Privacy Policy

PetQlix - Connecting Pet Lovers Worldwide

Last Updated: November 23, 2025

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Privacy Policy

Last Updated: November 27, 2025

Introduction

PetQlix ("we," "our," or "us") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application PetQlix ("the App").

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. By using the App, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

Google Play Data Safety

Summary of Data Collection:

PetQlix collects and processes the following types of data to provide our pet social networking services:

Data Security:

Data Sharing:

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide Directly

Account Information:
- Name (first and last)
- Email address
- Username
- Password (encrypted)
- Date of birth
- Gender (optional)
- Phone number (optional)
- Profile picture
- Bio/description
- Location (city/state)

Pet Information:
- Pet names
- Pet types/breeds
- Pet photos and videos
- Pet birthdates
- Pet descriptions

Content You Create:
- Posts (text, photos, videos)
- Comments on posts
- Messages to other users
- Story content (24-hour ephemeral posts)
- Likes, reactions, and shares
- Friend requests
- Lost & Found pet reports
- Find Mate (breeding partner) listings and inquiries

Pet Marketplace Listings:
- Pet listings for sale or adoption
- Pet health information and history
- Pricing information for pet sales
- Location information for listings
- Contact preferences for inquiries
- Photos and descriptions of listed pets
- Breeding information and certifications
- Inquiry messages to sellers/adopters

Find Mate (Breeding) Information:
- Breeding partner search criteria
- Pet breeding history and lineage
- Health certifications and genetic test results
- Breeding preferences and requirements
- Contact information for breeding inquiries

Lost & Found Reports:
- Lost or found pet descriptions and photos
- Last seen location and date
- Contact information for reunification
- Search area preferences

Story Content:
- Photos, videos, and text posted as Stories
- Story views and interactions
- Story creation timestamps
- Tagged users in Stories

Social Interactions:
- Posts you like, comment on, or share
- Users you block or report
- Viewing history of posts and Stories
- Interaction timestamps and patterns

Payment Information (if using premium features):
- Payment card information (processed securely by third-party payment processors)
- Billing address
- Purchase history

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

Device Information:
- Device type and model
- Operating system and version
- Unique device identifiers
- Mobile network information
- IP address
- Browser type

Usage Data:
- Pages/screens viewed
- Time spent on pages
- Click patterns
- Search queries
- Features used
- App crashes and errors

Location Information:
- Approximate location (from IP address)
- Precise location (if you grant permission) for:
- Nearby pet qlixers feature
- Location tagging in posts
- Map features

Camera & Photo Library:
- Access to camera for taking photos/videos
- Access to photo library for uploading content
- Only when you grant permission

Push Notifications:
- Notification preferences
- Device push tokens
- Notification interaction data

1.3 Information from Third Parties

Social Media Accounts:
If you choose to sign in with:
- Google: Name, email, profile picture
- Apple: Name, email
- Facebook: Name, email, profile picture, friends list

Analytics Services:
- Google Analytics (usage patterns, demographics)
- Firebase Analytics (app performance, crashes)
- App Store/Play Store (download data, ratings)

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information for the following purposes:

2.1 Provide & Improve Services

2.2 Communication

2.3 Safety & Security

2.4 Analytics & Research

2.5 Marketing

Advertising (Free Tier Users):
We work with third-party advertising partners (Google AdMob) to display ads in the app:
- Banner ads appear in the home feed
- Interstitial (full-screen) ads appear after certain actions
- Ads may be personalized based on your interests and app usage
- Ad partners may use cookies and tracking technologies
- See Section 11 for more on cookies and tracking
- Pro and Business tier subscribers receive an ad-free experience

2.6 Pet Marketplace Features

2.7 Breeding & Lost Pet Features

2.8 Story & Social Features

3. How We Share Your Information

We do NOT sell your personal information. We may share your information in the following circumstances:

3.1 With Other Users (Based on Your Privacy Settings)

Public Accounts:
- Profile information visible to all users
- Posts visible to all users
- Followers/following lists

Friends Only Accounts:
- Posts visible only to confirmed friends
- Profile information visible to friends

Private Accounts:
- Posts visible only to approved followers
- Limited profile information visible to others

Always Visible (Regardless of Settings):
- Username
- Profile picture
- Bio (if provided)

Pet Marketplace Listings:
When you create a pet listing for sale or adoption, the following information is publicly visible to all users browsing the marketplace:
- Pet photos and descriptions
- Pet name, breed, age, and category
- Listing type (sale or adoption)
- Price (for sale listings)
- General location (city/region)
- Your username and profile picture
- Listing creation date

Additional information may be shared when:
- A user contacts you about a listing (your contact preferences)
- You choose to share health records, certifications, or breeding information
- You engage in direct messaging with potential buyers/adopters

Find Mate (Breeding Partner) Listings:
When searching for breeding partners, publicly visible information includes:
- Your pet's breed, age, and basic information
- Photos you choose to share
- Your general location
- Breeding preferences and requirements
- Health certifications (if you choose to display them)

Lost & Found Reports:
Lost and found pet reports are publicly visible and include:
- Pet photos and descriptions
- Last seen location
- Date lost/found
- Your contact information for reunification
- Search area

Stories:
Stories are visible for 24 hours to:
- All users (if your account is Public)
- Your confirmed friends (if Friends Only)
- Your approved followers (if Private)

Story viewers can see:
- Your Story content (photos, videos, text)
- Your username and profile picture
- Timestamp of Story creation

You can see:
- Who viewed your Stories
- Number of views
- Viewer profile pictures and usernames

Social Interactions:
- Your likes on posts may be visible to the post creator and other users
- Your comments are visible based on the post's visibility settings
- When you share content, it appears on your profile
- Blocked users cannot see your content or profile

3.2 With Service Providers

We share information with third-party vendors who perform services for us:
- Cloud Hosting: Google Firebase (data storage, authentication)
- Payment Processing: Stripe, Apple Pay, Google Pay, RevenueCat (subscription management)
- Analytics: Google Analytics, Firebase Analytics
- Email Services: SendGrid, AWS SES
- Push Notifications: Firebase Cloud Messaging, Apple Push Notification Service
- Advertising: Google AdMob (for Free tier users only)
- Customer Support: Zendesk, Intercom

All service providers are contractually obligated to protect your information.

Advertising Partners:
For Free tier users, we work with Google AdMob to display ads. AdMob may collect:
- Device identifiers (Advertising ID)
- IP address and approximate location
- App usage data and ad interaction
- Device type and OS version

You can opt-out of personalized ads:
- Android: Settings → Google → Ads → Opt out of Ads Personalization
- iOS: Settings → Privacy → Apple Advertising → Limit Ad Tracking

See Google's Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy

3.3 For Legal Reasons

We may disclose information if required to:
- Comply with legal obligations (subpoenas, court orders)
- Enforce our Terms of Service
- Protect the rights, property, or safety of PetQlix, users, or the public
- Investigate fraud or security issues
- Respond to government requests

3.4 Business Transfers

If PetQlix is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred. We will notify you before your information is transferred and becomes subject to a different privacy policy.

3.5 With Your Consent

We may share information with third parties when you explicitly consent (e.g., sharing to social media).

4. Your Privacy Choices & Rights

4.1 Account Privacy Settings

You can control your privacy through the app:
- Profile Visibility: Choose Public, Friends Only, or Private
- Location Sharing: Enable/disable in settings
- Tagging: Control who can tag you in posts
- Messages: Control who can message you (Everyone, Friends, Nobody)

4.2 Communication Preferences

4.3 Your Legal Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the right to:

Access: Request a copy of your personal data
Rectification: Correct inaccurate data
Erasure: Request deletion of your data ("right to be forgotten")
Restriction: Limit how we use your data
Portability: Receive your data in a portable format
Object: Object to certain data processing
Withdraw Consent: Revoke consent for data processing

To exercise these rights, contact us at: petqlix@gmail.com

4.4 Account Deletion

You can delete your account anytime:
1. Go to Settings → Account → Delete Account
2. Confirm deletion
3. Your data will be permanently deleted within 30 days

Note: Some information may be retained for legal or operational purposes (e.g., transaction records, abuse reports).

5. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information:

Technical Safeguards:
- Encryption in transit (SSL/TLS)
- Encryption at rest (database encryption)
- Secure authentication (password hashing)
- Firewall protection
- Regular security audits

Organizational Safeguards:
- Limited employee access to data
- Confidentiality agreements
- Regular security training
- Incident response procedures

However: No method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as necessary to:
- Provide our services
- Comply with legal obligations
- Resolve disputes
- Enforce our agreements

Retention Periods:
- Account data: Until you delete your account + 30 days
- Content: Until you delete it or your account is deleted
- Analytics data: Aggregated and anonymized, retained indefinitely
- Legal/compliance records: As required by law (typically 7 years)

7. Children's Privacy (COPPA Compliance)

PetQlix is not intended for children under 13 years old.

If you are under 13, please do not use PetQlix or provide any information.

8. International Data Transfers

PetQlix is based in Greece (European Union). Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own.

For EU Users:
- Your data is primarily stored within the EU (Google Firebase EU servers)
- We comply with GDPR requirements for international transfers
- We use Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) for transfers outside the EU
- Transfers to the US are covered under the EU-US Data Privacy Framework where applicable

For Non-EU Users:
- Your data may be stored on servers in the EU or other regions
- We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place
- These countries may have different data protection laws than your country
- By using PetQlix, you consent to the transfer of your data to our servers

9. California Privacy Rights (CCPA/CPRA)

If you are a California resident, you have specific rights:

9.1 Right to Know

Request disclosure of:
- Categories of personal information collected
- Sources of information
- Business purposes for collection
- Categories of third parties we share with
- Specific pieces of information collected

9.2 Right to Delete

Request deletion of your personal information (with exceptions for legal obligations).

9.3 Right to Opt-Out

Opt-out of the "sale" of personal information.
- We do NOT sell your personal information

9.4 Right to Non-Discrimination

We will not discriminate against you for exercising your privacy rights.

9.5 Shine the Light

Request information about disclosure to third parties for marketing purposes (once per year).

To exercise CCPA rights: petqlix@gmail.com

Response Time: We will respond within 45 days (may extend to 90 days if needed).

10. European Privacy Rights (GDPR)

If you are in the European Economic Area (EEA), UK, or Switzerland:

10.1 Legal Bases for Processing

We process your data based on:
- Consent: When you agree to data processing (e.g., marketing emails)
- Contract: To perform our contract with you (Terms of Service)
- Legitimate Interests: For analytics, security, fraud prevention
- Legal Obligation: To comply with laws

10.2 Your GDPR Rights

10.3 Data Controller

PetQlix, based in Athens, Greece, is the data controller for all users.

10.4 EU Representative

As PetQlix is based in the EU (Greece), no separate EU representative is required.

To exercise GDPR rights: petqlix@gmail.com

11. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies:

Types of Cookies:
- Essential Cookies: Required for app functionality (authentication, security)
- Analytics Cookies: Track usage patterns (Google Analytics)
- Functional Cookies: Remember your preferences
- Advertising Cookies: Personalize ads (if we use ads)

Managing Cookies:
- Most browsers allow you to control cookies
- Disabling cookies may limit app functionality

Do Not Track:
- We do not currently respond to "Do Not Track" signals
- We may implement this in the future

12. Third-Party Links

The App may contain links to third-party websites or services:
- We are not responsible for their privacy practices
- We encourage you to read their privacy policies
- This Privacy Policy only applies to PetQlix

13. Changes to Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time.

Notification of Changes:
- We will post the new Privacy Policy in the App
- We will notify you via email or in-app notification for material changes
- "Last Updated" date will be revised

Your Continued Use:
- Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance
- If you disagree, please stop using the App and delete your account

14. Contact Us

For privacy-related questions or concerns:

Email: petqlix@gmail.com
Address: Athens, Greece (European Union)

Response Time: We aim to respond within 5 business days.

15. Data Protection Officer (DPO)

For EU/GDPR inquiries:
Email: petqlix@gmail.com
Address: Athens, Greece (EU)

16. Supervisory Authorities

EU users can lodge complaints with their local data protection authority:
- Find your authority: https://edpb.europa.eu/about-edpb/board/members_en
- UK: Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)
- Germany: Bundesbeauftragter für den Datenschutz und die Informationsfreiheit (BfDI)

Summary (Plain Language)

What We Collect:
- Account info (name, email, username)
- Pet info (names, photos, breeds)
- Posts, comments, messages
- Device info and how you use the app
- Location (if you allow it)

How We Use It:
- Provide app features
- Personalize your experience
- Send notifications
- Improve the app
- Customer support

Who We Share With:
- Other users (based on your privacy settings)
- Service providers (cloud hosting, payments, analytics)
- Law enforcement (when legally required)
- We do NOT sell your data

Your Rights:
- Control privacy settings (Public/Friends/Private)
- Access, correct, or delete your data
- Turn off notifications
- Delete your account anytime

Security:
- We use encryption and security best practices
- No system is 100% secure

Contact Us:
petqlix@gmail.com for questions

Version 1.0
Effective Date: [Launch Date]
Company: PetQlix
Based in: Athens, Greece (European Union)

This privacy policy complies with GDPR (EU), CCPA/CPRA (California, USA), and COPPA (USA) requirements. It applies to users worldwide.

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