Privacy Policy

Introduction

Hidden Eats ("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 website (collectively, the "Service").

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. By using the Service, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

Information We Collect

User Profile Information

When you create an account or profile on Hidden Eats, we collect:

• Username: The display name you choose for your public profile
• Profile Picture: Any photo or image you upload to represent yourself on the platform
• Email Address: Used for account authentication, recovery, and communications
• Account Preferences: Your notification settings and app preferences

Your username and profile picture are publicly visible to other users when you submit reviews or interact with the community.

Location Data

We collect location information to provide you with location-based services. This includes:

• Precise Location (GPS): With your explicit consent, we collect your device's precise geographic location. This is used for:
  • Map Tab: To show nearby restaurants and spots on the map relative to your current location
  • Date Night Feature: To find and recommend date spots within your preferred distance range
  • Adding Spots: To accurately place new spots you add to the community
  • Nearby Recommendations: To sort and filter spots by distance from you
• Zip Code / Postal Code: We collect and store your zip code to provide localized content, restaurant recommendations in your area, and community-specific features. You may be asked to enter your zip code during account setup or when using certain features.
• General Location: We may infer your general location (city or region) from your IP address for basic service functionality when precise location is not enabled.

How to Control Location Data: You can disable location services through your device settings at any time. If you disable precise location, some features may be limited, but you can still use the app by manually entering your zip code or city.

User-Generated Content

We collect content you voluntarily submit, including:

• Spots and Recommendations: Restaurants, cafes, bars, and other local spots you add or recommend to the community
• Reviews and Ratings: Written reviews and star ratings you provide for restaurants and local spots
• Photos: Images you upload with your reviews or spot submissions
• Votes: Upvotes, downvotes, or other voting interactions you make on reviews, spots, or recommendations
• Reports: Content reports you submit regarding inappropriate reviews, inaccurate spot information, or policy violations
• Lists and Collections: Saved lists, favorites, and collections you create
• Comments: Interactions and replies on other users' content

All user-generated content is associated with your profile and may be publicly visible to other users. You can delete your own content at any time through the app.

Usage Data

We automatically collect certain information when you access and use the Service, including your device type, operating system, unique device identifiers, IP address, browser type, app version, and usage patterns within the app.

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide, maintain, and improve our Service
• Display nearby restaurants and local spots based on your location or zip code
• Personalize your experience and deliver relevant content and recommendations
• Process and display your reviews, ratings, and profile information
• Enable community features and user interactions
• Send you updates, notifications, and promotional communications (with your consent)
• Respond to your comments, questions, and requests
• Monitor and analyze usage trends to improve user experience
• Detect, prevent, and address technical issues, fraud, and security concerns

Third-Party Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information in the following limited circumstances:

• Public Profile and Reviews: Your username, profile picture, reviews, ratings, and any content you post are publicly visible to other users of the Service. This is essential to our community-based platform.
• Service Providers: We share information with third-party vendors who assist us in operating the Service, such as cloud hosting providers, analytics services, and customer support tools. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the purposes we specify.
• Analytics Partners: We may share anonymized or aggregated data with analytics partners to help us understand usage patterns and improve our Service. This data cannot be used to identify you personally.
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or governmental request, or if we believe disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, your safety, or the safety of others.
• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, bankruptcy, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the acquiring entity. We will notify you of any such change.

Third-Party Services We Use: Our app may use third-party services including but not limited to cloud storage providers, authentication services, and mapping services. Each of these services has their own privacy policies governing how they handle data.

Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you with our Service. We also retain information as necessary to comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements.

• Account Data: Retained until you delete your account
• Location Data: Precise location data is used in real-time and not stored long-term; zip code is stored with your profile
• Reviews and Content: Retained until you delete them or delete your account
• Usage Data: Typically retained for up to 24 months for analytics purposes

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include encryption, secure servers, and access controls. However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Your Rights and Choices

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

Access and Portability

You have the right to request a copy of the personal information we hold about you. You can access most of your data directly through your account settings.

Correction

You can update or correct your profile information, including your username, profile picture, and zip code, at any time through the app settings.

Data Deletion Requests

You have the right to request deletion of your personal data. To request deletion:

• In-App: Go to Settings > Account > Delete Account to initiate account and data deletion
• Email: Send a deletion request to hiddeneatsapp1@gmail.com with the subject line "Data Deletion Request" and include your username or email address associated with your account

Upon receiving a valid deletion request, we will delete your account and personal information within 30 days. Please note:

• Some information may be retained for legal compliance, fraud prevention, or dispute resolution
• Anonymized or aggregated data that cannot identify you may be retained
• Content you posted publicly (reviews, comments) may remain visible but will be disassociated from your identity

Location Controls

You can control location data collection:

• Enable or disable precise location through your device settings
• Update or remove your zip code in your profile settings
• Choose "While Using" vs "Always" location permissions

Marketing Communications

You can opt out of marketing emails by clicking "unsubscribe" in any promotional email or adjusting your notification preferences in the app settings.

Children's Privacy

Our Service is not intended for children under the age of 13 (or 16 in certain jurisdictions). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately at hiddeneatsapp1@gmail.com. If we discover that we have collected personal information from a child without parental consent, we will delete that information promptly.

International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have data protection laws that differ from those in your country. By using our Service, you consent to the transfer of your information to these countries.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for legal, operational, or regulatory reasons. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page, updating the "Last updated" date, and where appropriate, sending you a notification through the app or email. Your continued use of the Service after any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, want to exercise your data rights, or have concerns about our privacy practices, please contact us at: