1. Introduction
Welcome to HotSpot ("we," "our," or "us"). We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal data. This privacy policy will inform you about how we look after your personal data and tell you about your privacy rights.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Information You Provide
- Account Information: Name, email address, phone number, date of birth, and profile photo
- Profile Data: Username, bio, preferences, and interests
- Communication Data: Messages you send through our platform
2.2 Information We Collect Automatically
- Location Data: Venue check-in locations (not continuous GPS tracking)
- Device Information: Device type, operating system, unique device identifiers
- Usage Data: How you interact with our app, features used, time spent
- Log Data: IP address, browser type, access times
3. How We Use Your Information
We use your personal data for the following purposes:
- To provide and maintain our service
- To notify you about venue promotions and Hot Alerts
- To enable friend-finding features (HotSync)
- To personalize your experience
- To communicate with you about your account
- To improve our services and develop new features
- To ensure safety and security
- To comply with legal obligations
4. Location Data Privacy
Important: We only track venue check-ins, not continuous GPS tracking. Your location is only recorded when you actively check in at a venue. You have full control over:
- When you check in at venues
- Which friends can see your check-ins
- Whether to share your location at all
5. Data Sharing
5.1 We Share Your Data With:
- Venue Partners: When you check in at venues, we share aggregated and anonymized analytics (visitor counts, demographics, dwell time) to help them understand foot traffic patterns. When you redeem promotions, we share necessary check-in data including your first name and redemption timestamp.
- Friends You Connect With: Your check-in location when you choose to share via HotSync
- Service Providers: Cloud hosting, analytics, customer support (under strict data protection agreements)
- Legal Requirements: When required by law or to protect rights and safety
5.2 We Never:
- Sell your personal identifiable data to third parties for marketing purposes
- Share your personal data with advertisers without consent
- Track your location continuously (only venue check-ins)
- Share your friend connections or social graph with venues
6. Data Security
We implement industry-standard security measures including:
- Encryption of data in transit and at rest
- Regular security audits
- Access controls and authentication
- Secure data centers
7. Your Privacy Rights
You have the right to:
- Access: Request a copy of your personal data
- Correction: Update inaccurate or incomplete data
- Deletion: Request deletion of your data
- Portability: Receive your data in a portable format
- Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from marketing communications
- Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for data processing
To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@hotspot-us.com
8. Children's Privacy
HotSpot is intended for users 18 years and older. We do not knowingly collect data from children under 18. If we discover such data, we will delete it immediately.
9. Cookies and Tracking
We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience. See our Cookie Policy for details.
10. Data Retention
We retain your data only as long as necessary to provide our services and comply with legal obligations. You can request deletion at any time.
11. International Data Transfers
Your data may be transferred to and processed in countries outside your residence. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place.
12. Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy periodically. We will notify you of significant changes via email or in-app notification.
13. Contact Us
If you have questions or concerns about this privacy policy: