Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide

Account Information:

• Email address (via Clerk authentication)
• Profile photo
• Authentication credentials (managed securely by Clerk)

Profile Information (collected during onboarding):

• Name
• Role/Title
• Location
• Skills and expertise
• Current projects and past work
• Bio and unique background
• What you're looking for (connections, collaborations)
• LinkedIn URL (optional)

Communications:

• Messages sent to other users (encrypted)
• Contact form submissions
• Support inquiries

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

Usage Data:

• App open events and timestamps
• Search queries
• Profile views and interactions
• Feature usage patterns

Technical Data:

• Browser type and version
• Device information
• IP address
• Cookies and similar technologies

1.3 Information from Third Parties

Authentication Provider (Clerk):

• Basic profile information from your authentication method
• Email verification status

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Provide the Service: Create and manage your account, display your profile, and facilitate connections
• AI-Powered Features: Generate profile summaries, provide intelligent matching, and parse search queries using Google Gemini AI
• Communications: Send welcome emails, match notifications, message alerts, and important updates
• Improve the Service: Analyze usage patterns, fix bugs, and develop new features
• Safety & Security: Detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and security threats
• Legal Compliance: Comply with applicable laws and regulations

3. How We Share Your Information

3.1 With Other Users

Your profile information (name, role, skills, bio, photo, location) is visible to other Choices users for discovery and matching purposes.

3.2 With Service Providers

We share data with trusted third-party services:

3.3 For Legal Reasons

We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or to protect the rights, safety, or property of Choices or others.

3.4 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, user information may be transferred to the acquiring entity.

4. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures:

• Message Encryption: All direct messages are encrypted before storage
• Secure Authentication: Managed by Clerk with industry-standard security practices
• Database Security: Supabase provides encrypted data storage and secure access controls
• HTTPS: All data transmission is encrypted in transit
• Access Controls: Limited employee access to user data

However, no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

5. Your Privacy Rights

5.1 Access and Control

You can:

• View and edit your profile information at any time
• Adjust privacy settings (message privacy, read receipts, email notifications)
• Download your data by contacting us
• Delete your account and associated data

5.2 Privacy Settings

Through your Settings page, you can control:

• Message Privacy: Who can send you messages (everyone, matches, or no one)
• Read Receipts: Whether others see when you've read their messages
• Email Notifications: Whether you receive email alerts for new messages

5.3 Communication Preferences

You can opt out of non-essential emails by updating your notification settings or clicking "unsubscribe" in our emails.

6. Data Retention

We retain your data for as long as your account is active. After account deletion:

• Profile data is deleted within 30 days
• Messages may be retained in encrypted form for the other participant
• Anonymized analytics data may be retained indefinitely
• Backup copies may persist for up to 90 days

7. Children's Privacy

Choices is not intended for users under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect information from children. If we discover we have collected data from a child, we will delete it promptly.

8. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own. By using Choices, you consent to such transfers. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for international data transfers.

9. Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies for:

• Essential Functions: Authentication, session management
• Analytics: Understanding usage patterns (anonymized)
• Preferences: Remembering your settings

You can control cookies through your browser settings, but some features may not function properly without them.

10. AI and Automated Decision-Making

Our AI features process your data to:

• Generate your profile summary from onboarding conversations
• Match you with relevant users
• Understand and parse your search queries
• Curate your discovery feed

These AI processes assist in recommendations but do not make binding decisions about your access to the platform.

11. Third-Party Links

Our Service may contain links to third-party websites (e.g., LinkedIn profiles). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. We will notify you of material changes via email or in-app notification. Your continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.

13. Contact Us

For privacy-related questions, requests, or concerns:

Email: hello@trychoices.app

Subject Line: Privacy Inquiry

We aim to respond to all privacy requests within 30 days.