Privacy Policy

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide

We collect information that you voluntarily provide to us, including:

• Account Information: Name, email address, password, phone number, and profile photo
• Business Information: Business name, description, address, contact details, operating hours, categories, and photos
• Payment Information: Billing details and payment card information (processed securely through third-party payment processors)
• Communications: Messages, reviews, ratings, and other content you submit through our platform
• Support Requests: Information you provide when contacting customer support

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you use our Services, we automatically collect:

• Device Information: Device type, operating system, browser type, IP address, and unique device identifiers
• Usage Information: Pages viewed, features used, search queries, and interaction with content
• Location Information: Precise or approximate location data (with your permission) to show nearby businesses and services
• Cookies and Similar Technologies: Data collected through cookies, web beacons, and similar tracking technologies

2.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from:

• Authentication services (e.g., Google, Apple) when you use social login
• Business partners and service providers who help us operate our platform
• Publicly available sources to verify business information

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide, maintain, and improve our Services
• Create and manage your account
• Process payments and transactions
• Connect you with local businesses and community members
• Display your business listing to potential customers
• Send you notifications, updates, and marketing communications (which you can opt out of)
• Respond to your inquiries and provide customer support
• Personalize your experience and show relevant content
• Analyze usage patterns and improve our platform
• Detect, prevent, and address fraud, security issues, and technical problems
• Comply with legal obligations and enforce our terms

4. How We Share Your Information

We may share your information in the following circumstances:

4.1 Public Information

Information in your public profile, business listings, reviews, and ratings is visible to other users and may be indexed by search engines.

4.2 Service Providers

We share information with third-party service providers who perform services on our behalf, including:

• Cloud hosting and infrastructure providers (e.g., Vercel, Supabase)
• Payment processors (e.g., Stripe)
• Analytics services (e.g., Google Analytics, Sentry)
• Email and communication providers
• Customer support platforms

4.3 Business Transfers

If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.

4.4 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law or if we believe such action is necessary to:

• Comply with legal obligations, court orders, or government requests
• Protect and defend our rights or property
• Prevent fraud or illegal activity
• Protect the safety of our users or the public

4.5 With Your Consent

We may share information for other purposes with your explicit consent.

5. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

• Encryption of data in transit and at rest
• Secure authentication and access controls
• Regular security audits and monitoring
• Staff training on data protection practices
• Secure payment processing through PCI-compliant providers

However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Your Rights and Choices

Under Australian privacy law and depending on your location, you have the following rights:

• Access: Request access to the personal information we hold about you
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information (subject to certain exceptions)
• Portability: Request a copy of your information in a portable format
• Object: Object to processing of your information for certain purposes
• Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent where we rely on consent to process your information
• Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from marketing communications at any time

To exercise these rights, please contact us at privacy@loclie.com.au. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe as required by law.

7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to collect information about your browsing activities and personalize your experience. You can control cookies through your browser settings, though disabling cookies may affect the functionality of our Services.

We use the following types of cookies:

• Essential Cookies: Necessary for the operation of our Services
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how users interact with our Services
• Functional Cookies: Remember your preferences and settings
• Marketing Cookies: Used to deliver relevant advertisements (with your consent)

8. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide our Services, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. When we no longer need your information, we will securely delete or anonymize it.

Specific retention periods vary based on the type of information and purpose:

• Account information: Retained while your account is active and for a reasonable period after closure
• Business listings: Retained while active and for archival purposes
• Transaction records: Retained for 7 years to comply with tax and accounting requirements
• Marketing communications: Retained until you unsubscribe

9. Children's Privacy

Our Services are not intended for children under 13 years of age (or 16 in some jurisdictions). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately, and we will take steps to delete such information.

10. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than Australia. We ensure that such transfers comply with applicable data protection laws and that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your information.

11. Third-Party Links and Services

Our Services may contain links to third-party websites and services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any information to them.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of material changes by posting the updated policy on our website and updating the "Last updated" date. Your continued use of our Services after such changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or complaints about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us at:

If you are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au.