Privacy Policy

At Flânerie, we respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your data when you use our platform.

1. Information We Collect

We collect the following types of information:

• Account Information: Email address, username, and password (encrypted) when you create an account
• Content: Walking routes, event details, swarm information, and messages you create or send
• Location Data (Optional): GPS coordinates only when you use location-based features like check-ins (requires your explicit permission)
• Usage Data: Pages visited, features used, and interactions with the platform
• Device Information: Browser type, device type, and IP address for security purposes

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Provide and maintain the Flânerie platform
• Enable you to create and share routes, events, and swarms
• Facilitate internal messaging between users
• Verify check-ins at businesses (when GPS features are used)
• Improve our services and user experience
• Send important account-related notifications
• Prevent abuse, spam, and ensure platform safety

3. Data Storage and Security

Your data is stored securely using Google Firebase, which provides industry-standard encryption and security measures. We implement:

• Encrypted password storage
• Secure authentication systems
• Regular security updates and monitoring
• Access controls to protect your information

4. Data Sharing & Our Commitment

We never sell your personal information. Period. This is a core principle of Flânerie and will never change.

In the Event of Business Acquisition: If Flânerie is acquired by or merged with another company, your data may transfer to the new owner. However:

• You will be notified of any ownership change
• The acquiring company must honor this Privacy Policy
• You will have the option to delete your account before any transfer
• We will make every effort to ensure the acquiring company shares our commitment to user privacy

What We Do Share:

• Public Content: Routes, events, and swarms you create are visible to other users
• Username Visibility: Your username is visible when you create content or send messages
• Messages: Internal messages are private and only visible to you and the recipient

5. Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services:

• Firebase (Google): Authentication, database, and hosting
• Mapbox: Map display and location services
• Google AdSense (Optional): Advertisements may be displayed (you can opt out via browser settings)

These services have their own privacy policies. We recommend reviewing them:

• Firebase Privacy Policy
• Mapbox Privacy Policy
• Google Privacy Policy

6. Data Retention & Message Storage

Understanding Our Retention Policy: For your privacy AND for legal/safety purposes, we use a two-tier system:

What You See (User Privacy):

• Event/Swarm Messages: Automatically hidden from your dashboard after 30 days
• Direct Replies: Visible until you manually delete them
• You can manually delete messages at any time from your dashboard

What We Retain (Legal/Safety Requirements):

• All messages, activity logs, and account data are retained for 3 years from creation
• This includes messages you've deleted or that have been hidden
• Retained for legal compliance, safety investigations, and abuse prevention
• After 3 years, data is permanently deleted from our systems

Why 3 Years?

• Legal investigations may require historical records
• Protects both users and Flânerie from false claims
• Industry standard for safety and compliance
• Allows us to identify and prevent repeat abuse patterns

Special Cases:

• Banned Users: All data retained for 3 years minimum
• Reported Content: Retained for 3 years regardless of user actions
• Legal Hold: If required by law enforcement, we may retain data longer

6.1 Deleted Routes Retention

When you delete a route from your dashboard:

• Immediate: Route is hidden from public view and your dashboard
• 6-Month Retention: Deleted routes are kept in our database for 6 months
• After 6 Months: Routes are permanently deleted from our systems

Why Retain Deleted Routes?

• Allows recovery if you accidentally delete a route
• Helps investigate abuse or spam reports
• Shorter retention than messages (6 months vs 3 years) since routes are public content

If you need a deleted route removed immediately, contact us at [YOUR EMAIL HERE] with the route details.

7. Your Rights and Choices

You have the right to:

• Access Your Data: View all information associated with your account
• Delete Your Account: Contact us to permanently delete your account and associated data
• Opt Out of GPS Features: Simply don't use location-based features like check-ins
• Control Messages: Delete messages from your dashboard at any time
• Report Abuse: Use the report button if you receive inappropriate messages

Business Owners: Swarms and events are user-generated content. If you're a business owner and want your business removed from user-created swarms or events on the platform, please contact us at [YOUR EMAIL HERE] with the subject line "Business Removal Request" and include:

• Your business name and address
• Specific swarms/events you want removed
• Proof of business ownership (e.g., business license, official email)

We will review and respond to legitimate requests within 5-7 business days.

8. Cookies and Tracking

We use minimal cookies and local storage to:

• Keep you logged in
• Remember your preferences
• Prevent spam and abuse (rate limiting)

You can disable cookies in your browser settings, but some features may not work properly.

9. Children's Privacy

Flânerie is intended for users aged 13 and older. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has created an account, please contact us immediately.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date. Continued use of the platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your rights, please contact us at:

Email: [YOUR EMAIL HERE]

Subject Line: Privacy Inquiry - Flânerie

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