Privacy Policy — SheGuidesMe

Last Updated: July 23, 2026

1. Introduction

Welcome to SheGuidesMe ("we," "us," "our," or the "Platform"). SheGuidesMe is a platform that connects travelers with local guides. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share, and protect your personal information when you use our website, mobile application, and related services (collectively, the "Service").

This policy applies to all users of the Service, including travelers and guides. By creating an account, accessing, or using the Service, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy and agree to the collection and use of your information as described here. If you do not agree with this policy, please do not use the Service.

This Privacy Policy should be read together with our Terms of Service.

2. Information We Collect

We collect the following categories of information:

2.1 Account Information

When you register, we collect information such as your full name, age/date of birth, gender, email address, phone number, city/location, profile photo(s), and a personal bio or description of your interests or guiding specialties.

2.2 Verification Data

To help maintain trust and safety on the Platform, we may collect government-issued ID documents or other verification materials (for example, to verify guides' identities or credentials). This data is used solely for verification purposes and is stored securely with restricted access.

2.3 Location Data

We collect your city or district to enable guide discovery and matching. With your explicit permission, we may also collect precise GPS location data to improve matching accuracy or enable location-based features. Location permissions can be adjusted or revoked at any time through your device settings.

2.4 Communications Data

We collect the content of chat messages exchanged through the Platform to facilitate communication between travelers and guides. For voice or video calls initiated through the Platform, we collect call metadata (such as time, duration, and participants) but do not record or store call audio/video content.

2.5 Payment Data

Payments are processed through third-party payment providers, including Stripe, eSewa, and Khalti. SheGuidesMe does not collect or store your full card numbers, CVV, or other sensitive payment credentials. We may retain limited transaction records (such as amount, date, and status) for accounting and dispute-resolution purposes.

2.6 Device Information

We collect technical information about the device you use to access the Service, including operating system, device model, unique push notification identifiers (via OneSignal), and IP address.

2.7 Usage Data

We collect information about how you interact with the Service, including pages or screens viewed, features used, search queries, and general interaction patterns, to help us understand and improve the Platform.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Create, manage, and authenticate your account

• Match travelers with suitable guides based on location, interests, and preferences

• Facilitate in-app chat, calls, and booking arrangements between users

• Process payments and transactions through our payment partners

• Send transactional and promotional notifications

• Monitor, maintain, and improve the functionality, safety, and performance of the Platform

• Detect, investigate, and prevent fraud, abuse, or violations of our Terms of Service

• Comply with applicable legal obligations, including tax and financial recordkeeping requirements

4. How We Share Your Information

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

4.1 With Other Users

Certain profile information (such as your name, photo, bio, city, and guide/traveler status) is visible to other users of the Platform to facilitate matching and connection.

4.2 With Service Providers

We share information with trusted third parties who perform services on our behalf, including:

• Payment processors (Stripe, eSewa, Khalti) for transaction processing

• Cloud hosting providers for data storage and infrastructure

• Push notification services (OneSignal) for delivering alerts

• Analytics providers to help us understand usage patterns

These providers are contractually obligated to use your information only to provide services to us and in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

4.3 With Legal Authorities

We may disclose your information if required to do so by law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request, or where we believe disclosure is necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of SheGuidesMe, our users, or the public.

4.4 Business Transfers

If SheGuidesMe is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any such change and any choices you may have.

5. Data Security

We take reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your information, including:

• Encryption of data in transit using HTTPS and secure WebSocket (WSS) protocols

• Token-based authentication (Django REST Framework tokens) stored securely on your device

• Access controls limiting who within our organization can view sensitive data (such as verification documents)

• Regular review of our security practices in line with industry standards

While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Data Retention

• Active accounts: We retain your account data for as long as your account remains active.

• Account deletion: If you close your account, we will delete or anonymize your personal information within a reasonable period, except where retention is required for legal, financial, or dispute-resolution purposes.

• Financial records: Transaction and payment-related records may be retained for a longer period as required by applicable tax, accounting, or financial regulations.

• Verification documents: ID and verification data are retained only as long as necessary for verification and safety purposes, after which they are securely deleted.

7. Your Rights

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

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

• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data

• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal data, subject to legal exceptions

• Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for optional data processing (such as GPS location tracking) at any time

• Data Portability: Request an export of your data in a portable format

• Lodge a Complaint: If you are located in the EU/EEA or California, you have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority (under GDPR) or exercise rights available under the CCPA

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details in Section 12.

8. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience:

• Session cookies: Required for core functionality, such as keeping you logged in

• Preference cookies: Remember your settings and preferences

• Analytics cookies: Help us understand usage patterns and improve the Platform

You can manage or disable cookies through your browser or device settings. Note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of the Service.

9. Third-Party Services

The Platform integrates with the following third-party services, each governed by its own privacy policy:

• Google Sign-In: for account authentication

• OneSignal: for push notifications

• Stripe, eSewa, Khalti: for payment processing

• Cloud hosting and analytics providers: for infrastructure and usage insights

We encourage you to review the privacy policies of these third parties to understand how they handle your information.

10. Children's Privacy

SheGuidesMe is intended for use only by individuals aged 18 and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If we become aware that we have collected information from a minor, we will take steps to delete such information promptly. If you believe a minor has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.

11. Policy Updates

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify users of material changes through the app, email, or a notice on our website. The "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy indicates when it was last revised. Continued use of the Service after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

12. Contact Information

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal information, please contact us at:

Email: privacy@sheguidesme.com Address: [Insert physical/business address]

This Privacy Policy is provided as a general template and should be reviewed by a qualified legal professional to ensure compliance with applicable laws in the jurisdictions where SheGuidesMe operates (e.g., GDPR, CCPA, Nepal's data protection regulations).