Privacy Policy

Effective Date: March 19, 2025

Introduction

Welcome to CitySync. We are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and what rights you have in relation to it. Please read this carefully before using our app.

CitySync connects local businesses with nearby users. We serve two types of users — Normal Users and Business Users — and the data we collect differs based on your account type.

1. Information We Collect

For Normal Users

If you sign up as a Normal User, we collect minimal data:

• Account Information: Your name, email address, and profile picture, collected when you sign in via Google or email/password.

• Authentication Tokens: Secure tokens used to keep you logged in and protect your session.

• App Usage Data: Basic, anonymised data about how you interact with the app to help us improve it.

• Device Information: Device type, operating system, and app version for compatibility purposes.

We do not collect or store your precise location at any time as a Normal User.

For Business Users

Business Users register their business so Normal Users can discover them. We collect:

• Account Information: Business owner's name, email address, and phone number.

• Business Profile: Business name, category, description, and contact details.

• Business Location: The precise geographic location (latitude & longitude) of your business premises. This is displayed publicly so Normal Users can find and navigate to you.

• Operating Hours: Opening and closing times, including any special or holiday hours you provide.

• Business Images: Photos of your business, products, interior, or exterior that you upload.

• Services & Promotions: Details of services and any promotional content (deals, discounts, events) you choose to publish.

• Authentication Tokens: Secure tokens to manage your business account session.

• Device & Usage Information: Device type, OS, app version, and basic usage analytics.

2. How We Use Your Information

For Normal Users:

• To create and manage your account

• To allow you to search for and discover local businesses

• To authenticate your identity securely

• To improve app performance and user experience

For Business Users:

• To create, verify, and manage your business profile

• To display your location, hours, images, services, and promotions to Normal Users

• To allow Normal Users to locate and navigate to your business

• To notify you of important account updates or service changes

• To improve the platform and measure listing effectiveness

3. Publicly Visible Information

Business Users should be aware that the following is displayed publicly to all Normal Users within CitySync:

• Business name, description, and category

• Business location (shown on map)

• Opening and closing hours

• Business images, services, and active promotions

• Contact details (if you choose to add them)

Please do not publish any information in your business profile that you do not wish to be publicly visible.

4. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal data to third parties. We may share information only in these limited circumstances:

• Service Providers: Trusted third-party vendors who help us operate our infrastructure (e.g., cloud hosting, analytics). They are contractually obligated to protect your data.

• Google Sign-In: If you use Google OAuth to log in, Google's own privacy policy governs data handled by their authentication service.

• Legal Obligations: We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or government authority.

• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger or acquisition, your data may be transferred. We will notify you of any such change.

5. Data Retention

• Normal User account data is retained until you delete your account.

• Business User profile data (including location) is retained until you deactivate or delete your listing.

• Business images and uploaded media are deleted within 30 days of account deletion.

• Anonymised, aggregated usage data may be retained indefinitely for analytics.

6. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures including:

• Encryption of data in transit using HTTPS/TLS

• Secure password storage using industry-standard hashing

• Access controls limiting who can access personal data internally

• Regular security reviews of our infrastructure

No method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your data, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Your Rights

You have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Access: Request a copy of the data we hold about you.

• Correction: Update or correct inaccurate information via account settings or by contacting us.

• Deletion: Request deletion of your account and associated data at any time.

• Withdrawal of Consent: Withdraw consent for optional data processing at any time.

• Objection: Object to certain types of processing, such as marketing communications.

8. Children's Privacy

CitySync is not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with their data, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.

9. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will notify you through the app or by email before the change takes effect. Continued use of CitySync after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy, please contact us:

App: CitySync Email: citysync1100@gmail.com