Privacy Policy — Rowmate

ROWMATE ("we", "our", "the app") is operated by Benjamin Taieb. This Privacy Policy explains what information the ROWMATE mobile application (iPhone and Android) collects, why, and the choices you have.

1. Information We Collect

Information you provide:

Account: your e-mail address when you sign up with e-mail, or the identifier and e-mail provided by Apple or Google when you sign in with them (Apple may hide your e-mail)
Profile: nickname, profession, bio, "What I love" text, city, gender (optional), interest tags and "Open to" preferences, Instagram and LinkedIn usernames (optional)
Profile photos (up to 4)
Private messages with your connections: text, photos and voice messages
Messages you post in the group chat of a place
Waves, connection requests, blocks and reports you send

Information collected automatically:

Precise location (GPS), only while the app is open and only if you allow it — see section 3
Your presence in a place you chose to enter, and the "I'm going" intent if you set one
Bluetooth proximity data, only while your Radar is on — see section 4
A push notification token for your device, if you allow notifications
The language of the app and basic, non-advertising usage events
Purchase status, if you buy a pass or a subscription (payments are handled by Apple or Google; we never see your card)

Information we do NOT collect:

Your location while the app is closed or in the background
Contacts or address book
Browsing history
Advertising identifiers — ROWMATE contains no advertising and does not track you across apps

2. How We Use Your Information

To show your profile to other ROWMATE members: people near you when your Radar is on, people in the place you entered, and — if "Visible in Discover" is on — members of your city
To show you the places around you and let you enter the one you are in
To deliver connection requests, waves and messages, and to keep your conversations when you change phone
To send you notifications about messages, requests and waves
To translate messages written in another language
To handle blocks and reports and keep the community safe

3. Location and Places

ROWMATE asks for your location "while using the app". It never asks for background location.
While the app is open, your position is sent to our server to find the bars, cafés, restaurants and clubs around you. The coordinates of the area (not your identity) are sent to Google Places to retrieve those places.
Your position is not stored as a history. What is stored is the place you chose to enter, for as long as you are there: it disappears a few minutes after you leave or close the app.
When you are in a place, the other members present in the same place can see your profile, and you can see theirs. From outside, members only see how many people are there, never who.
The group chat of a place can be read and written only by members currently present. Its messages are deleted automatically after 6 hours.
If you refuse location access, the Places tab stays empty; the rest of the app keeps working.

4. Bluetooth & Proximity Discovery

Discovery by Bluetooth (and local Wi-Fi on iPhone) only happens while your Radar is on. Radar off, you are invisible.
While the Radar is on, your phone broadcasts a short profile (nickname, profession, short bio, a few interests, a small picture) to ROWMATE users a few metres away.
A full conversation only opens once both people have accepted the connection.

5. Where Your Data Is Stored and Who Processes It

Your data is stored on your device and, once you are signed in, on our servers. We do not sell or rent your personal data. We use these service providers, only to run the app:

Supabase — database, file storage and authentication
Google Places — list of places around a position
Google Cloud Translation (or DeepL) — the text of a message to translate is sent without your identity
Apple Push Notification service and Firebase Cloud Messaging (Google) — delivery of notifications
Apple and Google — sign-in and in-app purchases

Your profile and messages are visible to the other ROWMATE members described above. We may disclose data if the law requires it or to protect someone's safety.

6. Camera, Photos & Microphone

Camera and photo library: to choose profile photos and send photos in a chat
Microphone: to record voice messages

These permissions are requested only when needed and can be revoked at any time in your phone's settings.

7. How Long We Keep Your Data

Profile, photos, connections and private messages: until you delete them or delete your account
Messages in the group chat of a place: 6 hours
Presence in a place: a few minutes after you leave; "I'm going": 18 hours
Reports: as long as needed to handle them

8. Your Rights & Controls

Edit your profile and photos at any time
Turn the Radar off, leave a place, or switch off "Visible in Discover" to stop being shown
Block and report any member, from their profile or from a message
Delete a connection and its conversation
Delete your account and all associated data directly in the app (Profile → Delete account), or by following the steps on this page
Ask us for a copy of your data, or for a correction, by e-mail

If you live in the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom, you also have the rights granted by the GDPR, including the right to lodge a complaint with your data protection authority.

9. Children's Privacy

ROWMATE is not intended for users under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect data from children. If you believe a minor is using ROWMATE, contact us and we will delete the account.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy. Changes are shown with an updated date at the top of this page.

11. Contact

Email: rowmateworld@gmail.com

Developer: Benjamin Taieb