Buddy System - PRIVACY POLICY

Last Updated: 3-16-2026

1. Overview

Buddy System respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your information.

2. Information We Collect

A. Information You Provide

  • Phone number

  • Profile information

  • Photos and videos

  • Trip information

  • Messages within the App

B. Automatically Collected

  • Device type

  • App version

  • Push notification tokens

  • Usage data

C. Location Data

If enabled, we may collect general location data to support trip discovery features.

3. How We Use Information

We collect phone numbers to authenticate accounts and enable app functionality such as messaging, trip invitations, and service notifications. We may also use phone numbers to send occasional product updates or service announcements. We do not sell phone numbers to third parties.

We use profile information to:

  • Create and manage accounts

  • Facilitate user connections

  • Send notifications

  • Improve the App

  • Ensure safety and prevent abuse

4. Third-Party Services

We use third-party providers:

  • Auth0 – authentication

  • Twilio – SMS delivery

  • Expo – push notifications

  • Railway/Postgres hosting – infrastructure

These providers may process your data as necessary to provide their services.

Any third party with whom Buddy System shares user data provides the same or equal protection of your data as stated in this privacy policy.

5. Data Sharing

We do not sell personal data.

We may share data:

  • With other users (profile information you choose to display)

  • With service providers

  • If required by law

  • To protect safety and rights

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as otherwise necessary to provide you with the Buddy System service.

Active Accounts

While your account is active, we retain your profile information, preferences, messages, trip activity, and related data in order to operate and improve the app.

Account Deletion Requests

If you request deletion of your account:

  • Your profile will no longer be visible to other Buddy System users.

  • Your account will be deactivated immediately.

  • We will permanently delete or anonymize your personal data from our active systems within 30 days of your request.

Exceptions

We may retain certain information beyond 30 days if necessary to:

  • Comply with legal obligations

  • Resolve disputes

  • Enforce our agreements

  • Detect or prevent fraud, abuse, or safety issues

  • Maintain required business or financial records

Any retained data will be limited to what is reasonably necessary for these purposes.

Backups

Please note that residual copies of your information may remain in secure backup systems for a limited period of time. Backup data is protected and will be deleted in accordance with our backup retention schedule.

Aggregated or De-Identified Data

We may retain anonymized or aggregated data that does not identify you for analytics, research, and product improvement purposes.

7. Your Rights

Depending on your state, you may have rights to:

  • Access your data

  • Correct inaccuracies

  • Request deletion

To exercise rights:

support@gobuddysystem.com

8. Security

We use reasonable administrative and technical safeguards to protect data.

However, no system is 100% secure.

In the event of a security breach, we will promptly notify you and all of our users as soon as possible, and take necessary action to mitigate the breach and prevent similar breaches in the future.

9. Children

Buddy System is not intended for users under 18.

We do not knowingly collect data from minors.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy. Continued use of the App constitutes acceptance.

11. Contact

For privacy questions:

support@gobuddysystem.com