Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

Information you provide

When you create an account, we collect:

• Account information: Your name, email address, and password
• Profile information: Profile photo, bio, and any other information you choose to add to your public profile
• Location: Your address or coordinates for neighborhood-based features (we only share your general area, never your exact address)
• Authentication data: If you sign in with Google or Apple, we receive basic profile information from those services

When you use our features, we collect:

• Marketplace listings: Photos, descriptions, prices, and pickup locations for items you list for sale
• Community posts: Content you share in neighborhood discussions, help requests, events, and recommendations
• Service provider information: If you offer services, your skills, availability, hourly rates, and work schedule
• Messages: Content of your conversations with other users through our chat feature
• Reviews and ratings: Feedback you provide about other users or services

Information collected automatically

When you use Closeby, we automatically collect:

• Device information: Device type, operating system, and app version to ensure compatibility and deliver push notifications
• Location data: With your permission, we collect your location to show you nearby listings, services, and community posts. You can control location access in your device settings.
• Push notification tokens: To send you notifications about messages, activity on your listings, and community updates
• Crash reports and diagnostics: When the app crashes or encounters errors, we collect diagnostic information to help us fix bugs and improve stability
• Session replays: We use Sentry to record anonymized session replays that help us understand how users interact with the app and identify issues. These recordings do not capture passwords or sensitive input fields.
• Usage breadcrumbs: We track navigation patterns and user flows to help diagnose issues when errors occur (e.g., which screens you visited before a crash)

Information from third parties

We may receive information from:

• Sign-in providers: When you use Google Sign-In or Apple Sign-In, we receive your name, email, and profile photo from those services
• Other users: When someone sends you a message, leaves a review, or interacts with your content

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

Provide and improve Closeby

• Create and manage your account
• Display your listings, posts, and services to nearby users
• Connect you with buyers, sellers, and neighbors in your area
• Process transactions and facilitate meetups
• Send you messages from other users
• Provide customer support

Personalize your experience

• Show you relevant listings and content based on your location and interests
• Remember your preferences and settings
• Suggest services and items you might be interested in

Keep Closeby safe

• Verify user accounts and prevent fraud
• Enforce our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines
• Investigate and address violations, illegal activities, or security issues
• Protect the safety of our users and the public

Communicate with you

• Send push notifications about messages, listing activity, and community updates
• Send service-related emails about your account
• Notify you about changes to our policies or features

3. How We Share Your Information

With other Closeby users

• Public profile: Your name, profile photo, bio, and general neighborhood are visible to other users
• Listings: When you post items or services, other nearby users can see your listing details and your first name
• Messages: When you message another user, they can see your name and profile photo
• Reviews: Reviews you leave and receive are visible to other users

We never share your exact address, phone number, or email with other users unless you choose to share it directly in a message.

With service providers

We share information with companies that help us operate Closeby:

• Cloud hosting: Amazon Web Services (AWS) for secure data storage and image hosting
• Push notifications: Expo for delivering notifications to your device
• Error monitoring: Sentry for crash reporting, session replays, and performance monitoring
• Customer support: To help resolve issues you report

These providers are contractually required to protect your information and only use it as we direct.

For legal reasons

We may share information:

• To comply with legal obligations, court orders, or government requests
• To protect the rights, property, or safety of Closeby, our users, or the public
• To detect, prevent, or address fraud, security, or technical issues
• In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets (you would be notified of any change in ownership)

We never sell your data

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes.

4. Your Privacy Choices

Location settings

• You can enable or disable location access in your device settings
• Closeby requires location to show you nearby content, but you control when we access it
• We only store your general neighborhood for displaying to other users, not your precise coordinates

Notification preferences

• Control which push notifications you receive in the app settings
• You can disable all push notifications through your device settings

Profile visibility

• Choose what information to include in your public profile
• Your email and phone number are never displayed publicly

Account deletion

• You can delete your account at any time through the app settings
• When you delete your account, we remove your profile, listings, posts, and personal information
• Some information may be retained for legal compliance or to resolve disputes

Data access

• Contact us to request a copy of your personal data
• You can update your profile information at any time in the app

5. Data Security

We take security seriously and implement measures to protect your information:

• Encryption: Data is encrypted in transit using TLS/SSL and at rest
• Secure authentication: We use industry-standard JWT tokens and secure password hashing
• Access controls: Only authorized personnel can access user data, and access is logged
• Regular security reviews: We regularly assess and update our security practices

While we work hard to protect your information, no system is 100% secure. We encourage you to use a strong, unique password and keep your login credentials safe.

6. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as:

• Your account is active
• Needed to provide you services
• Required by law or for legitimate business purposes

When you delete your account:

• Your profile, listings, posts, and services are removed immediately
• Your chat conversations and messages are deleted
• Some data may be retained in backups for a limited period
• Information needed for legal compliance may be retained longer

7. Children’s Privacy

Closeby is not intended for users under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If we learn that we have collected information from a child under 18, we will delete that information promptly. If you believe a child under 18 has provided us with personal information, please contact us.

8. International Data Transfers

Closeby is based in Canada. If you use Closeby from outside Canada, your information may be transferred to and processed in Canada or other countries where our service providers operate. These countries may have different data protection laws than your country. By using Closeby, you consent to the transfer of your information to Canada and other countries.

9. California Privacy Rights

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

• Right to know: Request information about the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you
• Right to delete: Request deletion of your personal information
• Right to opt-out: We do not sell personal information, so this right does not apply
• Right to non-discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising your privacy rights

To exercise these rights, contact us at the information below.

10. Changes to This Policy

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

• Update the “Last Updated” date at the top of this policy
• Notify you through the app or by email
• Give you an opportunity to review the changes before they take effect

Your continued use of Closeby after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://trycloseby.com/support

You can also reach out through the Help section in the Closeby app.

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This Privacy Policy is effective as of January 7, 2026.