Privacy Policy

Your privacy is foundational to how Soloscape works — not an afterthought.

Last updated: January 1, 2025

1. WHO WE ARE

Soloscape is a community platform for solo travelers, operated from the United States. By using the app or website you agree to the practices described in this policy.

If you have questions about this policy, contact us at soloscapeapp@gmail.com.

2. WHAT WE COLLECT

Information you provide directly:

First and last name (first name shown publicly, last name stored privately)
Email address (private — never shown to other users)
Password (hashed and encrypted — never stored in plain text)
Profile photo (public)
Bio (public, max 150 characters)
Hometown — city and state or country only (public — never precise address)
Star sign (public)
Traveler type and quiz answers (public — displayed as profile tags)
Travel destination city (public)
Travel dates (private — used only for matching, never displayed to other users)
Instagram and TikTok handles (public only if you choose to provide them)
Posts, reviews, comments, and chat messages you create

Information collected automatically:

Device type and operating system (used for performance monitoring only)
App usage patterns (anonymous, aggregated — used to improve the app)
Session data (used to keep you logged in)

Information we do NOT collect:

Precise GPS location or real-time location data
Full street address
Payment or financial information (no transactions in Phase 1)
Contacts or address book
Any biometric data

3. HOW WE USE YOUR DATA

We use the information we collect to:

Create and display your traveler profile to the Soloscape community
Match you privately with other travelers heading to the same destination during the same time window
Personalize your feed, recommendations, and community matches based on your traveler type
Send transactional emails (account creation, password reset, account changes)
Send notification emails you have opted into (matches, likes, comments, mentions)
Moderate content and maintain community safety
Improve app performance and user experience using anonymous aggregated data

4. WHAT IS PUBLIC AND WHAT IS PRIVATE

Visible to all Soloscape users:

First name
Profile photo
Bio
Hometown (city and state or country — never precise location)
Star sign
Traveler type badge
Quiz answers (displayed as profile tags)
Destination city
Posts, reviews, and comments you publish
Saved posts collection
Countries visited count
Member since date
Instagram and TikTok handles (only if provided)

Private — never visible to other users:

Last name
Email address
Password
Travel dates
Precise location or address
Device information
Account history (suspensions, flags)

Private — visible to Soloscape admin only:

Email address
Account status and history
Flagged content associated with your account

5. WHO WE SHARE YOUR DATA WITH

We do not sell your personal data to third parties — ever

We do not share your personal data with advertisers

Anonymous aggregated usage data (with no personally identifying information) may be used to understand how the app is used and to improve it

We may share data with service providers who help us operate the app (hosting, email delivery) under strict confidentiality agreements

We may disclose data to law enforcement or legal authorities if required by law or to protect the safety of our users

6. DATA RETENTION

Active accounts: your data is retained for as long as your account is active
Deleted accounts: all personal data is permanently deleted within 30 days of an account deletion request
Chat messages: retained for 90 days after a Social Room expires for moderation and safety purposes, then permanently deleted
Flagged content: retained for moderation review, deleted once the review is resolved

7. YOUR RIGHTS

All users — including international users — have the following rights:

EU users (GDPR): If you are located in the European Union, you have additional rights including the right to data portability and the right to lodge a complaint with your local supervisory authority. Contact us at soloscapeapp@gmail.com to exercise your GDPR rights.

California users (CCPA): If you are a California resident, you have the right to know what personal information we collect, request deletion of your data, and opt out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell personal information). Contact us at soloscapeapp@gmail.com to exercise your CCPA rights.

Access: request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
Correction: update or correct your information at any time via profile edit in the app
Deletion: delete your account and all associated data via Me → Settings → Account → Delete Account, or by contacting us at soloscapeapp@gmail.com
Opt out: opt out of non-essential notification emails via Me → Settings → Notifications at any time

8. INTERNATIONAL USERS

Soloscape is operated from the United States. If you are accessing the app from outside the United States, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored in, and processed in the United States where our servers are located. By using Soloscape, you consent to this transfer.

9. CHILDREN'S PRIVACY

Soloscape is intended for users aged 18 and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If we become aware that a user is under 18, their account will be deleted immediately. If you believe a minor has created an account, contact us at soloscapeapp@gmail.com.

10. SECURITY

We take reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your personal data including:

No method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your data, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Password hashing and encryption
Secure HTTPS connections throughout the app
Server-side storage of all sensitive data — private fields are never exposed in client-side API responses
Auth tokens stored securely, not in local storage
Regular security reviews

11. COOKIES

Soloscape uses essential cookies to keep you logged in and maintain your session. On your first web visit, you will be shown a cookie consent notice. Accepting all cookies enables anonymous analytics to help us improve the app. Selecting essential only disables analytics tracking.

12. CHANGES TO THIS POLICY

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page and notify users via email if the changes are material. Continued use of Soloscape after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

13. CONTACT US

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy:

📧 Email: soloscapeapp@gmail.com

🌐 Website: soloscape.app/contact