Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to RevWala ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring transparency about how we collect, use, and safeguard your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains our practices regarding the collection, use, disclosure, and protection of information when you use our website, mobile applications, and related services (collectively, the "Service").

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

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

Account Information:

Name, email address, username, and password
Profile information (photo, bio, location)
Contact information for account verification

Review and Rating Content:

Reviews, ratings, and comments you submit
Photos and videos you upload with reviews
Responses to other users' reviews

Communication:

Messages you send through our platform
Customer support inquiries and correspondence
Survey responses and feedback

2.2 Information We Collect Automatically

Usage Information:

Pages visited, features used, and actions taken
Time spent on different sections of our Service
Search queries and browse history within our platform

Device Information:

IP address, browser type, and version
Operating system and device identifiers
Screen resolution and device settings

Location Information:

Approximate location based on IP address
Precise location (only with your explicit consent)
Location data associated with reviews when relevant

Cookies and Tracking Technologies:

Session cookies for authentication and preferences
Analytics cookies to understand usage patterns
Functional cookies to enhance user experience

2.3 Information from Third Parties

Social Media Integration:

Profile information from social media accounts (when you choose to connect them)
Contact lists (only with your explicit permission)

Business Information:

Publicly available business data and listings
Information provided by business owners claiming their listings

Data Partners:

Business verification data from trusted third-party sources
Industry and market data to enhance our Service

3. How We Use Your Information

3.1 Primary Uses

Service Provision:

Create and manage your account
Enable you to submit and view reviews and ratings
Facilitate communication between users and businesses
Provide personalized recommendations

Platform Improvement:

Analyze usage patterns to improve our Service
Develop new features and functionality
Conduct research and analytics

Communication:

Send service-related notifications and updates
Respond to your inquiries and support requests
Share important policy or service changes

3.2 Content Moderation and Trust

Review Authenticity:

Detect and prevent fake or fraudulent reviews
Verify the authenticity of user accounts and reviews
Maintain the integrity of our rating system

Community Safety:

Monitor for inappropriate or harmful content
Enforce our community guidelines and Terms of Use
Protect users and businesses from abuse or harassment

3.3 Legal and Security

Compliance:

Comply with applicable laws and regulations
Respond to legal requests and court orders
Protect our rights and interests

Security:

Prevent fraud, spam, and abuse
Secure our platform and user accounts
Investigate suspicious activities

4. How We Share Your Information

4.1 Public Information

Reviews and Ratings:

Your reviews, ratings, and public profile information are visible to all users
Business responses to your reviews are public
Your username and profile photo appear with your reviews

4.2 Business Partners

Claimed Businesses:

Basic reviewer information may be shared with businesses responding to reviews
Aggregate, non-identifying data about reviews and ratings

Verified Partners:

Anonymized data for research and industry insights
Aggregated statistics and trends (never individual user data)

4.3 Service Providers

Technical Operations:

Cloud hosting and data storage providers
Email delivery and communication services
Analytics and performance monitoring tools

Support Services:

Customer service platforms
Payment processing (for premium features)
Security and fraud prevention services

4.4 Legal Requirements

Law Enforcement:

When required by law, court order, or government request
To protect the safety and rights of our users and others
To investigate potential violations of our Terms of Use

4.5 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to appropriate safeguards.

5. Your Privacy Rights and Choices

5.1 Account Management

Access and Update:

View and edit your account information and profile
Update your communication preferences
Manage your review history

Data Portability:

Request a copy of your personal data in a portable format
Transfer your data to another service where technically feasible

5.2 Communication Preferences

Email Communications:

Opt out of promotional emails while maintaining service notifications
Customize the types of updates you receive
Unsubscribe from all non-essential communications

5.3 Content Control

Review Management:

Edit or delete your reviews and ratings
Control the visibility of your profile information
Manage photo and media sharing preferences

5.4 Privacy Controls

Location Services:

Enable or disable location tracking at any time
Control location sharing for reviews and recommendations

Cookie Management:

Adjust cookie preferences through your browser settings
Opt out of non-essential tracking technologies

5.5 Regional Rights

European Users (GDPR):

Right to access, rectify, or erase your personal data
Right to restrict or object to processing
Right to data portability
Right to withdraw consent

California Users (CCPA):

Right to know what personal information is collected
Right to delete personal information
Right to opt out of the sale of personal information
Right to non-discrimination

6. Data Security

6.1 Security Measures

Technical Safeguards:

Encryption of data in transit and at rest
Secure authentication and access controls
Regular security assessments and updates

Operational Security:

Employee training on data protection
Limited access to personal information on a need-to-know basis
Incident response procedures for data breaches

6.2 Data Retention

Account Data:

Retained while your account is active
Deleted within reasonable time after account closure
Some information may be retained for legal or business purposes

Review Content:

Public reviews may remain visible even after account deletion
You can delete individual reviews at any time
Anonymized data may be retained for analytics

7. International Data Transfers

If you are located outside [Your Country], please note that your information may be transferred to and processed in [Your Country] where our servers are located. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for international transfers in compliance with applicable privacy laws.

8. Children's Privacy

Our Service is not intended for users under the age of 13 (or 16 in the European Union). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child, we will take steps to delete such information.

9. Third-Party Links and Services

Our Service may contain links to third-party websites or integrate with external services. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those third parties. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party services you use.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or applicable laws. We will notify you of material changes through our Service or by email. Your continued use of our Service after such notice constitutes acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

11. Contact Us

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

RevWala Privacy Team
Email: [[email protected]]

12. Specific Disclosures by Region

12.1 California Privacy Rights

Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), California residents have specific rights regarding their personal information. [Include detailed CCPA disclosures if applicable]

12.2 European Privacy Rights

Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), European users have specific rights regarding their personal data. [Include detailed GDPR information if applicable]