Privacy Policy
Last updated: December 2024
At Plotalot, we believe privacy is a fundamental right. This policy explains how we handle your data with complete transparency.
Our Promise: We Will Never Sell Your Data
We will never sell, rent, trade, or otherwise share your personal information with third parties for their marketing or commercial purposes. Your data is yours. Period.
Information We Collect
Account Information
When you create an account, we collect:
- Email address - To create your account and send important notifications
- Name and profile information - To personalize your experience and help friends find you
- Profile photo (optional) - To help others recognize you in the app
Location Data
Why We Ask for Location Permission
We request location access solely to improve your experience:
- Show events and activities happening near you
- Help you discover local plots and groups
- Provide location-based recommendations
- Enable real-time coordination during events
We never sell, share, or monetize your location data. Your location is used only to provide these features and is never shared with advertisers or third parties.
You can disable location access in your device settings at any time. The app will still work, but location-based features will be limited.
Camera and Photos
With your permission, we access your camera and photo library to:
- Upload profile pictures
- Share photos in posts and events
- Create and edit event images
Your photos are stored securely and are only visible to people you choose to share them with.
Contacts
With your permission, we may access your contacts to:
- Help you find friends who are already using Plotalot
- Invite friends to join the app
We do not store your contact list on our servers. Contact matching is done securely and your contacts are never uploaded or shared.
How We Use Your Information
We use your data exclusively to:
- Provide the service - Running the app and delivering its features
- Personalize your experience - Showing relevant events and recommendations
- Send notifications - Event reminders, friend requests, and important updates
- Improve the app - Understanding usage patterns to make Plotalot better
- Provide support - Responding to your questions and resolving issues
Data Sharing
What We Don't Do
- We do NOT sell your data to anyone
- We do NOT share your data with advertisers
- We do NOT use your data for targeted advertising
- We do NOT allow third parties to collect your information through our app
We only share data in these limited circumstances:
- With other users - Only information you choose to make public (profile, posts, event participation)
- Service providers - Companies that help us operate (cloud hosting, email delivery) who are contractually bound to protect your data
- Legal requirements - When required by law or to protect safety
Data Security
We take security seriously:
- All data is encrypted in transit (HTTPS/TLS)
- Passwords are securely hashed and never stored in plain text
- Access to user data is strictly limited and audited
- We regularly review and update our security practices
Your Rights
You have complete control over your data:
- Access - Request a copy of all your personal data
- Correct - Update or fix any inaccurate information
- Delete - Permanently remove your account and all associated data
- Opt out - Unsubscribe from marketing communications
- Revoke permissions - Disable location, camera, or contacts access at any time
- Data portability - Export your data in a standard format
Data Retention
We keep your data only as long as necessary:
- Account data is kept while your account is active
- When you delete your account, we remove your data within 30 days
- Some anonymized usage data may be retained for analytics
Children's Privacy
Plotalot is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us data, please contact us immediately.
International Users
Plotalot is operated from Portugal and complies with EU data protection regulations (GDPR). If you're accessing from outside the EU, your data may be transferred to and processed in the EU.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy from time to time. We'll notify you of significant changes through the app or by email. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.