Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

ChuoMarket (“we”, “us”, “our”) is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains what personal data we collect, how we use it, and your rights under applicable Tanzanian data protection law.

2. Data We Collect

We collect the following categories of personal data:

• Account data: name, phone number, email address, and profile photo when you register.
• Location data: your region and university, and optionally your approximate GPS location to show nearby listings (only when you grant permission).
• Transaction data: orders placed or received, delivery addresses, and payment references.
• Listing data: photos, descriptions, and prices for items you list.
• Usage data: pages visited, search queries, and interactions with listings for the purpose of improving recommendations.
• Device data: browser type, operating system, and IP address for security and analytics purposes.

3. How We Use Your Data

We use your personal data to:

• Create and manage your account
• Facilitate buying, selling, and delivery transactions
• Send you OTP verification codes and order notifications via SMS
• Personalise listing recommendations based on your location and activity
• Detect fraud, abuse, and security threats
• Comply with legal obligations under Tanzanian law
• Improve the Platform through aggregated analytics

4. SMS and Phone Verification

When you sign in with your phone number, we send a one-time password (OTP) via SMS using Textify Africa. Your phone number is stored securely and used only for authentication and order notifications. We do not sell or share your phone number with third-party marketers.

5. Data Sharing

We share your data only in the following circumstances:

• With other users: your display name, rating, and listing details are visible to buyers and sellers on the Platform.
• With service providers: Firebase (Google) for authentication and database hosting; Textify Africa for SMS delivery; Algolia for search.
• For delivery: your delivery address and contact number are shared with ChuoMarket Cargo agents to fulfil orders.
• Legal requirements: we may disclose data when required by law or court order.

6. Data Storage and Security

Your data is stored on Google Firebase servers. We implement industry-standard security measures including encryption in transit (TLS) and at rest, access controls, and regular security reviews. No system is completely secure; please use a strong password and keep your phone number safe.

7. Data Retention

We retain your account data for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account, we will remove your personal data within 30 days, except where we are required by law to retain it (e.g., transaction records for tax purposes).

8. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you
• Correct inaccurate data via your account Settings
• Request deletion of your account and associated data
• Object to processing for marketing purposes
• Withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on consent

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at info@chuomarket.com.

9. Cookies

We use a session cookie (__session) to keep you signed in. We do not use advertising or tracking cookies. You can clear cookies at any time through your browser settings, which will sign you out of ChuoMarket.

10. Browsing History

We store the products you’ve recently viewed to personalise your experience. This data is stored on your device and optionally synced to your account if you’re logged in. You can clear your browsing history at any time from the Browse page or your profile menu.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of material changes via the app or email. Continued use of the Platform after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised Policy.

13. Contact

For privacy questions or data requests, contact us at info@chuomarket.com.