Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to NeighborWire ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our neighborhood community platform. Please read this policy carefully. If you disagree with its terms, please discontinue use of the platform.

2. Information We Collect

We collect information in the following ways:

Information You Provide Directly

• Account information (full name, email address)
• Profile details, neighborhood name, and address verification data
• Posts, comments, direct messages, and group chat content
• Marketplace listings, event information, and community issue reports
• Photos and other media you upload
• Payment information processed via Stripe (we do not store raw card data)

Information Collected Automatically

• Precise or approximate location data (GPS coordinates), when you grant permission
• Device type, browser, operating system, and IP address
• Usage data such as pages visited, features used, and time spent
• Log data and crash reports to diagnose technical issues

Information from Third Parties

• Address verification data from public records or postal services
• Payment and transaction data from Stripe

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide, operate, maintain, and improve our services
• Connect you with verified neighbors in your local community
• Display location-relevant posts, events, and alerts on your feed
• Process marketplace transactions and facilitate payments
• Send transactional notifications (safety alerts, messages, event updates)
• Respond to your inquiries, comments, and support requests
• Detect, prevent, and address fraud, spam, abuse, or illegal activity
• Comply with legal obligations
• Analyze usage trends to enhance the platform experience

We do not use your data to serve third-party advertising or sell your information to data brokers.

4. Sharing of Information

We may share your information in the following limited circumstances:

• With other users: Your public posts, profile name, and neighborhood are visible to other verified community members. Direct messages and group chats are private and visible only to their participants.
• With service providers: We share data with trusted vendors (e.g., Stripe for payments, cloud hosting providers) who process it only on our behalf and under strict confidentiality agreements.
• For legal compliance: We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or to protect the rights and safety of NeighborWire, its users, or the public.
• Business transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or asset sale, user data may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you before your data becomes subject to a different privacy policy.

We never sell your personal information to third parties.

5. Location Data

NeighborWire is a location-based service. We request access to your device's GPS to show you relevant local content, filter posts by distance, and display community maps. Location access is optional — you may use a manually entered neighborhood name instead. You can revoke location permissions at any time through your device settings. We do not share your precise coordinates with other users; only neighborhood-level labels are displayed publicly.

6. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Keep you logged in and maintain session state
• Remember your preferences (e.g., dark mode, notification settings)
• Understand how users interact with the platform (analytics)

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect platform functionality. See our Cookie Policy for full details.

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as necessary to provide our services. If you delete your account, we will delete or anonymize your personal data within 30 days, except where we are required to retain it for legal, tax, or fraud-prevention purposes. Anonymized aggregate data may be retained indefinitely.

8. Data Security

We implement industry-standard technical and organizational safeguards including encryption in transit (TLS), access controls, and regular security reviews. However, no system is 100% secure. We will notify you promptly in the event of a data breach that materially affects your personal information, as required by applicable law.

9. Your Privacy Rights

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

• Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Correction: Request that inaccurate or incomplete data be updated.
• Deletion ("right to be forgotten"): Request deletion of your personal data.
• Portability: Receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format.
• Objection / Restriction: Object to or restrict certain types of processing.
• Withdraw Consent: Withdraw any consent you previously provided at any time.

California residents (CCPA/CPRA): You have the right to know what personal information is collected, the right to opt out of the "sale" of personal information (we do not sell your data), and the right to non-discrimination for exercising your rights.

EEA/UK residents (GDPR): You have the rights listed above and may lodge a complaint with your local supervisory authority.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at privacy@neighborwire.com or use the account deletion option in your Profile settings. We will respond within 30 days.

10. Children's Privacy

NeighborWire is intended for users aged 13 and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 (or under 16 where required by local law). If you believe we have inadvertently collected such information, please contact us immediately at privacy@neighborwire.com and we will promptly delete it.

11. Third-Party Links & Services

Our platform may contain links to third-party websites or integrate with third-party services (e.g., mapping providers, payment processors). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those services and encourage you to review their privacy policies.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. When we make material changes, we will notify you via an in-app notice or email at least 14 days before the changes take effect. The "Last updated" date at the top reflects the most recent revision. Your continued use of NeighborWire after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Contact Us

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