1. Introduction and Commitment to Privacy
Welcome to Meetro, operated by Meetro Inc. We are committed to protecting and respecting your privacy rights. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, process, and safeguard your personal information when you access and use our solo traveler networking platform.
By using Meetro, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy and consent to the collection and processing of your personal data as described herein, subject to applicable data protection laws.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Personal Information
We collect the following categories of personal information that you voluntarily provide:
- Full name, nick name and contact information
- Email address for account creation and communication
- Profile information including interests, country of origin, and travel preferences
- Profile photographs and other media content you choose to upload
- Location data when you use location-based features
- Communication preferences and settings
- Verification Photo: We may ask you to take a live selfie for identity verification and community safety. See the "Face Data and Verification Photos" section for full details on how this data is collected, used, stored, and retained.
- Retention: Verification images are held only long enough to complete the check, then deleted immediately unless the law requires us to keep them (e.g., active fraud investigation).
- Location Data: We ask for your location so we can surface nearby travelers and local activities that matter to you.
2.2 Usage and Technical Information
We automatically collect certain technical and usage information:
- Platform interaction data and user engagement metrics
- Device information including type, operating system
- Meetup participation history and community engagement patterns
2.3 Information from Third Parties
- Social media profile information when you connect third-party accounts
- Information from identity verification services (where applicable)
- Publicly available information that helps us verify user authenticity
Face Data and Verification Photos
To keep our community safe, we collect face photos for the limited purpose of identity verification and fraud prevention. This helps prevent fake profiles and protect users from individuals who may attempt to create deceptive or harmful accounts.
- What we collect: A single live photo or selfie that you capture during account verification. We do not create or store biometric templates or perform facial recognition.
- Purpose of use: The verification photo is used only to confirm that the person creating or using an account is the same person shown in the profile photo, helping prevent impersonation, fraud, and potential safety risks.
- Data sharing: Verification photos are never shared with third parties and are not used for advertising, analytics, or any unrelated purpose.
- Storage and retention: Photos are stored securely in Supabase, which provides industry-standard encryption and access controls. Photos are retained only for legitimate safety and legal purposes, such as to assist in investigations of fraud, harassment, or criminal activity (e.g., when a user attempts to harm others or engages in predatory behavior). If no such concern arises, the photo is deleted after it is no longer needed for verification.
- Legal and safety exceptions: In rare cases involving suspected criminal behavior, we may retain or disclose relevant verification photos to law enforcement when legally required.
- User control: You can request deletion of your verification photo and associated data at any time by contacting us at christopher.black.sa@gmail.com.
3. How We Use Your Information
We process your personal information for the following legitimate business purposes:
3.1 Core Platform Services
- Creating, maintaining, and securing your user account
- Facilitating connections between solo travelers in your area
- Enabling meetup creation, discovery, and participation
- Providing personalized recommendations for events and connections
3.2 Communication and Support
- Sending essential platform updates and security notifications
- Providing customer support and responding to inquiries
- Delivering promotional content and feature announcements (with consent)
3.3 Platform Improvement and Safety
- Analyzing usage patterns to enhance user experience and platform functionality
- Implementing safety measures and preventing fraudulent activities
- Conducting research and development for new features and services
- Ensuring compliance with legal obligations and platform policies
4. Information Sharing and Disclosure
We may share your information in the following circumstances:
4.1 Within the Meetro Community
- Profile information you choose to make publicly visible to other users
- Meetup participation details with other event attendees
- Communication within group chats and community forums
4.2 Service Providers and Business Partners
- Third-party service providers who assist in platform operations, analytics, and customer support
- Payment processors for subscription and premium feature transactions
- Cloud storage and hosting providers for data management
4.3 Legal and Safety Requirements
- Law enforcement agencies when required by applicable law or court order
- Regulatory authorities for compliance with legal obligations
- In connection with business transfers, mergers, or acquisitions
- To protect the rights, safety, and security of Meetro, our users, or the public
5. Data Security and Protection
- We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction
- All data transmission is encrypted using secure protocols (SSL/TLS)
- Access to personal information is restricted to authorized personnel only
- We regularly review and update our security practices to address emerging threats
- While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure
6. Your Privacy Rights and Choices
Subject to applicable data protection laws, you have the following rights:
6.1 Access and Portability
- Request access to your personal data and information about how it's processed
- Obtain a copy of your data in a structured, machine-readable format
6.2 Correction and Deletion
- Correct or update inaccurate or incomplete personal information
- Request deletion of your personal data (subject to legal retention requirements)
- Deactivate or permanently delete your account
6.3 Processing Controls
- Object to or restrict certain types of data processing
- Withdraw consent for marketing communications
- Opt-out of non-essential data collection and processing
7. Data Retention
- Verification photos are stored for up to 30 days after verification to allow for safety review or fraud prevention, and are then permanently deleted unless retention is legally required.
- Account information is retained while your account remains active
- After account deletion, we may retain certain information for legal compliance, fraud prevention, and safety purposes
- Anonymized and aggregated data may be retained indefinitely for research and analytics
8. International Data Transfers
- Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence
- We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for international transfers as required by applicable law
- By using Meetro, you consent to the transfer of your information to our servers and service providers globally
9. Children's Privacy
- Meetro is not intended for individuals under the age of 18
- We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18
- If we become aware that we have collected information from a child under 18, we will promptly delete such information
10. Changes to This Privacy Policy
- We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements
- Material changes will be communicated through in-app notifications, email, or prominent website notices
- We encourage you to review this policy regularly to stay informed about how we protect your information
- Continued use of Meetro after policy updates constitutes acceptance of the revised terms
11. Contact Information and Data Protection
For questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please contact us:
Email:christopher.black.sa@gmail.com
Phone: +27 76 390 3981