1. Information We Collect

We collect the following types of information when you use MeerkatMeet:

• Account information — your name and email address, provided when you register or sign in via Google or Apple.
• Profile information — optional details you choose to add, such as a bio, location, and profile photo.
• Location data — if you provide a location in your profile, we store approximate coordinates to power "near me" features. This is optional and can be kept private.
• OAuth data — if you sign in with Google or Apple, we receive your name, email, and profile avatar from those providers. We do not receive or store your passwords from those services.
• Gravatar data — if you register with an email address, we may retrieve your publicly available avatar from Gravatar using a hashed version of your email address. No additional personal information is exchanged.
• Content you post — comments, photos, group and event details, and RSVPs you create on the platform.
• Push notification data — if you enable push notifications, we store your browser's push subscription endpoint and encryption keys so we can deliver notifications to your device.
• Usage data — basic server logs (IP address, browser type, pages visited) collected automatically by the web server.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide and operate the MeerkatMeet service
• Display your profile and content to other members of groups you belong to
• Send notifications about activity relevant to you (RSVPs, comments, group updates)
• Power location-based features such as "groups and events near me"
• Administer and improve the platform

3. Information Sharing

We do not sell, rent, or share your personal information with third parties for their marketing purposes. Your information may be visible to other users as follows:

• Your name and profile are visible to other logged-in users.
• Your location is only visible to other users if you have not enabled the "keep private" setting.
• Content you post (comments, photos) is visible to members of the relevant group.

We may disclose information if required to do so by law or in response to a valid legal request.

4. Data Retention

We retain your data for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account, your personal information and content will be removed from the platform. Some residual data may remain in backups for a limited period.

5. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access and update your personal information via your profile settings
• Delete your account and associated data at any time from your profile settings
• Opt out of email notifications via your notification preferences
• Opt out of push notifications at any time from your notification preferences, which also removes your push subscription data from our servers
• Keep your location private using the privacy toggle in your profile

To request a copy of your data or ask any privacy-related questions, please contact the site administrator.

6. Third-Party Services

MeerkatMeet uses Google and Apple OAuth for authentication. When you use these sign-in options, you are also subject to those providers' privacy policies. We only receive the information necessary to create your account (name, email, and avatar).

For email-based registrations, we use Gravatar to retrieve your profile avatar. Gravatar is operated by Automattic and is subject to the Automattic Privacy Policy. We send only a hashed version of your email address to this service.

7. Cookies & Sessions

We use session cookies to keep you logged in. We do not use tracking cookies or third-party advertising cookies.

8. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify users of significant changes. Continued use of the service after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

9. Contact

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, please contact the site administrator.