PRIVACY POLICY – FRIENDSMATE

We care for your privacy and we want to share with you everything we do with your personal data. Throughout FriendsMates’ Privacy Policy, you will be able to check what rights you have at your disposal, what data we treat and with whom we share it, the period for which the personal data will be stored, and much more.

FriendsMates – owned by The Lighthouse Project Inc. located at 6001 W PARMER LN STE 370 AUSTIN, TX 78727 (hereinafter, “FriendsMates”, ‘’we’’, ‘’us’’), dedicates itself to provide a platform for people looking to list their rooms or properties and for people looking for accommodation.

SCOPE OF THIS PRIVACY POLICY

This Privacy Policy applies to all users of the website and mobile App www.FriendsMates.com whether they register or not, and to all users of the mobile application, from the moment they install it on their device mobile.

The application of this Privacy Policy applies to all users from the moment they open our website or our mobile application, no matter where they are located.

The use of the services provided by FriendsMates is conditioned by the acceptance of the Terms and Conditions of Use and the reading of this Policy. If you do not agree to these conditions, please do not use our services.

DATA COLLECTED

The collection and processing of data is fundamental to the operation of FriendsMates. Based on your data our project plan is enhanced and that informational core allows us to provide you the best service.

There are various sets of information and data we collect and process, such as:

Contact and personal information. We collect your name, age, email address, employment status, residential address, and phone number. We also collect third party social media information like profiles.

Property Information. We collect information about the room, or property you want to list on our platform such as: full address and location, type of building, and pictures of the room or property.

Validating information. Connection with our services third party background companies collect photo and government IDs on our behalf. This verification is subject of a payment fee of $ 4.99.

Demographic information. We may collect your date of birth. We may also collect your age, gender and zip code.

Location data with the use of the mobile application we may access information contained in the GPS of your mobile device. However, this operation is optional and must always be previously agreed by the user.

Information you post. We collect photos and videos you upload to our site. We collect other information you may post on our sites and apps.

Camera and Gallery The application and platform can access the camera and the photo gallery of the device, allowing the user to take pictures and add them to the platform.

Usage data. We may collect information about the browser you are using or your operating system. We may also collect device information including device IDs. We may also collect information about how and when you connected to us. We also look at the areas of our sites or apps you visit and where you go when you leave us. We may also collect information about your location.

We would like to emphasize that this type of data collection is mainly intended to facilitate the work of our team whenever you need our support. It’s the collection of these groups of information that allows the quick resolution of problems on our platforms, without it we are not able to guarantee the functionality of our platform. For more information, please check our cookie policy.

HOW WE COLECT THE DATA

We collect information directly from you when you register for an account, and/or if you contact us.

We collect information about you passively when we use tracking tools like browser cookies. We do this on our website and in emails we send to you.

We get information about you from third parties who give us information included on the social media sites and third-party apps. This includes your profile and public information on those sites.

COLLECTION PURPOSES

Improve our services. We use your information to improve our sites and apps. We use your information to customize your experience with us. We also use your information to serve you specific content that is most relevant to you.

Legal matters we may use your personal data to comply with court requests, and administrative inspections, among other government legal requirements. In the case of a court request, all personal data will be fully available to the administrative or judicial authorities if our legal team agrees with the legal basis of the particular case.

Marketing we may use your data to send you emails, notifications, text messages and postal mail. We will never do it, however, without your express authorization and you can choose not to subscribe and continue enjoying the rest of our services. In order to provide you the best experience, the processing of such communications may be subject to automated individual decision-making, including profiling.

Security purposes. We use your information to protect our company and our customers. We also use your information to protect our sites and apps. We use your information to prevent, discover and investigate violations of our Policy or Terms.

DATA RETENTION PERIOD

The Period commencing on the Effective Date of registration and permanently retained.

THIRD PARTY PROVIDERS

This Privacy Policy does not apply to other advertisers or websites. Thus, we are advising you to consult the respective Privacy Policies of these third-party servers for more detailed information. It may include their practices and instructions about how to opt-out of certain options. You may find a complete list of these Privacy Policies and their links here:

Analysis of the use of software: we resort to applications in order to analyze the use of our software, such as Google Analytics.

Advertising: we use analysis tools for marketing and advertising purposes; as well as, we use Social Media marketing such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and GoogleAds.

Mobile Application Platforms: In order to access to our Mobile App we use platforms such as Apple Store and Play Store..

Social Media Log In: To register and log in to your customer account, you also have the option of authenticating yourself with your existing profile on one of the following social networks, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google, and finally registering or logging in.

For this purpose, you will find on the registration page or login page the corresponding symbols of the respective providers of the social networks supported by our website. Before a connection to the providers is established, you must expressly agree to the process and transmission of data described below:

In order to perform the authentication process for registration and login, your IP address is transmitted to the respective social network provider. We have no influence on the purpose and scope of data collection and on the further processing of the data by the respective provider of the social network. For further information, please read the data protection information of the respective providers Facebook , LinkedIn and Google.

Payment of ID Verification: We collect the payment via PayPal, credit card, via stripe, via GooglePay or ApplePay.

Data storage and processing: storage, processing and backup of your personal data is carried out securely in hosting and computing companies located mainly in The United States.

Audits and maintenance: your data might be accessed within the scope of independent quality control and security audits of our services. All audits are subject to confidentiality and are closely monitored by FriendsMates team.

COOKIE POLICY

FriendsMates uses cookies through the web platform and mobile application, under the web domain www.FriendsMates.com to improve and understand how the platform is used. Cookies allow us to recognize when someone uses the platform as well as to offer the user a positive browsing experience. By using the platform, users accept that we may use cookies for these purposes described in this Privacy Policy.

“Cookies” are data files that are placed on your device or computer, with the users’ previous consent. Our cookies have different functions:

Cookies strictly necessary (essential)

These cookies allow navigation on the website and use of its applications as well as allowing access to secure areas of the website. Without these cookies, services you have requested cannot be provided. Some cookies are essential to access specific areas of our website.

Analytical cookies

These cookies are used to analyze how users use the website and monitor its performance. This allows us to provide a high-quality experience by customizing and fixing any problems on the platform. For example, we use cookies to find out the most popular pages, effective methods of connection between pages, and/or determine error messages.

We use Google Analytics, on our Website and mobile applications. It may utilize several tracking technologies, including cookies, to analyze how you use our services. The analytic data does not include personal information. We also use SiTest to obtain web analytics and intelligence about our Site. These tools use programming code to collect information about your interaction with our Site, such as the pages you visit, the links you click on and how long you are on our Site. These tools do not store any personal identifiable information.

Functionality cookies

These cookies keep the user preferences regarding the use of the website, so it is not necessary to configure the website for each new visit.

Technical Cookies

These Cookies are necessary to enable you to move around our Site and use its features. These Cookies also allow our Site to remember your previous action within the same browsing session.

Advertising and retargeting cookies

These Cookies save information from your browsing history in order to record your interests and your browsing path on our Site. We may use advertising and targeting cookies for retargeting, which enables our advertising partners to target advertising to you on other websites, based on your visit to our Site. Without these Cookies, online advertisements you encounter will be less relevant to you and your interests.

Third party cookies

They measure the success of applications and the effectiveness of third-party advertising.

Cookies can be:

Permanent cookies

These remain stored, for a variable time, on the Internet browser of the devices the users use to access it (PC, mobile and tablet); these cookies also are used when the user accesses multiple times the website and app. They are typically used for direct navigation according to the user’s interests, allowing us to provide a customized service.

Session cookies

These are temporary and remain stored on your web browser until you exit the website. The information obtained allows us to identify problems and provide a better browsing experience.

How can you manage cookies?

As previously explained, cookies help you to get the most out of our site. For more information about the cookie’s functionality, please click here.

Most Internet browsers allow the user to accept, decline or delete cookies, by selecting the appropriate settings in the software itself. This way, after authorizing the use of cookies, you can disable some or all our cookies, but this action can limit some functionalities of the platforms.

USERS’ RIGHTS

We strive to provide you with rights and choices regarding your personal information, including the right to close your account and delete your personal information If you would like to exercise this right, please contact us via contact@FriendsMates.com.

Right of access: The user has the right to access the information concerning him/her, addressing the purposes of their request, the categories of personal data processed, and other information. You are already able to instantly access most of this information in your profile area.

MINORS

Our Website is not directed to persons under the age of 18 or the applicable age of majority in the jurisdiction from which the Website is accessed and we do not knowingly collect Personal Information from minors. If you become aware that your child has provided us with Personal Information, please contact us at contact@FriendsMates.com.. If we become aware that a minor has provided us with Personal Information, we take steps to remove such information and terminate that person’s account.

GDPR /RGPD

If you are a resident of EU, under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the relevant Data Protection information may be contacted at contact@FriendsMates.com.. Please be aware that where GDPR applies, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the competent data protection authority.

CCPA – California Consumer Privacy Act- California

Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) Notice you have the right to know your Personal Information. You can request the last 12 months of personal information collected from your use of the Services. You will need to provide your identity so we can return the requested data to you. Please note that you must make the request from each browser or device where you access the Services. For more information, please contact us at: contact@FriendsMates.com.

INTERNATIONAL TRANSFERS

The Services are hosted on servers inside the United States. If you are located in the European Union or elsewhere outside of the United States, information that we collect (including through cookies) will be processed and stored in the United States, a jurisdiction in which the data protection and privacy laws may not offer the same level of protection as those in the country where you reside or are a citizen. Subject to applicable law, by using our Services and providing information to use, you consent to the transfer to and processing of information in the United States and other jurisdictions. Where necessary under applicable law, we may employ appropriate cross-border transfer methods governing personal data. This privacy policy is governed by the laws of The United States of America.

AMENDMENTS TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

FriendsMates’ Privacy Policy is subject to constant and periodic review. As a result of legal updates issued by the control authorities, or changes to our business model we may have to amend this Policy. We recommend that you visit this page regularly and keep informed with the latest updates. We commit that no changes to this Policy might jeopardize your rights.

CONTACT

We are pleased to help you. If you have any questions regarding this policy you can find us at FriendsMates – located at 6001 W PARMER LN STE 370 AUSTIN, TX 78727; email: contact@FriendsMates.com.