Privacy Policy

Last updated: November 17, 2024

Introduction

Bar Buddy ("we", "our", "us") provides a service to discover venue events, specials, and staff shifts. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have.

Information We Collect

  • Account information: Email address, phone number (optional), display name, and profile photo when you sign up.
  • Profile data: Bio, location, social links, and visibility settings that you choose to share.
  • Location data: Your precise location (only when you allow it) to provide nearby venue results, check-ins, and friend location features. Location is requested when you use location-based features, not automatically on page load.
  • Photos and content: Photos you upload for your profile, venue check-ins, or posts you create.
  • Social interactions: Your posts, comments, reactions, friend connections, venue check-ins, and event RSVPs.
  • Device information: Device type, operating system, browser type, and push notification tokens (if you enable notifications).
  • Usage analytics: Anonymous analytics data to help improve the service. We use Vercel Analytics and PostHog (see "Third-party services" below).

How We Use Information

We use the collected data to:

  • Provide and personalize the service (events, nearby venues, presence updates, social feed).
  • Enable social features (friend connections, check-ins, following bartenders).
  • Respect your privacy settings and filter data accordingly when serving content.
  • Send push notifications (if you enable them) about friend activity, events, and updates.
  • Improve the product through aggregated, anonymous analytics.
  • Send transactional emails for account verification and important updates.
  • Provide customer support and respond to inquiries.

We do not: Sell your personal data to third parties, use your data for targeted advertising, or track you across other apps and websites.

Location Data

Location data is requested only when you explicitly use a feature that needs it (for example, pressing a "Near me" button). We do not request geolocation automatically on page load. You can deny the browser prompt — the app will continue to work with a default location.

Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services to operate Bar Buddy:

  • Vercel: Hosting and web analytics
  • PostHog: Product analytics (anonymous usage data)
  • MongoDB Atlas: Database hosting
  • Cloudinary: Image hosting and optimization
  • Firebase: Push notifications for mobile apps
  • SendGrid: Email delivery
  • Google Maps: Location services and mapping

These providers may collect information according to their own privacy policies. We do not share your personal data with these providers beyond what is necessary to operate the service.

Data Storage and Security

Your data is stored securely on servers provided by MongoDB Atlas (U.S.-based). Images are stored on Cloudinary's CDN. We use industry-standard security measures including encryption in transit (HTTPS/TLS) and at rest, password hashing, and access controls.

While we take reasonable measures to protect your data, no internet transmission is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

Cookies & Tracking

The site uses cookies and similar technologies for essential functionality and analytics. We do not serve targeted advertising from third parties from the app itself (unless you opt in via a future setting).

Your Rights and Choices

You have the following rights regarding your personal data:

  • Access: Request a copy of the personal data we have about you
  • Correction: Update or correct inaccurate information in your profile settings
  • Deletion: Request deletion of your account and associated data (contact us at support@barbuddy.app)
  • Data portability: Request a machine-readable copy of your data
  • Opt-out of notifications: Disable push notifications in your device settings or app preferences
  • Location sharing: Disable location access via your browser or device settings at any time
  • Visibility controls: Adjust what information is visible to other users in your privacy settings

To exercise these rights, contact us at support@barbuddy.appor use the privacy controls in your account settings.

Data Retention

We retain your personal data for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account, we will delete your personal data within 30 days, except where we are required to retain certain information for legal compliance (e.g., financial records, moderation logs).

Anonymous analytics data may be retained indefinitely for service improvement.

Children's Privacy

Bar Buddy is intended for adults aged 21 and over due to alcohol-related content. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13 (or 16 in the EU). If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, please contact us immediately at support@barbuddy.app and we will delete it.

International Users

Bar Buddy is operated from the United States and primarily serves users in the Detroit, Michigan area. If you access the service from outside the U.S., your data will be transferred to and stored in the United States. By using Bar Buddy, you consent to this transfer.

California Privacy Rights

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

  • Right to know what personal information we collect and how it's used
  • Right to delete personal information (subject to legal exceptions)
  • Right to opt-out of sale of personal information (we do not sell your data)
  • Right to non-discrimination for exercising your rights

To exercise these rights, email support@barbuddy.app.

Data Deletion Instructions

You can request deletion of your Bar Buddy account and associated personal data at any time.

  • Email us at support@barbuddy.app from the email address linked to your account with the subject "Data Deletion Request".
  • Include your full name and a clear statement that you would like to permanently delete your account and data.
  • We will confirm your request and delete your personal data within 30 days, except where retention is required by law (e.g., fraud prevention, legal compliance).

Note: Deletion is permanent and cannot be undone. Some aggregated, non-identifiable analytics may be retained.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by posting the new policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date. For significant changes, we may also send an email notification. Your continued use of Bar Buddy after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

Contact Us

For privacy inquiries, questions about this policy, or to exercise your privacy rights, contact us at:

Email: support@barbuddy.app
Website: www.barbuddy.app/support