Effective Date: June 26, 2025
This Privacy Policy describes how Makutano ("we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, and shares information in connection with your use of our mobile application (the "App").
1. Introduction
Welcome to Makutano. We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your data in an open and transparent manner. This policy outlines our practices concerning the information we collect from you or that you may provide when you use our App and our practices for collecting, using, maintaining, protecting, and disclosing that information.
2. Information We Collect
We collect several types of information from and about users of our App, including:
A. Information You Provide to Us Directly:
Account Information: When you register for an account, we may collect your name, email address, phone number, and a unique user ID (provided by Firebase Authentication).
Ad Content: When you post an ad, you provide us with detailed information, which includes:
Ad Details: Title, description, price, primary category, and sub-category.
Location Data: Region, District, Ward, Village, and a specific address or notable landmark.
Item Specifics: For vehicles (make, model, year, mileage, etc.) and for properties (bedrooms, bathrooms, plot size, etc.).
Media: Photographs that you upload from your device and links to videos (e.g., YouTube).
Contact Information: As part of an ad, you provide contact details such as your name (ownerName or brokerName) and phone number (ownerPhone or brokerPhone). You may also provide a broker license number.
Transaction Information: When you choose to pay for a promoted ad, you provide a phone number for payment processing through our third-party payment gateway (AzamPay). We process transaction details such as the transaction ID, amount, and status, but we do not collect or store sensitive payment information like your mobile money PIN.
B. Information We Collect Automatically:
Usage Details: We may automatically collect certain details of your access to and use of the App, including traffic data, location data (if enabled), logs, and other communication data and the resources that you access and use on or through the App.1
Device Information: We may collect information about your mobile device and internet connection, including the device'2s unique identifier, IP address, operating system, and mobile network information.
3. How We Use Your Information
We use the information that we collect about you or that you provide to us for the following purposes:
To Provide Our Services: To present our App and its contents to you, allow you to create and manage your account, post and manage ads, and connect you with potential buyers.
To Display Your Ads: Your ad content, including your provided name, phone number, location, and photos, will be displayed publicly within the App for other users to see.
To Process Transactions: To process your payments for ad promotions through our third-party payment gateway.
To Communicate With You: To notify you about your ad status, payment confirmations, or changes to our services.
For Security and Fraud Prevention: To monitor for and prevent fraudulent activity and to enforce our terms of service.
To Improve Our App: To understand how our users interact with the App so we can improve the user experience and develop new features.
4. How We Share Your Information
We do not sell your personal information. We may disclose personal information that we collect or you provide as described in this privacy policy:
To Other Users (Publicly): The core function of our App is to connect people. Therefore, information you include in your ad listings (such as your name, phone number, location, and photos) will be visible to other users of the App.
To Service Providers: We share information with third-party service providers that help us operate our App. These include:
Firebase (Google): For database hosting (Firestore), file storage (Firebase Storage), user authentication, and backend logic (Cloud Functions).
AzamPay: For processing payments for ad promotions. Their use of your information is governed by their own privacy policy.
For Legal Reasons: We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to comply with legal obligations, protect and defend our rights or property, or prevent fraud.
5. Data Security & Retention
We use industry-standard security measures, including those provided by Google Cloud Platform and Firebase, to protect your information from accidental loss and from unauthorized access, use, alteration, and disclosure.
We will retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you services, comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements.
6. Your Rights and Choices
You have rights regarding your personal information under applicable law, including the Tanzanian Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA). These rights include:
Access and Correction: You can review and change your personal information by logging into the App and visiting your account profile screen or by editing your ads.
Deletion: You can delete your ads at any time through the "My Ads" screen. You may also request the deletion of your entire account by contacting us.
7. Children's Privacy
Our App is not intended for children under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If we learn we have collected or received personal information from a child under 18 without verification of parental consent, we will delete that information.
8. Changes to Our Privacy Policy
We may update our privacy policy from time to time. If we make material changes to how we treat our users' personal information, we will notify you through a notice in the App. The date the privacy policy was last revised is identified at the top of the page.
9. Contact Information
To ask questions or comment about this privacy policy and our privacy practices, please contact us at:
pastory56@gmail.com
Here is a comprehensive CSAE policy template tailored for your app, "Makutano".
Effective Date: June 27, 2025
1. Our Unwavering Commitment
[Your Company Name/App Name, e.g., Makutano] has a zero-tolerance policy for any content or user activity that facilitates, depicts, or promotes Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (CSAE). Protecting children is our highest priority, and we are committed to maintaining a safe platform for all our users. Any user found to be creating, sharing, or engaging with CSAE material will be permanently banned, and the content and user details will be reported to the appropriate law enforcement authorities.
2. Scope and Definition of CSAE
This policy strictly prohibits any content that depicts or describes the sexual abuse or exploitation of individuals who are, or appear to be, under the age of 18. This includes, but is not limited to:
Photographs, videos, illustrations, or audio depicting child nudity in a sexual context.
Content that sexually solicits or endangers a minor.
Content that promotes or glorifies pedophilia.
Any content that facilitates child trafficking or any form of harm to children.
3. Prohibited Activities
Users of the Makutano app are strictly prohibited from uploading, posting, sharing, or linking to any CSAE material. Attempting to use our platform to find or distribute such material will result in immediate and permanent termination of your account.
4. Moderation and Enforcement
We employ a combination of measures to detect and remove CSAE content from our platform:
User Reporting: We provide clear mechanisms within the app for users to report suspicious content or user behavior.
Content Review: We will investigate all reports of potential CSAE content promptly.
Account Termination: Any account verified to be involved in the creation or distribution of CSAE material will be permanently terminated without warning.
5. How to Report CSAE Content
If you encounter any content or user on Makutano that you suspect is related to child sexual abuse or exploitation, please report it immediately.
In-App Reporting: Use the "Report Ad" or "Report User" feature within the app (You will need to build this feature).
Email: Send a detailed report to our dedicated safety team at safety@makutano.app (or another dedicated email you create). Please include any relevant information, such as screenshots, the title of the ad, and the username of the poster.
6. Cooperation with Law Enforcement
We are legally and morally obligated to report all credible instances of CSAE material to the relevant authorities. This includes:
Reporting to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).
Reporting to the appropriate Tanzanian law enforcement agencies (e.g., the Tanzania Police Force).
We will preserve all evidence related to the content and the offending account to assist in their investigations.
7. Contact Us
For any questions regarding this policy, please contact us at support@makutano.app. For reporting violations, please use the methods outlined in Section 5.