Privacy Policy

Effective Date: February 13, 2024

Welcome to pop.in!

We have prepared this Privacy Policy to explain how we collect, use, protect, and disclose information and data when you use the pop.in app, website, or any other services offered by us. Today pop.in operates an iOS and Android App as well as a website (pop.in). If we offer additional services, we will update the policy accordingly.

By using pop.in, you consent to this privacy policy.

Managing Your Information Preferences

You can always review, correct, or update your Personal Information by changing the relevant settings in your pop.in account. If you chose to share your email address, you can opt out of receiving certain emails by changing notification settings on our app, clicking the unsubscribe link provided in an email, or by emailing us at privacy@pop.in. If you have questions or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy, please email us at privacy@pop.in.

Information We Collect

Personal Information

We only collect information that you choose to share with us. As a requirement to log into pop.in, you must provide your mobile phone number. We use it to send you a verification code and make sure you are a person and not a bot. We may use automated dialing systems to occasionally contact you via text messages for various purposes, such as providing customer service, sending reminders, or offering promotions. By providing us with your phone number, you consent to receive such communications from us or on our behalf. You may opt out of receiving these communications at any time by following the instructions provided in each message or by contacting us directly. Beyond that, you may choose to share your email and social media accounts (Twitter and Facebook). The decision to provide this information is optional. However, if you choose not to provide the requested information, you may not be able to use some pop.in features.

Enhanced Disclosure for Collecting and Sharing Personal Information

To ensure transparency and build trust with our users, we provide detailed information about the collection and use of personal data. This includes the collection of contact lists and image information:

Device Phonebook Access

We value your privacy and transparency. To enhance your experience by facilitating easier communication with friends, we may request access to your device’s phonebook. Accessing your contacts allows us to help you connect with friends more efficiently on our app. Here’s how we handle this process:

  • Explicit Consent: We will ask for your explicit consent before accessing your device's phonebook. This request will be made through a clear, understandable in-app prompt that explains why we need this access and what information we will collect.

  • In-App Disclosure: Before you decide to grant access, we will provide you with detailed information through an in-app disclosure. This disclosure will outline the types of contact information we collect, how it will be used, and your control over this data.

  • Control and Consent: You have the option to give or withhold your consent. If you choose not to grant access, you can still use pop.in, although some features that require contact list access may be limited.

Image Information Usage

Your photos can personalize and enhance your experience on pop.in. Here’s how we approach the collection and use of image information:

  • Separate Consent for Image Uploads: When you choose to upload photos, we will request your separate, explicit consent for each use case. This includes personalizing your profile or sharing images with friends within the app.

  • Purpose and Control: We will clearly explain the purposes for which your images will be used. You retain control over the images you upload and can manage or delete them at any time.

  • Informed Decision: Our in-app notifications will provide detailed information about how image data is used, ensuring you are fully informed before making a decision to upload and share images.

By implementing these practices, we ensure that your personal information is collected and used transparently and with your full consent, enhancing trust and ensuring compliance with privacy regulations.

Usage of Personal Information

We clarify how personal information, including contact lists and images, is used within our app. This includes:

  • Purpose and Consent: Detailed explanations of why we collect specific types of data and how we use them to provide services within our app.

  • Sharing and Disclosure: Information on how and with whom your data may be shared, emphasizing that sharing is done with your consent and for the purposes of enhancing your experience on pop.in.

Our app may collect certain additional information automatically, including, but not limited to, the type of mobile device you use, your mobile device’s unique device ID, the IP address of your mobile device, your mobile operating system, the type of mobile Internet browsers you use, and information about the way you use the application.

GPS and Location Data

We may use GPS technology (or other similar technology) to determine your current location. This is only done with your explicit consent, and you have the option to turn off location services within your account or phone settings at any time.

California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA)

The California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) is a new law that gives California residents more control over their personal information. This section explains how the CPRA applies to our website.

Under the CPRA, California residents have the following rights:

  • The right to request access to their personal information.

  • The right to delete their personal information.The right to opt out of the sale of their personal information.

  • The right to non-discrimination for exercising their CPRA rights.

We collect, use, and share personal information about California residents in accordance with the CPRA. We will obtain consent from California residents before collecting, using, or sharing their personal information, unless an exception applies.

You can exercise your CPRA rights by contacting us at help@pop.in. We will respond to your request within 45 days. If we need more time, we will let you know. We will not charge you a fee to exercise your CPRA rights.

Usage Data and Site Activity

We automatically collect information regarding the actions you take on the app. For example, each time you use pop.in we may automatically collect the type of Web browser you use, your operating system, your Internet Service Provider, your IP address, the pages you view, and the time and duration of your visits. This usage data may be associated with your account, but we do not disclose the associated information to third parties. We may store such usage data itself and/or such information may be included in databases owned and maintained by pop.in or service providers (for example the analytics provider Mixpanel). We may use such information and pool it with other information to track, for example, the total number of visitors, the number of visitors to each page, etc. We use this information to help us understand how people use pop.in, and to enhance pop.in.

Cookies and Web Beacons

We use cookies (a small text file placed on your computer to identify your computer and browser). We may also use Web beacons (a file placed on a website that monitors usage). We use cookies and Web beacons to improve the experience of the Site and Services, such as pre-populating your username for easier login. We do not use cookies or Web beacons to collect Personal Information. Most Web browsers are initially set up to accept cookies. At this time, pop.in does not recognize automated browser signals regarding tracking, including “do-not-track” signals. You can remove persistent cookies and change your privacy preferences by following directions provided in your Internet browser’s “help” directory. However, certain features of the Site or Services may not work if you delete or disable cookies. Some of our Service Providers may use their own cookies and Web beacons in connection with the services they perform on our behalf, as further explained below.

We will obtain consent from California residents before setting cookies on their devices. This consent can be obtained through a clear and conspicuous banner or pop-up. You can opt out of cookies by changing your browser settings. However, if you opt out of cookies, you may not be able to use all of the features of our website.

Advertising

We are committed to transparency in how advertisements may be presented within pop.in. If advertising is introduced, we will update this policy accordingly to explain how user data may be used in relation to advertising.

Children's Privacy

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13. This commitment is crucial for protecting the privacy of young users, and we take steps to ensure compliance with laws designed to protect children's privacy online. If we become aware that we have inadvertently received Personal Information from a child under the age of 13, we will delete such information from our records.

Security

We maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards to protect the confidentiality and security of Personal Information and other information transmitted to us. However, no data transmission over the Internet or other network can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. As a result, while we strive to protect information transmitted on or through pop.i, we cannot and do not guarantee the security of any information you transmit, and you do so at your own risk.

Our app may contain links or integrate with other websites and online services, or allow others to send you such links. We are not responsible or liable for any damage or loss related to your use of any third-party website or online service. You should always read the terms and conditions and privacy policy of a third-party website or online service before using it, whether directly or in connection with your use of pop.in.

How We Use Information and When We May Share and Disclose it

‍We will provide you with access to and to support your use of pop.in and to monitor your use of pop.in via our analytics tools. We will also give you the opportunity to store, review, delete and edit Personal Information and other information by clicking “support” in your profile.From time to time, we may offer our users the opportunity to participate in surveys, contests and other special offers. If you elect to participate in these services, you will need to provide certain Personal Information.If you contact us by e-mail or otherwise, we will use the Personal Information you provide to answer your question or resolve your problem.If (and only if) you opt-in, pop.in may use your Personal Information to contact you in the future to tell you about products, services and events that may be of interest to you.In an ongoing effort to better understand and serve the users of pop.in, we may conduct research on its customers’ demographics, interests and behavior. This data may be compiled and analyzed on an aggregate basis, and we may share this data with advertisers, researchers, business partners, publications, and other third parties. This information will not identify you personally. We may use your Personal Information, aggregated Personal Information and other non-personally-identifiable information collected through the Site and Services to help us improve pop.in -- content and functionality, to better understand our users and to improve the Services.

International Data Transfers

Please be aware that your Personal Information and communications may be transferred to and maintained on servers or databases located outside your state, province, or country. If you are located outside of the United States, please be advised that we process and store all information in the United States in a way that’s fully compliant with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The laws in the United States may not be as protective of your privacy as those in your location. By using our Site or Services, you agree that the applicable laws in the United States will govern the collection, use, transfer, and disclosure of your Personal Information and communications.

‍Information You Make Available to Others

‍By using pop.in, including creation of a profile or submission of public queries, you may make certain of your Personal Information available to others, such as your name (if you share it), your username, and your picture. This information may be accessed by users who use pop.in and may be accessed by commercial search engines such as Google, Yahoo!, and Bing

Third Party Services and Applications

Through pop.in, you may elect to access third-party services and applications, such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other social networks. When you do so, you may be able to import information from those other services and applications and share content with those services. Some of those third-party services may also provide us with information from your accounts, which may enable us to enhance and personalize your use of pop.in. If you elect to enable such third-party services or applications, the information you share with them will be subject to their privacy policies and your privacy settings. You can control whether your activity is sent to third-party services and applications by changing the relevant settings in your pop.in account. You also may be able to control or block such sharing by changing your privacy settings in such services or applications. Third parties may collect, but we do not authorize them to collect, personally identifiable information about your online activities over time and across different websites when you use pop.in.

Service Providers

From time to time, we may establish a business relationship with other businesses that we believe to be trustworthy and have privacy practices consistent with ours. For example, we may contract with Service Providers to provide certain services, such as hosting and maintenance, data storage and management, and marketing and promotions. We only provide our Service Providers with the information necessary for them to perform these services on our behalf. Each Service Provider must agree to use reasonable security procedures and practices, appropriate to the nature of the information involved, in order to protect your Personal Information from unauthorized access, use or disclosure. Service Providers are prohibited from using Personal Information other than as specified by pop.in.

As of this time, we have partnered with Google Analytics and Firebase in a way that collects user information. Both are compliant with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). If another user uploads their contact list, we may combine information about you from that user’s contact list with other information we have collected about you. If you provide us with your contact information, we may use that information and information obtained from third parties to determine if we can communicate with you on other messaging platforms.

Other Transfers

‍We may share Personal Information and Usage Data with businesses controlling, controlled by, or under common control with pop.in. If pop.in is merged, acquired, or sold, or in the event of a transfer of some or all of our assets or equity, we may disclose or transfer Personal Information and Usage Data in connection with such transaction.

Compliance with Laws and Law Enforcement

pop.in will cooperate with government and law enforcement officials and private parties to enforce and comply with the law. We may disclose Personal Information and any other content and information about you to government or law enforcement officials or private parties if, in our discretion, we believe it is necessary or appropriate in order to respond to legal requests (including court orders and subpoenas), to protect the safety, property or rights of pop.in or of any third party, to prevent or stop any illegal, unethical, or legally actionable activity, or to comply with the law.

Be Careful When You Share Information with Others

Please be aware that whenever you share information on a publicly available page or any other public forum on pop.in, others may access that information. In addition, please remember that when you share information in any other communications with third parties, that information may be passed along or made public by others. This means that anyone with access to such information can potentially use it for any purpose, including sending unsolicited communications.

Exclusions

This Privacy Policy shall not apply to any unsolicited information you provide pop.in by using the service. This includes, but is not limited to, information posted to any public areas, such as bulletin boards, any ideas for new products or modifications to existing products, and other unsolicited submissions. All Unsolicited Information shall be deemed to be non-confidential and we will be free, and you hereby grant us the right, to reproduce, use, disclose, and distribute such Unsolicited Information to others without limitation or attribution.

Privacy Policy Changes

From time to time, we may change this Privacy Policy. If we change this Privacy Policy, we will give you notice by posting the revised Privacy Policy on the Site. Those changes will go into effect on the effective date shown in the revised Privacy Policy. By continuing to use the Site or Services, you consent to the revised Privacy Policy.

Contact Us

For any questions or concerns about our privacy practices, please contact us at privacy@pop.in.

PLEASE PRINT A COPY OF THIS PRIVACY POLICY FOR YOU RECORDS AND PLEASE CHECK THE SITE FREQUENTLY FOR ANY CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY.

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