Privacy Policy

Welcome to MealBourne ("App", "we", "us", "our"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring you have a positive experience on our platform. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application and website.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide Directly

• Account Information: When you create an account, we collect your name, email address, phone number, and password (encrypted using bcrypt)
• Profile Information: Profile picture, bio, dietary preferences, cooking skills, and country/location
• Payment Information: When making purchases or transactions, payment details are processed securely through third-party payment processors
• Content You Create: Recipes, videos, photos, meal plans, comments, ratings, and reviews you submit
• Communication: Messages, feedback, support tickets, and inquiries you send to us

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

• Location Data: Precise GPS coordinates when you enable location services. This is used for location-based features like nearby restaurants and food delivery
• Device Information: Device type, operating system, unique device identifiers, and mobile network information
• Usage Data: Pages visited, features used, time spent on app, clicks, and interaction patterns
• Analytics: App performance, crash reports, and user engagement metrics
• Media Data: Photos and videos you select from your device library for uploading

1.3 Information from Permissions

We request the following permissions:

• Camera Roll/Media Library: To allow you to upload photos and videos from your device
• Location Services: To provide location-based features and services (when explicitly enabled)
• Push Notifications: To send you relevant notifications about recipes, orders, and events

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for various purposes:

• Creating and maintaining your account
• Providing, maintaining, and improving our services
• Personalizing your experience and showing you relevant content
• Processing transactions and sending transaction confirmations
• Sending promotional emails, newsletters, and notifications (with your consent)
• Responding to your inquiries and providing customer support
• Protecting against fraud, abuse, and illegal activities
• Analyzing usage patterns to improve our app and services
• Complying with legal obligations and law enforcement requests
• Displaying your public profile and content to other users

3. How We Share Your Information

3.1 Information We Share

• Public Profile: Your name, profile picture, bio, and publicly shared recipes/videos are visible to all users
• Business Partners: We may share information with restaurants, food vendors, and delivery partners to fulfill orders
• Service Providers: Analytics providers, cloud storage providers, and payment processors who assist us in operating our app
• Legal Compliance: We may disclose information if required by law or to protect our rights and safety

3.2 Information We Don't Share

• Your email address is never shared with other users without your consent
• Your location is not shared with other users unless you explicitly choose to do so
• We never sell your personal data to third parties

4. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide our services and comply with legal obligations. Specifically:

• Account Data: Retained while your account is active and for 6 months after deletion
• Location Data: Retained only while location services are enabled; cleared when disabled
• Transaction Records: Retained for 7 years for tax and legal compliance
• Communications: Retained for 2 years after the last interaction

5. Security

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

• HTTPS encryption for all data in transit
• Bcrypt hashing for password storage
• Secure authentication with JWT tokens
• Regular security audits and updates
• Restricted access to personal data

However, no security system is completely secure. We encourage you to use strong passwords and keep your login credentials confidential.

6. Your Privacy Rights and Control

6.1 Access Your Data

You have the right to request a copy of your personal data. Contact us at support@mealbourne.com with "Data Access Request" in the subject line.

6.2 Update Your Information

You can update your profile information directly in the app through Settings > Edit Profile.

6.3 Opt-Out of Communications

You can unsubscribe from promotional emails and adjust notification preferences in Settings > Notifications.

6.4 Location Settings

You can enable or disable location services at any time through:

• In-App: Settings > Location Services
• Device Settings: Device Settings > Permissions > Location

7. Data Deletion

7.1 How to Request Account and Data Deletion

You have the right to request deletion of your account and associated personal data. To request data deletion:

1. Open the MealBourne app
2. Go to Profile > Settings > Help & Support > Contact Support
3. Submit a support ticket with subject: "Request Account and Data Deletion"
4. Include your registered email address and reason (optional)
5. A confirmation link will be sent to your registered email
6. Click the confirmation link to finalize the deletion

Alternatively, you can email us directly at privacy@mealbourne.com with the subject "Delete My Account and Data" and include:

• Your full name
• Registered email address
• Reason for deletion (optional)

7.2 What Happens During Deletion

• Your account will be deactivated immediately
• Your profile will be removed from public view within 24 hours
• Your personal data (name, email, phone, profile picture) will be deleted within 30 days
• Your content (recipes, videos, comments) can be deleted upon request
• Transaction records necessary for legal compliance will be retained for 7 years but anonymized

7.3 Retention Exceptions

We may retain certain data even after deletion if:

• Required by law or legal process
• Necessary for fraud prevention or security
• Part of aggregate, anonymized data for analytics
• Required for outstanding transactions or disputes

8. Children's Privacy

MealBourne is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under 13, we will promptly delete it. Parents or guardians who believe their child has provided information to us should contact us immediately.

9. Third-Party Links

Our app may contain links to third-party websites and services. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those external sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any information.

10. International Data Transfer

Your information may be transferred to, stored in, and processed in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have data protection laws different from your home country. By using MealBourne, you consent to the transfer of your information to countries outside your country of residence.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by:

• Posting the updated policy on our website
• Sending you an email notification
• Prompting you to accept the new policy when you next open the app

Your continued use of the app following the posting of changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

12. Contact Us

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

• Email: privacy@mealbourne.com
• Support: support@mealbourne.com
• In-App: Profile > Settings > Help & Support

13. Data Protection Rights (GDPR & Similar Laws)

If you are in the EU or other regions with similar data protection laws, you have additional rights:

• Right to Access: Request a copy of your data
• Right to Rectification: Correct inaccurate information
• Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your data (see Section 7)
• Right to Restrict Processing: Limit how we use your data
• Right to Data Portability: Receive your data in a structured format
• Right to Object: Opt-out of processing for certain purposes

To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@mealbourne.com.

This Privacy Policy is effective as of January 2025 and applies to MealBourne mobile application. We are committed to protecting your privacy and providing transparency in how we handle your personal information.