Privacy Policy — mahallify

        Your privacy matters to us. mahallify is a community platform, and we take seriously the trust you place in us when you share your information. This policy explains what data we collect, why we collect it, and how you can control it.
      

1. Who We Are

mahallify ("we," "us," or "our") operates the mahallify mobile application and website at mahallify.us. We connect Central Asian diaspora communities across the United States and Canada. Questions about this policy can be directed to [email protected].

2. Information We Collect

We collect information you provide directly and information generated by your use of the app:

Account & Profile

Your name, email address, profile photo, and any bio or contact details you choose to add. This information is visible to other users as part of your public profile.

Location

We collect the city, state or province, and country you select. We use this to show you relevant local listings and events. We do not collect or store your precise GPS location without your explicit permission.

Listings & Posts

Content you post to the platform — jobs, housing listings, marketplace items, community offers, travel posts, events, and business directory entries — including titles, descriptions, prices, and associated details.

Photos & Media

Images you upload to your profile or listings. Photos are stored on our servers and may be visible to other users depending on the listing type. We do not scan or sell photos for advertising purposes.

Messages

Direct messages you send to other users through the in-app messaging system. Messages are stored to enable the conversation history. We do not read your private messages unless required by law or to investigate a reported violation.

Phone Number

Your mobile phone number, if provided during sign-in. We use it solely to send a one-time SMS verification code (OTP) for authentication — one message per sign-in attempt. By entering your number and tapping "Send Code" you consent to receive this single transactional SMS from mahallify. We do not use your number for marketing. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply STOP to cancel. Reply HELP for help. For support contact [email protected].

Telegram Account Info

If you choose to sign in with Telegram, we receive your Telegram numeric user ID, first name, last name, and (if you have one) public username from Telegram's Bot API after you tap "Start" in our official mahallifyBot. We use this information solely to create or recognize your mahallify account. We do not receive your phone number, contacts, messages, or any other Telegram data. We never message you on Telegram beyond the one-time confirmation that completes sign-in. You may revoke this connection at any time by deleting your mahallify account.

Google Account Info

If you choose to sign in with Google, we receive your name, email address, and profile picture from your Google account through Google's sign-in service. We use this information solely to create or recognize your mahallify account. We do not gain access to your Gmail, contacts, files, or any other Google data, and we cannot post or act on your behalf. You may revoke mahallify's access at any time from your Google Account settings (myaccount.google.com/permissions) or by deleting your mahallify account.

Device & Usage Data

Device type, operating system version, app version, and general usage analytics (screens viewed, features used). This helps us fix bugs and improve the app experience.

3. How We Use Your Information

To create and manage your account and display your profile to other users
To show you listings and events relevant to your selected location
To enable direct messaging between users
To display your listings and photos to other community members
To verify your identity via a one-time SMS code (OTP) during sign-in
To create or recognize your account when you sign in with Telegram, using only the basic profile data Telegram returns (numeric ID, name, optional username)
To create or recognize your account when you sign in with Google, using only the basic profile data Google returns (name, email address, profile picture)
To send you notifications about messages, listing responses, and platform updates
To detect and prevent fraud, abuse, or policy violations
To improve app performance, fix bugs, and develop new features
To respond to your support requests

4. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal data. We share information only in these limited circumstances:

With other users: Your public profile, listings, and photos are visible to other mahallify users as part of the platform's core functionality.
Service providers: We use third-party services for hosting, analytics, and push notifications. These providers access data only to perform services on our behalf and are bound by confidentiality obligations.
Legal requirements: We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or to protect the rights and safety of our users or the public.
Business transfers: If mahallify is acquired or merges with another company, your data may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you before any such transfer.

5. Data Retention

We retain your data for as long as your account is active. When you delete your account, we remove your profile, listings, photos, and messages within 30 days, except where retention is required by law.

Some anonymized, aggregated data (e.g., total listing counts) may be retained for analytics purposes and cannot be used to identify you.

6. Your Rights & Choices

Access: You can view and edit your profile and listings at any time within the app.
Deletion: You can delete your account and all associated data from the app settings, or by emailing us.
Data export: You can request a copy of your data by contacting [email protected].
Notifications: You can manage push notification preferences in your device settings.
Location: You can update your location at any time within the app. We do not require device GPS access.
Phone number: You can update or remove your phone number from your account settings at any time.

7. Children's Privacy

mahallify is not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that a child under 13 has created an account, we will delete it promptly. If you believe a child has provided us their information, please contact us at [email protected].

8. Security

We use industry-standard security measures — including encrypted connections (HTTPS/TLS) and secure data storage — to protect your information. However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. Please report any security concerns to us immediately at [email protected].

9. Third-Party Links

mahallify may contain links to external websites or services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those third parties. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before sharing information with them.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make significant changes, we will notify you via a push notification or a banner in the app. The updated policy will be posted at mahallify.us/privacy with a revised "Last updated" date. Continued use of the app after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please reach out:

[email protected]

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