Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to hytchU ("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 social platform and services.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Personal Information

We may collect the following personal information:

• Name, email address, and contact information
• Profile information and preferences
• Profile pictures and avatar images
• Date of birth and demographic information
• Communication preferences

2.2 Usage Information

We automatically collect certain information about your use of our platform:

• Log data (IP address, browser type, pages visited)
• Device information (device type, operating system)
• Usage patterns and interactions
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies

2.3 User-Generated Content

We collect content you create and share on our platform:

• Posts, messages, and comments
• Photos, videos, and other media
• Bulletin board submissions
• Chat conversations

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for the following purposes:

• Account Management: Creating and managing your account
• Service Provision: Providing and maintaining our platform
• Communication: Sending notifications, updates, and support messages
• Social Features: Enabling connections, messaging, and content sharing
• Security: Protecting against fraud and unauthorized access
• Improvement: Analyzing usage to improve our services
• Legal Compliance: Meeting legal obligations and enforcing our terms

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share your information in the following circumstances:

4.1 With Your Consent

We may share your information when you explicitly consent to such sharing.

4.2 Service Providers

We may share information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our platform, such as:

• Hosting and cloud storage providers
• Email and communication services
• Analytics and monitoring tools
• Payment processors (if applicable)

4.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law or in response to valid legal requests.

4.4 Safety and Security

We may share information to protect the safety and security of our users and platform.

5. Data Security

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

• Encryption of data in transit and at rest
• Regular security assessments and updates
• Access controls and authentication measures
• Employee training on data protection
• Incident response procedures

6. Your Rights and Choices

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

6.1 Access and Update

You can access and update your personal information through your account settings.

6.2 Deletion

You can request deletion of your account and associated data, subject to legal retention requirements.

6.3 Communication Preferences

You can control your communication preferences and opt out of certain notifications.

6.4 Data Portability

You can request a copy of your personal data in a portable format.

7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience:

• Essential Cookies: Required for basic platform functionality
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how users interact with our platform
• Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and preferences
• Security Cookies: Help protect against fraud and abuse

You can control cookie settings through your browser preferences, though disabling certain cookies may affect platform functionality.

8. Children's Privacy

Our platform is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately.

9. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

10. 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 platform
• Sending email notifications to registered users
• Displaying prominent notices on our platform

Your continued use of our platform after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.