🏎️ Privacy Policy

Last Updated: February 9, 2026

Welcome to Blacktop Society! This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application. Please read this privacy policy carefully. By using Blacktop Society, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Account Information

When you create an account, we collect:

• Email Address - Used for account authentication and communications
• Display Name - Your public name shown to other users
• Username/Nickname - Your unique identifier within the app
• Password - Securely hashed and stored for authentication

1.2 Profile Information

You may optionally provide:

• Profile photo/avatar
• Bio or description
• Vehicle/garage information (make, model, year, photos of your cars)

1.3 Location Information

If you choose to enable location features, we may collect:

• GPS coordinates (latitude/longitude)
• Location accuracy data
• Timestamp of location updates

You can control location sharing at any time through:

• Share location with friends only
• Share location publicly with nearby users
• Share location with specific friends (per-friend controls)
• Disable location sharing entirely

1.4 Social & Communication Data

To provide our social features, we collect:

• Friend connections - Your friends list and friend requests
• Messages - Direct messages and group chat (Crew) messages
• Posts and content - Photos, comments, and other content you share
• Event participation - Events you create or attend
• Group membership - Crews and groups you join

1.5 Device & Technical Information

We automatically collect:

• Device type and operating system
• Push notification tokens (for sending you notifications)
• App version and usage statistics
• Crash reports and error logs

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Create and manage your account
• Enable social features (friends, messaging, groups)
• Show your location to friends or nearby users (only when you enable this)
• Send push notifications for messages, friend requests, and events
• Display your vehicles in your garage profile
• Facilitate event discovery and participation
• Improve app performance and user experience
• Provide customer support
• Comply with legal obligations

3. Information Sharing

3.1 With Other Users

Based on your settings, the following may be visible to other users:

• Profile information (name, nickname, avatar)
• Vehicles in your garage
• Posts and content you share
• Your location (only if you enable location sharing)

3.2 With Third Parties

We do not sell your personal information. We may share information with:

• Service Providers - AWS (cloud hosting), Firebase (push notifications)
• Legal Requirements - When required by law or to protect rights and safety

4. Data Storage & Security

Your data is stored securely using Amazon Web Services (AWS) infrastructure, including:

• Encrypted data transmission (HTTPS/TLS)
• Secure authentication via AWS Cognito
• Encrypted data storage
• Regular security audits

5. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as your account is active. You can request deletion of your account and associated data at any time.

Clear Track Feature: For Crew chats, the "Clear Track" feature allows automatic deletion of message history based on your crew's settings (1 hour to 1 week).

6. Your Rights & Choices

You have the right to:

• Access - Request a copy of your personal data
• Correct - Update or correct inaccurate information
• Delete - Request deletion of your account and data
• Opt-out - Disable location sharing, notifications, or other features
• Portability - Request your data in a portable format

7. Push Notifications

We send push notifications for:

• New messages and Rev Pings
• Friend requests
• Event reminders
• Group/Crew activity

You can manage notification preferences in the app settings or disable notifications entirely through your device settings.

8. Children's Privacy

Blacktop Society is not intended for users under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn that we have collected information from a child under 13, we will promptly delete it.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy. Continued use of the app after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

10. California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

• Right to know what personal information is collected
• Right to know whether personal information is sold or disclosed
• Right to opt-out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell your data)
• Right to non-discrimination for exercising your privacy rights

11. International Users (GDPR)

For users in the European Economic Area (EEA), we process your data based on:

• Your consent (which you can withdraw at any time)
• Performance of our contract with you
• Our legitimate interests in operating the service
• Compliance with legal obligations

© 2026 Blacktop Society. All rights reserved.