Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

We collect the following information when you use Halal Eats:

• Account information: name, email address, and avatar (if you sign up with Google OAuth)
• User-generated content: restaurant submissions, reviews, photos, menu items, and reports
• Location data: if you grant permission, your approximate location is used to show nearby restaurants and provide directions. This data is processed locally on your device and is not stored on our servers.
• Usage data: pages visited, interactions with the map, and search queries

2. How We Use Your Information

• To provide and improve the restaurant discovery service
• To authenticate your account and secure your data
• To display user-generated content (reviews, photos) publicly
• To moderate content and enforce our Terms of Service
• To communicate account-related notices

3. Third-Party Services

Halal Eats uses the following third-party services:

• Neon (PostgreSQL): database hosting for all user and restaurant data
• Google OAuth: optional sign-in via Google account
• OpenStreetMap (Nominatim): geocoding addresses to map coordinates
• OSRM: routing and directions between locations
• MapLibre GL: rendering map tiles on your device
• Vercel: hosting and deployment infrastructure

Each service operates under its own privacy policy. We only share the minimum data necessary for each service to function.

4. Data Storage and Security

Your data is stored securely on Neon's PostgreSQL servers. We implement industry-standard security measures including encrypted connections (HTTPS) and secure password hashing. However, no online service is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

5. Cookies

We use essential cookies for authentication (session management) and to maintain your preferences (theme, map settings). No tracking or advertising cookies are used. You can control cookies through your browser settings.

6. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate data
• Request deletion of your account and associated data
• Withdraw consent for Google OAuth at any time
• Export your data upon request

To exercise these rights, please contact us through the available channels on our website.

7. Data Retention

We retain your account data until you delete your account. User-generated content (reviews, restaurant submissions) may remain visible even after account deletion to preserve the community directory, but will be anonymized.

8. Children's Privacy

Halal Eats is not intended for users under 13. We do not knowingly collect data from children. If we become aware of such data, we will delete it promptly.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. Material changes will be notified via email or a prominent notice on the platform.

10. Contact

If you have questions about this privacy policy, please reach out through the contact information available on our website.