Privacy Policy

Information we collect

We keep data collection to what we need to run the app:

• Account: your phone number (used for sign-in via one-time code) and an optional display name, username and profile photo.
• Your activity: places you save, mark as visited, lists you create, and reviews or photos you post.
• Location: your approximate or precise location, only when you grant permission, to show nearby places.
• Device & usage: basic technical data (device type, app version, crash and performance logs) to keep the app reliable.

How we use your information

We use your information to:

• Sign you in and keep your account secure.
• Power discovery — nearby places, search, and personalised recommendations from Ask chowdr.
• Show your reviews and activity to others when you choose to post publicly.
• Send notifications you've opted into (new places, friend activity, account updates).
• Detect abuse, moderate content, and improve the product.

Content moderation

Posts and photos may be screened by automated moderation (including AI safety checks) before they appear, and can be reported by other users. We may remove content that breaks our Terms.

How we share information

We do not sell your personal data. We share limited data with service providers who help us operate the app (for example, cloud hosting, SMS/OTP delivery, image storage and AI processing), under agreements that limit their use of it. We may disclose information where required by law.

Places data

Information about restaurants, bars and other venues comes from public sources such as the Google Places API and is enriched for chowdr. It describes businesses, not you.

Data retention

We keep your data while your account is active. If you delete your account, we remove or anonymise your personal data within a reasonable period, except where we must retain it for legal or security reasons.

Your choices and rights

You can:

• Edit your profile, privacy setting (public/private) and notification preferences in the app.
• Delete your posts, or delete your account at any time.
• Revoke location or notification permissions from your device settings.
• Request a copy of your data or ask us to delete it by contacting us.

Security

We use industry-standard measures to protect your data in transit and at rest. No system is perfectly secure, but we work to keep your information safe.

Children

chowdr is not intended for anyone under 13 (or the minimum age in your country). We do not knowingly collect data from children.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy as the product evolves. We'll revise the date above and, for material changes, notify you in the app.

Contact

Questions about this page? Email us at hello@chowdr.club.