Privacy Policy | Live Social

Introduction

Live Social ("we," "our," or "us") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our Live Social mobile application and website (collectively, the "Service").

By using our Service, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

Information We Collect

Personal Information You Provide

When you create an account and use our Service, we collect information you voluntarily provide, including:

Account Information: Email address, username, password (encrypted), date of birth, first name, last name
Profile Information: Display name, profile photo, bio, interests, and preferences
Contact Information: Phone number (optional), contact list (with permission)
Event Information: Event titles, descriptions, locations, dates, and photos you create or share
Messages: Content of messages you send through our chat features, including text, images, and audio messages
Connection Stories: Information about how and where you met other users (optional)
Services Information: Skills, services, and professional information you choose to share
Payment Information: Payment method details processed securely through Stripe (we do not store full credit card numbers)

Information Automatically Collected

When you use our Service, we automatically collect certain information:

Usage Information: How you interact with the Service, features used, time spent, pages viewed
Device Information: Device type, operating system, unique device identifiers, device model
Location Information: Approximate location based on IP address or precise location (with permission), including background location for event discovery
Log Information: Access logs, IP addresses, browser type, pages visited, timestamps
Performance Data: App crashes, response times, technical diagnostics, error logs
Analytics Data: Anonymous usage patterns, feature adoption, user flows

Device Permissions We Request

To provide certain features, we request the following permissions:

Camera: To take photos for events and profile pictures
Photo Library: To select and upload photos from your device
Location Services: To show nearby events, enable location-based discovery, and provide location-based recommendations (including background location with your permission)
Contacts: To help you find friends who are already on Live Social (with your explicit permission)
Push Notifications: To send you notifications about events, messages, and important updates
Audio Recording: To enable audio messages in chat (with your permission)
Biometric Authentication: To enable fingerprint or face ID login for enhanced security (optional)

Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from third parties when you:

Import Contacts: With your permission, we access your contact list to help find friends
Payment Processing: Transaction information from payment processors like Stripe (we do not receive or store your full payment card details)
Social Login: If you use third-party authentication services (if implemented in the future)

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

Create and maintain your account
Enable event creation, discovery, and participation
Facilitate messaging and social connections
Process transactions and payments through Stripe
Provide customer support
Analyze usage patterns to improve functionality
Show relevant events and experiences based on your location and interests
Suggest friends and connections
Customize your feed and notifications
Provide location-based recommendations
Send push notifications for events, messages, and updates
Verify user identities and prevent fraud
Enforce our Terms of Service and community guidelines
Comply with legal obligations

Information Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information:

With Other Users: Based on your privacy settings, other users may see your public profile information, events you create or participate in, and connection information
With Service Providers: We share information with trusted service providers who assist us in operating our Service, including:
- Stripe: Payment processing and transaction management
- Cloud Hosting Providers: Infrastructure providers for app and data hosting
- Analytics Providers: Anonymous usage data with analytics providers
- Communication Services: Email and push notification service providers
- Support Platforms: Customer service platforms to provide user support
When Required by Law: We may disclose your information when required by law or to protect our rights, property, or safety, or that of our users
Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets (we will notify you of any such change)

Information We Never Share:

Private Messages: We never share the content of your private messages
Password Information: Your encrypted passwords are never shared
Payment Details: Credit card information is processed securely by Stripe and never stored on our servers
Precise Location History: Precise location data is never shared without explicit consent

Your Privacy Rights and Choices

Account Controls

Profile Visibility: Control who can see your profile and information
Event Privacy: Set privacy levels for each event you create
Friend Groups: Create custom groups with specific privacy settings
Services Visibility: Control who can see your skills and services

Data Controls

Access: Request a copy of your personal information
Correction: Update or correct your personal information
Deletion: Delete your account and associated data
Portability: Export your data in a machine-readable format
Objection: Object to certain processing of your information

Communication Preferences

Push Notifications: Control notification types and frequency in device settings
Email Communications: Unsubscribe from marketing emails
Location Services: Turn location access on or off in device settings
Contact Access: Revoke access to your contact list in device settings

How to Exercise Your Rights: To exercise any of these rights, contact us at livesocial.ls@gmail.com or use the in-app settings. We respond within 24 hours of receiving your request.

Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information:

Encryption: All data transmission uses HTTPS/TLS encryption
Password Security: Passwords are hashed using bcrypt with salt
JWT Authentication: Secure token-based authentication with refresh tokens
Database Security: Encrypted data storage with access controls
Payment Security: Payment information is processed securely through Stripe and never stored on our servers
Regular Security Audits: Ongoing security assessments and improvements
Access Controls: Limited employee access to personal data
Data Minimization: Collect only necessary information
Regular Backups: Secure, encrypted data backups
Incident Response: Procedures for security breach notification

Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide our Service:

Account Information: Retained until account deletion
Messages: Retained until deleted by users or account termination
Event Information: Retained based on event privacy settings and user preferences
Usage Analytics: Anonymous usage data retained for up to 2 years
Payment Records: Retained for legal and accounting purposes (up to 7 years as required by law)
Legal Requirements: Some data retained longer if required by law

When you delete your account:

Personal Information: Deleted within 30 days
Public Content: Removed from public view immediately
Backups: Removed from backups within 90 days
Legal Obligations: Some records retained for legal compliance (up to 7 years)

Children's Privacy

Live Social is intended for users aged 18 and older. We:

Age Verification: Require users to verify they are 18 or older during registration
No Children's Data: Do not knowingly collect information from children under 18
Parental Notification: If we discover we have collected information from a child under 18, we delete it immediately

If you believe we have collected information from a child under 18, please contact us immediately at livesocial.ls@gmail.com.

International Data Transfers

Live Social operates primarily in the United States. If you access our Service from outside the US:

Data Transfer: Your information may be transferred to and processed in the US
Adequate Protection: We ensure appropriate safeguards for international transfers
EU Users: We comply with GDPR requirements for EU user data
Data Processing Agreements: Third-party providers sign data processing agreements

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

Authentication: Keep you logged in to your account
Preferences: Remember your settings and preferences
Analytics: Understand how our Service is used
Performance: Improve app performance and loading times

You can control cookies through your browser settings or mobile device settings. Most browsers allow you to control cookies, and you can opt out of non-essential cookies.

Regional Privacy Rights

California Residents (CCPA)

California residents have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act:

Right to Know: Information about data collection and sharing
Right to Delete: Request deletion of personal information
Right to Opt-Out: Opt out of sale of personal information (we don't sell data)
Non-Discrimination: No discrimination for exercising privacy rights

European Union (GDPR)

EU residents have rights under the General Data Protection Regulation:

Lawful Basis: We process data based on consent, contract, or legitimate interests
Data Subject Rights: Access, rectification, erasure, portability, and objection
Data Protection Officer: Contact livesocial.ls@gmail.com for GDPR inquiries
Supervisory Authority: Right to file complaints with EU data protection authorities

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make changes:

Notification: We will notify you via email or in-app notification
Effective Date: The new policy becomes effective 30 days after notification
Continued Use: Your continued use of the Service constitutes acceptance of changes
Significant Changes: Material changes will require explicit consent

Previous versions of this Privacy Policy are available upon request.

Contact Information

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us:

Privacy Questions: livesocial.ls@gmail.com
Data Protection Officer (EU): livesocial.ls@gmail.com
GDPR Compliance: livesocial.ls@gmail.com
General Support: livesocial.ls@gmail.com
Response Time: We respond within 24 hours

For the most current version of this Privacy Policy, please visit: https://livesocial.vercel.app/privacy

This Privacy Policy is effective as of the date listed above and replaces any prior privacy policies. By continuing to use Live Social, you acknowledge that you have read and understand this Privacy Policy.

Privacy Policy - Live Social