obligations, respond to lawful requests, and protect our rights
3. How We Share Your Information
We do NOT sell your personal data. Period.
We may share your information only in the following circumstances:
3.1 With Other Users
Your public profile information (display name, avatar, bio, approximate location at city/area level) and your posts are visible to other Nearfo users. Chat messages are only visible to the participants of that conversation.
3.2 With Service Providers
We share data with trusted third-party service providers who help us operate the App:
- Google Firebase: Authentication (Phone OTP, Google Sign-In), push notifications (FCM)
- Amazon Web Services (AWS): Cloud infrastructure (EC2, S3 for media storage), hosted in Mumbai (ap-south-1) region
- MongoDB Atlas: Database hosting for user data and content
- Google AdMob: Advertising services (subject to Google's privacy policy)
3.3 For Legal Reasons
We may disclose your information if required to do so by law, regulation, or valid legal process, or if we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, your safety, or the safety of others.
4. Location Data â Special Considerations
Location data is central to Nearfo's functionality. Here's how we handle it:
- Collection: We collect GPS coordinates only when you grant location permission through your device
- Display: Only your city/area-level location is shown to other users â never your exact GPS coordinates
- Algorithm: Your coordinates are used server-side to calculate the 200km radius for the local feed
- Storage: Location data is stored securely on our servers (AWS Mumbai region) and encrypted in transit
- Control: You can revoke location permission at any time through your device settings; however, this will disable the local discovery features
5. Data Storage & Security
We take the security of your data seriously:
- Encryption: All data is encrypted in transit using TLS/SSL (HTTPS). Sensitive data is encrypted at rest
- Infrastructure: Your data is stored on AWS servers in the Mumbai (ap-south-1) region, ensuring data stays within India
- Access Control: Strict role-based access controls limit who can access user data within our team
- Authentication: Firebase Authentication with secure token-based (JWT) session management
- Monitoring: Continuous security monitoring for unauthorized access, DDoS protection, and vulnerability detection
- Backups: Regular encrypted backups to prevent data loss
6. Data Retention
We retain your data as follows:
- Account Data: Retained for as long as your account is active
- User Content: Retained until you delete it or delete your account
- Chat Messages: Retained until deleted by participants or account deletion
- Location Data: Current location is updated in real-time; historical location data is not retained
- Log Data: Retained for up to 90 days for security and troubleshooting purposes
- Deleted Accounts: After account deletion, we may retain anonymized data for analytics. Personally identifiable data is deleted within 30 days
7. Your Rights
Under the DPDP Act, 2023 and applicable laws, you have the following rights:
- Right to Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
- Right to Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data
- Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your personal data (subject to legal retention requirements)
- Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for data processing at any time (may affect App functionality)
- Right to Grievance Redressal: File a complaint with us or the relevant data protection authority
- Right to Nominate: Nominate another person to exercise your rights in case of death or incapacity
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at er.akashsmorey@gmail.com. We will respond within 30 days.
8. Children's Privacy
Nearfo is not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 13. If we discover that a child under 13 has created an account, we will promptly delete the account and associated data. If you believe a child under 13 is using Nearfo, please contact us immediately.
9. Cookies & Tracking
The Nearfo mobile app does not use browser cookies. However, our website (nearfo.com) may use essential cookies for basic functionality. Third-party services integrated into the App (such as Google AdMob and Firebase) may use their own tracking technologies subject to their respective privacy policies.
10. Advertising
Nearfo displays advertisements through Google AdMob. AdMob may collect and use certain data (such as advertising ID, device information, and general location) to serve relevant ads. You can opt out of personalized advertising through your device's advertising settings. We do not share your personal data directly with advertisers.
11. International Data Transfers
While our primary infrastructure is located in India (AWS Mumbai region), some of our third-party service providers (Google, AWS) may process data in other jurisdictions. These transfers are made in compliance with applicable data protection laws and subject to appropriate safeguards.
12. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technologies, or legal requirements. When we make material changes, we will:
- Update the "Last updated" date at the top of this policy
- Notify you through the App via push notification or in-app banner
- Request renewed consent where required by law
13. Grievance Officer
In compliance with the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the DPDP Act, 2023, the Grievance Officer for Nearfo is:
- Name: Akash Smorey
- Email: er.akashsmorey@gmail.com
- Address: Amravati, Maharashtra, India
- Response Time: Within 30 days of receiving a complaint
14. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please contact us:
- Email: er.akashsmorey@gmail.com
- Location: Amravati, Maharashtra, India
- In-App: Use the feedback/report feature
By using Nearfo, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy and consent to the collection, use, and processing of your information as described herein.