Privacy Policy

Effective date: June 30, 2026

Puffin: Local Mate ("Puffin", "we", "us") respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains what we collect, why, and your rights.

1. Information we collect

Information you provide

• Account: name, email, optional photo, city, languages, bio.
• Travel plans: destinations, dates, interests, public/verified-only visibility.
• Messages: in-app chat content (sent to recipients only).
• Guide profile (optional): services, availability, photos, reviews.

Information collected automatically

• Device location (only when you grant permission): to show nearby guides on the map and for SOS.
• Device info: model, OS version, language, app version — for diagnostics.
• Analytics: anonymized usage events to improve the app (no personal identifiers).

2. How we use your information

• Provide and improve the app (matching, search, recommendations).
• Send notifications you've consented to (daily travel facts, messages).
• Detect and prevent abuse, fraud, and policy violations.
• Comply with legal obligations.

3. Sharing

We do not sell your personal data. We share data only with:

• Service providers: Google (Firebase) for authentication, database, hosting. Frankfurter.app for live exchange rates (no personal data sent).
• Other users: only the profile details you've made public (name, photo, city, bio, languages).
• Legal authorities: when required by law.

4. Your rights

You may, at any time:

• View, edit, or delete your profile from inside the app (Settings → Edit Profile).
• Delete your account (Settings → Delete Account). All your data is permanently removed.
• Request a copy of your data by emailing privacy@puffinmate.com.

5. Children

Puffin is not directed to children under 13. If you believe a child has provided personal data, contact us and we will remove it.

6. Security

We use industry-standard security (HTTPS/TLS, Firebase Authentication, Firestore security rules). No system is 100% secure, but we work to protect your data.

7. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy. Material changes will be announced in-app or by email. The effective date at the top reflects the latest version.

8. Contact

Questions? Contact us at privacy@puffinmate.com.