Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to RukuMix! RukuMix is a mobile application that helps people connect and meet up spontaneously without extensive planning. We enable users to discover nearby people in public spaces, create instant meetups called "RukuPosts," chat in real time, earn achievements, and check in at meetup locations.

At RukuMix, we are deeply committed to protecting your privacy and personal information. We believe in transparency about how we collect, use, and share your data. This Privacy Policy explains our practices regarding your information when you use the RukuMix mobile application and related services.

This Privacy Policy applies to all users of RukuMix, whether you're browsing, creating RukuPosts, chatting with others, or using any of our features. By using RukuMix, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

2. Information We Collect

We collect several types of information to provide and improve our services:

Account Information

• Email address: Used for account creation, login, and communication
• Phone number: Optional, for account verification and security
• Name and display name: To identify you to other users
• Profile photo: Optional, to personalize your profile
• Age/Date of birth: To verify you meet age requirements
• Bio and interests: Optional information you choose to share
• Apple Sign-In information: If you sign in with Apple, we receive your name and email (or private email relay). Apple may provide a private email relay address to protect your privacy

Location Data

• Approximate location: We collect your general location to show nearby RukuPosts and people
• Location permissions: Required for core features like Say Hello and discovering meetups
• Check-in locations: When you check in at meetup spots
• Important: Your exact GPS coordinates are never shared with other users—only approximate distances (e.g., "0.5 miles away")

User Content

• Messages: Chat conversations within RukuPosts and direct messages
• RukuPosts: Meetup details you create, including activity type, location, time, and description
• Photos: Images you upload to profiles, RukuPosts, or chats
• Comments and interactions: Your participation in meetups and community features

Usage Data

• App activity: How you interact with features, pages visited, buttons clicked
• Meetup history: RukuPosts you've created, joined, or attended
• Achievements and leaderboard data: Badges earned, scores, and rankings
• Connection data: Your network of connections and interactions with other users
• Search queries: Activities, locations, or users you search for

Device Information

• Device type: Phone model and manufacturer
• Operating system: iOS or Android version
• Device identifiers: Unique device ID for security and authentication
• IP address: For security and location approximation
• App version: Which version of RukuMix you're using

Authentication Methods

RukuMix supports multiple authentication methods:

• Email/Password: Traditional email and password authentication
• Apple Sign-In: Sign in using your Apple ID. When you use Apple Sign-In:
  • Apple may provide your real email or a private email relay address
  • We only collect the information Apple provides (name and email)
  • You can choose to hide your email using Apple's private email relay feature
  • Apple Sign-In is available on iOS 13+ devices

App Tracking Transparency

On iOS devices (iOS 14.5+), we request permission to track your activity across apps and websites for advertising and analytics purposes. This is done through Apple's App Tracking Transparency (ATT) framework.

• Tracking Permission: We will request your consent before tracking your activity
• Your Choice: You can choose to allow or deny tracking when prompted
• Respect Your Decision: We will respect your choice and will not track you if you deny permission
• Non-Blocking: The app will function normally regardless of your tracking preference
• Purpose: If granted, tracking helps us provide personalized content and measure advertising effectiveness
• You Can Change Your Mind: You can modify your tracking preference in your device's Settings at any time

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

Provide Core Services

• Enable you to create and discover RukuPosts (instant meetups)
• Show you nearby people and meetup opportunities through Say Hello
• Facilitate real-time group chat and direct messaging
• Display your profile to other users when appropriate
• Process check-ins at meetup locations

Enable Location-Based Features

• Show you RukuPosts and people near your current location
• Help others discover your RukuPosts when they're nearby
• Display approximate distance to meetup locations
• Suggest relevant places and activities in your area

Facilitate User Communication

• Enable messaging between users in RukuPosts
• Send notifications about meetup updates, new messages, and relevant activity
• Allow users to connect and coordinate meetups

Maintain Leaderboards and Achievements

• Track your meetup participation and social activity
• Award badges and achievements for reaching milestones
• Display leaderboard rankings (with your permission)
• Encourage community engagement

Ensure Safety and Prevent Abuse

• Monitor for inappropriate content or behavior
• Enforce our Terms and Conditions and community guidelines
• Prevent spam, fraud, and security threats
• Respond to reports of violations or safety concerns
• Verify user accounts and prevent fake profiles

Send Service Updates

• Notify you of changes to our services or policies
• Send important security updates
• Provide customer support and respond to your inquiries
• Send promotional communications (with your opt-in consent)

Improve the App

• Analyze usage patterns to enhance features
• Develop new features based on user needs
• Fix bugs and technical issues
• Conduct research and analytics to improve user experience

4. Location Data and Privacy Protection

Location data is essential to RukuMix's core functionality, but we take your privacy very seriously. Here's how we handle location information:

Why We Need Location

• Discovering nearby RukuPosts: To show you relevant meetups happening near you
• Say Hello feature: To help you discover and connect with people in your area
• Finding meeting spots: To suggest convenient locations for meetups
• Distance calculations: To show approximate distances to meetups and users

How We Protect Your Exact Location

• Approximate distances only: Other users see distances like "0.5 miles away" or "2 km away," never your exact coordinates
• No exact GPS sharing: Your precise latitude and longitude are never visible to other users
• Radius-based visibility: You appear within a general area, not at a specific point
• Privacy zones: Option to set home/work zones where you won't be visible

Your Location Controls

• Enable/disable anytime: You can turn location sharing on or off in your device settings
• Visibility settings: Control when you appear in Say Hello and nearby searches
• Ghost mode: Option to use the app without being discoverable by others
• Location permissions: You maintain full control through your device's permission settings

Important: If you disable location services, some features like discovering nearby RukuPosts and Say Hello will not work properly, but you can still participate in RukuPosts you've already joined and use chat features.

5. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We share your information only in the following circumstances:

With Other Users

• Profile information: Your name, photo, bio, and interests are visible to users who can see your profile
• Approximate location: When you're visible in Say Hello or have a RukuPost, others see your approximate distance
• RukuPost details: Information about meetups you create or join
• Messages: Chat messages are visible to participants in that conversation
• Leaderboard data: Your achievements and rankings (if you've opted in to leaderboard visibility)

With Third-Party Services

We use trusted third-party services to operate RukuMix:

• Firebase (Google): For user authentication, database storage, cloud storage, and push notifications. Firebase processes your account data, messages, and app usage according to Google's privacy policies.
• Google Maps Platform: For location services, place discovery, and map displays. Google may collect location data according to their privacy policy when you use map features.
• Analytics services: We may use analytics tools to understand app usage and improve our services. These services receive anonymized or aggregated data.

For Legal Requirements

• When required by law, such as in response to a court order or subpoena
• To protect our rights, property, or safety, or that of our users or the public
• To enforce our Terms and Conditions and investigate violations
• In connection with legal proceedings or investigations

Business Transfers

If RukuMix is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any such change and your options.

What We DON'T Do

• We do not sell your personal information to advertisers or data brokers
• We do not share your exact location with other users or third parties
• We do not share your private messages except when legally required

6. Third-Party Services

RukuMix integrates with third-party services to provide our features. These services have their own privacy policies that govern how they collect and use data:

Firebase (Google)

We use Firebase for authentication (including Apple Sign-In), real-time database, cloud storage, and notifications. Firebase may collect device information, usage data, and identifiers. View Firebase's privacy policy at: https://firebase.google.com/support/privacy

Apple

When you use Apple Sign-In, Apple processes your authentication request. Apple may collect information according to their privacy policy. We only receive the information you authorize Apple to share with us (typically your name and email address, which may be a private email relay). View Apple's privacy policy at: https://www.apple.com/privacy/

Google Maps Platform

We use Google Maps for location services, place searches, and map displays. Google may collect location data and search queries. View Google's privacy policy at: https://policies.google.com/privacy

Note: When you use these services through RukuMix, you are also subject to their respective privacy policies and terms of service. We recommend reviewing these policies to understand how they handle your data.

7. Data Security

We take the security of your information seriously and implement industry-standard measures to protect your data:

Security Measures

• Encryption: Data is encrypted in transit using SSL/TLS protocols and at rest in secure databases
• Secure servers: We use Firebase's secure cloud infrastructure with redundant backups
• Access controls: Limited employee access to personal data, only when necessary for support or operations
• Authentication: Secure login with password hashing and optional two-factor authentication
• Regular updates: We continuously update our security practices and respond to new threats

Your Role in Security

• Choose a strong, unique password for your account
• Don't share your account credentials with others
• Log out from shared devices
• Report suspicious activity or security concerns to us immediately

Important: While we strive to protect your information, no method of electronic storage or transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, but we are committed to protecting your data to the best of our ability.

8. Your Privacy Rights and Choices

You have several rights and options regarding your personal information:

Access and Update Your Information

• View and edit your profile information at any time within the app
• Update your name, photo, bio, interests, and other profile details
• Change your email address or phone number

Delete Your Account

You have the right to delete your account and all associated data at any time. We provide a straightforward account deletion process that permanently removes your information from our systems.

• How to Delete: You can delete your account at any time from the Profile screen in the app settings
• Two-Step Confirmation: To prevent accidental deletion, we require two confirmation steps
• What Gets Deleted: When you delete your account, we permanently remove:
  • Your user profile and authentication information
  • All activities (RukuPosts) you created
  • All messages and conversations
  • Your connections and friend relationships
  • All notifications and activity history
  • All associated data stored in our systems
• Immediate Effect: Account deletion is immediate and irreversible
• Automatic Sign-Out: You will be automatically signed out after account deletion
• Backup Retention: Some information may be retained in encrypted backups for up to 90 days before permanent deletion, as required for system recovery and security purposes
• Legal Requirements: We may retain certain information as required by law or for legitimate business needs (e.g., fraud prevention, legal disputes)
• Anonymized Data: We may retain anonymized or aggregated data that cannot identify you for analytics and service improvement purposes
• GDPR Compliance: This account deletion process complies with GDPR and other data protection regulations

Important: Once your account is deleted, you cannot recover your data. Please ensure you have backed up any information you want to keep before proceeding with account deletion.

Control Location Sharing

• Enable or disable location permissions through your device settings
• Toggle visibility in Say Hello feature on or off
• Use ghost mode to browse without being discoverable
• Set privacy zones where you won't appear in location-based features

Opt Out of Leaderboard Visibility

• Choose to hide your profile from public leaderboards
• You'll still earn achievements, but your ranking won't be visible to others
• Control this setting in your privacy preferences

Report Inappropriate Content

• Report users, RukuPosts, or messages that violate our guidelines
• Block users to prevent them from contacting you or seeing your profile
• We review all reports and take appropriate action

Request a Copy of Your Data

• You can request a copy of the personal data we have about you
• Contact us at support@rukumix.com to request your data
• We will provide your data in a portable format within 30 days

Marketing Communications

• Opt out of promotional emails using the unsubscribe link
• Manage push notification preferences in app settings
• You'll still receive important service updates and security notifications

9. Children's Privacy

RukuMix is intended for users aged 13 and older. The Say Hello feature, which allows spontaneous discovery of nearby people, is restricted to users aged 18 and older.

• We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13
• Users aged 13-17 may use the app with parental consent but cannot access Say Hello
• Users must verify their age during account creation
• If we learn that we have collected information from a child under 13, we will promptly delete that information

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child under 13 has created an account, please contact us at support@rukumix.com so we can delete the account.

10. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as necessary to provide our services and fulfill the purposes described in this policy:

Active Accounts

• Your account information and content are stored as long as your account remains active
• Profile data, messages, and RukuPost history remain accessible to you

Deleted Accounts

• When you delete your account, we remove your personal information from active databases
• Your profile, messages, and personal data are no longer accessible
• Some data may remain in backup systems for up to 90 days before permanent deletion
• We may retain anonymized or aggregated data for analytics and improvement purposes

Legal Retention

• We may retain certain information when required by law or legitimate business needs
• Information related to violations, disputes, or legal matters may be retained longer
• Security logs and transaction records may be kept for fraud prevention

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, services, or legal requirements.

How We Notify You

• We will post the updated policy on this page with a new "Last Updated" date
• For significant changes, we will notify you via email or in-app notification
• We encourage you to review this policy periodically

Your Acceptance

• Continued use of RukuMix after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy
• If you don't agree with changes, you may delete your account

The most current version of this Privacy Policy will always be available at: https://rukumix.com/privacy

12. Contact Information

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