Privacy Policy

Effective Date: January 15, 2025

Last Updated: January 15, 2025

Introduction

Welcome to NearbyReads ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our peer-to-peer book marketplace at nearbyreads.com (the "Service").

Information We Collect

Information You Provide Directly

  • Account Information: Name, email address, username, password, and profile information
  • Profile Details: Location (for finding nearby users), reading preferences, and profile photo
  • Book Information: Books you list for sale and purchase history
  • Communication Data: Messages between users through our platform
  • Transaction Information: Sales history, purchase requests, and platform interactions

Information We Collect Automatically

  • Usage Data: How you interact with our Service, pages visited, and features used
  • Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, and device identifiers
  • Location Data: General location information to facilitate nearby book exchanges (with your consent)
  • Cookies and Similar Technologies: To enhance your experience and analyze usage patterns

How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information to:

  • Provide and Maintain the Service: Create accounts, facilitate book sales, and enable user connections
  • Personalize Experience: Recommend books, suggest nearby sellers, and customize content
  • Communication: Send transactional emails, notifications about sales activities, and service updates
  • Safety and Security: Verify user identities, prevent fraud, and maintain platform integrity
  • Analytics and Improvement: Analyze usage patterns to improve our Service and develop new features
  • Legal Compliance: Comply with applicable laws and respond to legal requests

Information Sharing and Disclosure

We may share your information in the following circumstances:

With Other Users

  • Profile information (name, location, books available) to facilitate book sales
  • Public activity on the platform (with your privacy settings considered)

With Service Providers

We work with trusted third-party service providers, including:

  • Supabase: Database hosting and user authentication
  • Resend: Email delivery services
  • Vercel: Website hosting and performance optimization

Legal Requirements

We may disclose information when required by law or to:

  • Comply with legal processes or government requests
  • Protect our rights, property, or safety
  • Prevent fraud or illegal activities
  • Respond to emergencies

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information, including:

  • Encryption of data in transit and at rest
  • Regular security assessments and updates
  • Access controls and authentication measures
  • Secure hosting through Vercel and Supabase infrastructure

However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Your Privacy Rights and Choices

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights:

Account Control

  • Access and update your profile information
  • Delete your account and associated data
  • Control privacy settings and visibility preferences

Data Rights (GDPR, CCPA, and other applicable laws)

  • Right to Access: Request information about data we collect and process
  • Right to Rectification: Correct inaccurate or incomplete information
  • Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your personal data
  • Right to Portability: Receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format
  • Right to Object: Opt-out of certain data processing activities

Communication Preferences

  • Unsubscribe from marketing communications
  • Manage notification settings
  • Control email frequency and types

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

Location Information

Our Service uses location information to connect you with nearby book sellers. You can:

  • Control location sharing through your device settings
  • Adjust location visibility in your profile settings
  • Choose to share general area instead of precise location

Children's Privacy

NearbyReads is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have collected such information, we will delete it promptly.

International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for such transfers in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as necessary to provide our Service and fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy. When you delete your account, we will delete or anonymize your personal information, except where we are required to retain it for legal compliance.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

  • Remember your preferences and settings
  • Analyze website performance and usage
  • Provide personalized recommendations
  • Ensure platform security

You can control cookie settings through your browser, but some features may not function properly if cookies are disabled.

Third-Party Links and Services

Our Service may contain links to third-party websites or integrate with external services. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those third parties, and we are not responsible for their privacy practices.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

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

  • Posting the updated policy on our website
  • Sending email notifications to registered users
  • Displaying prominent notices on the platform

Continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact Information

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

Email: privacy@nearbyreads.com
Address: [Your Business Address]
Data Protection Officer: [If applicable]

For EU residents, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

This Privacy Policy is effective as of January 15, 2025 and was last updated on January 15, 2025.