Privacy Policy
Effective Date: January 15, 2025 | Version 2.0
Your privacy is fundamental to our mission at Nichehood. This policy explains how we handle your data with transparency, security, and respect for your control over your personal information.
1. Information We Collect
1.1 Information You Provide
- •Account Information: Full name, email address, password (encrypted), date of birth for age verification
- •Profile Data: Profile photo, bio, interests (from our curated categories), preferred pronouns
- •Location Data: City-level location only (we never track precise GPS coordinates)
- •Communications: Messages within the platform, event RSVPs, community posts
1.2 Information Collected Automatically
- •Usage Analytics: Features used, time spent, interaction patterns (anonymized)
- •Device Information: Device type, operating system, app version, language preferences
- •Connection Data: IP address (for security only), login timestamps, session duration
1.3 Information We Don't Collect
- ✓We never access your contacts without explicit permission
- ✓We don't track your precise location or movement patterns
- ✓We don't collect financial information (payments processed by secure third parties)
2. How We Use Your Information
Core Functionality
- • Match you with nearby users who share your interests
- • Show relevant local events and meetups within your specified radius
- • Enable communication between matched users
- • Personalize your feed based on your interests and interactions
Safety & Security
- • Verify user authenticity and prevent fake accounts
- • Detect and prevent fraud, spam, and abuse
- • Enforce our Community Guidelines and Terms of Service
- • Respond to legal requests when required
Improvements & Analytics
- • Analyze usage patterns to improve features
- • Conduct research on community building (anonymized)
- • Test new features with opt-in beta groups
- • Generate aggregated insights about local community trends
3. Information Sharing & Visibility
3.1 Your Public Profile
Visible to other Nichehood users in your area:
- • First name and last initial
- • Profile photo
- • Selected interests
- • City (not precise location)
- • Bio (optional)
3.2 We Never Sell Your Data
Our Commitment:
- ✓ We will never sell, rent, or trade your personal information
- ✓ We don't share your data with advertisers
- ✓ We don't create shadow profiles for non-users
3.3 Limited Sharing Scenarios
We only share information when:
- •You explicitly consent: Such as when joining a public event
- •Service providers: Trusted partners who help operate our service (under strict NDAs)
- •Legal requirements: To comply with laws, court orders, or protect rights and safety
- •Business transfers: In case of merger or acquisition (with same privacy protections)
4. Data Security
Technical Measures
- • 256-bit SSL encryption for all data transfers
- • Encrypted data storage at rest
- • Regular security audits and penetration testing
- • Secure AWS infrastructure with redundancy
Operational Security
- • Limited employee access on need-to-know basis
- • Two-factor authentication for all internal systems
- • Regular security training for all staff
- • Incident response team and protocols
Security Tip: Enable two-factor authentication in your account settings for maximum protection.
5. Your Privacy Rights
You have the right to:
- Access: Request a copy of all your personal data
- Correct: Update or fix any inaccurate information
- Delete: Request deletion of your account and data
- Export: Receive your data in a portable format
- Restrict: Limit how we process your information
- Object: Opt-out of certain data uses
- Withdraw consent: Change permissions at any time
To exercise any of these rights, visit your Privacy Settings in the app or email privacy@nichehood.com
6. Data Retention
We retain your information only as long as necessary:
- •Active accounts: Data retained while account is active
- •Deleted accounts: Personal data deleted within 30 days (except where legally required)
- •Anonymized data: May be retained for analytics and research
- •Legal holds: Data preserved if required for legal proceedings
7. International Data Transfers
Nichehood operates globally. Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own. We ensure all transfers comply with applicable data protection laws and implement appropriate safeguards including:
- • Standard Contractual Clauses approved by regulatory authorities
- • Data Processing Agreements with all third-party processors
- • Adequacy decisions where applicable
8. Updates to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. When we make material changes:
- • We'll notify you via email and in-app notification
- • We'll provide at least 30 days notice before changes take effect
- • We'll maintain a version history for transparency
- • Your continued use after notice constitutes acceptance
9. Contact Us
Privacy Team
Email: privacy@nichehood.com
Data Protection Officer: dpo@nichehood.com
Mail: Nichehood, Inc.
Attn: Privacy Team
123 Community Way
San Francisco, CA 94105
Response time: We aim to respond to all privacy inquiries within 48 hours
This privacy policy is provided in English for clarity. Translations may be available upon request.