Privacy Policy
Last updated: June 29, 2026
1. Introduction
Welcome to LocalMinds ("we," "our," or "us"). The LocalMinds mobile application (the "App") is operated by localmindsco Corporation, a Delaware corporation. The App is a community events platform that connects people through social events in the Middle East region.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our App. Please read this policy carefully. If you disagree with its terms, please discontinue use of the App.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Information You Provide Directly
Account & Identity
- Mobile phone number (used for authentication via OTP)
- First and last name
- Email address
- Profile photo
- Date of birth / age range
- Gender
Onboarding Questionnaire
- City of residence
- Preferred language(s)
- University or educational institution
- Education level
- Work experience
- Personal interests and hobbies
- Social preferences (used for matching)
Social Links
- Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter/X, or other social profile URLs you voluntarily add
Event & Booking Information
- Events you view, book, or attend
- Feedback and ratings you submit after events
- Free visit usage
2.2 Information Collected Automatically
Device & Usage Data
- Device type, operating system, and version
- App version
- Session activity and screen views
- Crash reports and error logs
- In-app actions and interactions
Push Notification Tokens
- Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) token to deliver push notifications
2.3 Payment Information
Payments are processed securely by Stripe. We do not store your card number, CVV, or full payment details on our servers. We retain only:
- Payment intent ID
- Transaction status
- Amount and currency
- Timestamp of each payment step (for dispute resolution)
2.4 Information We Do Not Collect
- Precise real-time GPS location
- Contacts or address book
- Microphone or camera data (except when you voluntarily upload a profile photo)
- Biometric data
3. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to:
- Authenticate you — verify your identity via phone number OTP
- Create and manage your account — store your profile and preferences
- Match you with compatible attendees — our algorithm uses your questionnaire answers to pair you with people sharing compatible interests, language, age range, and background at events
- Process bookings and payments — reserve your seat at events and handle Stripe transactions
- Send you notifications — event reminders, booking confirmations, connection updates, and platform announcements via push notification or WhatsApp
- Improve the App — analyze usage patterns via Firebase Analytics and fix issues via Firebase Crashlytics
- Comply with legal obligations — maintain transaction records for financial and legal purposes
- Resolve disputes — payment session logs allow us to trace booking steps if a payment issue is reported
4. Matching Algorithm
LocalMinds uses a smart matching engine to enhance your event experience. Your questionnaire responses (language, gender preference, age range, city, university, interests, education level, and work experience) are scored against other attendees to identify compatible matches at each event. This data is used only for matching purposes and is not sold or shared with third parties for marketing.
5. How We Share Your Information
We do not sell your personal data. We share information only in the following circumstances:
5.1 Service Providers
We use trusted third-party providers to operate the App:
| Provider | Purpose | Data Shared |
|---|---|---|
| Stripe | Payment processing | Payment method, amount, currency |
| Firebase (Google) | Analytics, crash reporting, push notifications | Device ID, usage events, FCM token |
| WhatsApp Business (Meta) | OTP delivery | Phone number |
| Amazon Web Services (S3) | Profile and venue image storage | Uploaded images |
| MongoDB Atlas | Database hosting | All stored user data |
All providers are contractually bound to handle your data securely and only for the purposes we specify.
5.2 Other Users
Your profile name, photo, and any social links you add are visible to other users of the App. Your questionnaire answers are used for matching but are not shown in full to other users.
5.3 Legal Requirements
We may disclose your information if required to do so by law, court order, or government authority, or if we believe disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, your safety, or the safety of others.
5.4 Business Transfers
In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your data may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you before your data becomes subject to a different privacy policy.
6. Data Retention
| Data Type | Retention Period |
|---|---|
| Account and profile data | Until you delete your account |
| Event booking records | 5 years (financial compliance) |
| Payment session logs | 5 years (dispute resolution) |
| Analytics and crash logs | 14 months (Firebase default) |
| OTP codes | 5 minutes (auto-expired) |
| Push notification tokens | Until replaced or account deleted |
7. Data Storage and Security
Your data is stored on servers located in the European Union (Frankfurt, Germany) via MongoDB Atlas and Amazon Web Services. We implement the following security measures:
- JWT-based authentication with short-lived access tokens and long-lived refresh tokens
- All API communication over HTTPS/TLS
- Passwords are not used — authentication is phone-number OTP only
- Payment data handled exclusively by PCI-DSS compliant Stripe infrastructure
- Images stored in private AWS S3 with access-controlled delivery URLs
- Redis session cache with password protection
Despite these measures, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your data.
8. Your Rights
Depending on your country of residence, you may have the following rights:
- Access — request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
- Correction — request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data
- Deletion — request deletion of your account and associated data
- Portability — request your data in a machine-readable format
- Objection — object to processing of your data for matching or marketing purposes
- Withdraw consent — withdraw consent for optional data processing at any time
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at privacy@localminds.co. We will respond within 30 days.
9. Children's Privacy
LocalMinds is not intended for users under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If you believe a minor has created an account, please contact us immediately at privacy@localminds.co and we will delete the account and associated data.
10. Push Notifications
We send push notifications for booking confirmations, event reminders, and connection updates. You can disable notifications at any time through your device's settings. Disabling notifications does not affect your ability to use the App.
11. Third-Party Links
The App may display links to external websites or social profiles added by users. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party services you visit.
12. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page and notify you via push notification or in-app message for material changes. Continued use of the App after changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.
13. Contact Us
If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please contact us:
localmindsco Corporation (operating as LocalMinds)
Email: privacy@localminds.co
Website: localminds.co