BOOKIFY PRIVACY POLICY
Last Updated: 4 March 2025
1. Overview
Bookify respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal data. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect information.
2. Information We Collect
We collect the following types of information to provide and improve our services:
2.1 Personal Information
- Phone Number - Required for account creation and authentication via SMS verification
- Full Name - Required to identify you and personalize your experience
- Email Address - Optional, used for account recovery and communications
- Profile Picture - Optional, used for profile identification
- Demographic Information - Gender, city, country (optional, for service personalization)
2.2 Location Data
Bookify is a real-time taxi dispatch platform. Precise location data is essential to enable ride matching, navigation, trip tracking, and safety monitoring. We collect location data only for operational ride services and not for advertising purposes.
Types of location data we collect:
- Precise GPS location - For accurate ride matching and navigation
- Approximate location (network-based) - When precise GPS is unavailable
- Location history - Related to active and completed trips for ride history and support
Location access for drivers:
- Foreground (app in use): Driver location is collected to display nearby ride requests within a 7 km service radius, provide route guidance, calculate estimated arrival times, and display trip details.
- Background (Driver Online mode only): When a driver sets their status to "Online" or "Available", the app continues to access precise location data even if the app is minimized. This is required to match drivers with nearby riders, deliver ride requests in real time, maintain driver availability status, provide uninterrupted navigation during accepted rides, enable live trip tracking for riders, and support safety features. Without background location while online, drivers would not receive ride requests and the core dispatch functionality would not operate.
- Stop condition: Background location access stops immediately when the driver switches to Offline. As long as the driver remains Online, background location continues—whether waiting for ride requests or actively on a ride. We do not collect driver location in the background when the driver is offline.
Location access for riders:
- Foreground only: When the app is actively in use, rider location is collected to request rides, identify pickup location, calculate fares and estimated arrival times, and display nearby available drivers.
- Riders do not require background location access. Live ride tracking is achieved by receiving the driver's location updates in real time while the app is in use.
Why location data is necessary: To connect riders and drivers based on real-time proximity, enforce the 7 km service radius matching system, provide accurate route navigation, calculate trip distance and fare, enable real-time trip tracking, support safety monitoring, and maintain reliable dispatch operations. Without location access, the core ride-hailing service cannot function.
2.3 Payment and Transaction Information
- Payment Methods - Payment card information, mobile money details, and wallet balances
- Transaction Records - All payment transactions, ride fares, fees, and wallet activity
- Financial Data - Earnings, withdrawals, and payment history for service providers
2.4 Device and Technical Information
- Device Information - Device type, operating system, app version
- Push Notification Tokens - Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) tokens to send you notifications
- IP Address - Collected for security, fraud prevention, and audit purposes
- User Agent - Browser/device information for technical support and security
2.5 Usage and Analytics Data
- App Usage Data - Features used, ride history, service interactions
- Performance Metrics - Ride completion rates, response times, service quality metrics
- Audit Logs - Records of profile changes and account activities for security
2.6 KYC and Verification Data (Service Providers Only)
- Identification Documents - National ID, driver's license, business registration documents
- Vehicle Information - Vehicle registration, insurance, and photos
- Business Information - Business name, registration details, tax information
3. Why We Collect and How We Use Your Information
We collect and use your information for the following specific purposes:
- Service Provision - To create and manage your account, process bookings, match you with service providers, and facilitate transactions
- Authentication and Security - To verify your identity, prevent fraud, protect your account, and ensure platform safety
- Location Services - To find nearby service providers, track ride progress in real-time, ensure driver and passenger safety, and optimize route planning
- Payment Processing - To process payments, manage your wallet, handle refunds, and comply with financial regulations
- Communication - To send you ride updates, notifications, important service messages, and respond to your inquiries
- Service Improvement - To analyze usage patterns, improve app functionality, develop new features, and enhance user experience
- Safety and Compliance - To investigate safety incidents, comply with legal obligations, and maintain platform integrity
- Support Services - To provide customer support, resolve disputes, and assist with account issues
4. Data Sharing and Third-Party Services
We do not sell your personal data. However, we share information with the following parties for service provision:
4.1 Service Providers
- Supabase - We use Supabase for user authentication, database storage, and file storage. Supabase processes your authentication data (phone number) and stores your profile and transaction data.
- Firebase Cloud Messaging (Google) - We use Firebase to send push notifications to your device. Google processes your device token and notification preferences.
- Payment Processors - Third-party payment gateways and mobile money providers process your payment transactions
4.2 Transaction Participants
- Service Providers - When you book a service, we share your name, phone number, pickup/dropoff locations, and ride details with the assigned service provider
- Users - Service providers can see your name, rating, and basic profile information relevant to the service
4.3 Legal and Regulatory
- Law Enforcement - We may share data when required by law, court order, or government request
- Regulatory Authorities - We share data with relevant authorities for compliance with transportation and financial regulations
Data Processing Locations: Your data is processed and stored on servers operated by Supabase and Google (Firebase), which may be located outside your country of residence.
5. Data Security
We use technical and organizational measures to protect data against unauthorized access, loss, or misuse.
6. Data Retention
We retain data only as long as necessary for operational, legal, and regulatory purposes.
7. Your Rights and Data Deletion
You have the following rights regarding your personal data:
- Access - You can view your personal data through the app settings
- Correction - You can update your profile information directly in the app
- Deletion - You can request deletion of your account and personal data
- Data Portability - You can request a copy of your data in a portable format
- Location Permissions - You can manage or revoke location permissions at any time through your device settings. Note: drivers will not receive ride requests if background location is disabled while online; riders may not be able to request or complete rides properly without location access.
Account & Data Deletion
Bookify provides users with the ability to request deletion of their account
and personal data.
How to Request Data Deletion
To request deletion of your personal data and account:
- Open the Bookify app
- Go to Settings → Account
- Select Delete Account or Request Data Deletion
- Follow the on-screen instructions
Alternative Method: You can also contact us directly at bookifyplatform@gmail.com with the subject "Data Deletion Request" and include your phone number registered with the account.
Important Notes:
- Deletion requests are processed within 30 days
- Some data may be retained for legal, regulatory, or safety purposes (e.g., completed transaction records for tax compliance)
- Data shared with service providers during active rides may not be retrievable after deletion
- Deletion is permanent and cannot be undone
8. Cookies & Tracking Technologies
Bookify uses the following technologies:
- Session Storage - We store authentication tokens and session data locally on your device to maintain your login state
- Local Storage - We store app preferences and cached data on your device to improve performance
- Push Notifications - We use Firebase Cloud Messaging to send you notifications about rides, messages, and updates
- Location Tracking - For drivers: location is tracked when the app is in use and when Online (including in the background) for dispatch and ride matching. For riders: location is tracked only when the app is in use for ride requests and pickup identification. Riders receive driver location updates in real time during active rides but do not have background location tracking.
We do not use third-party advertising cookies or cross-site tracking technologies. We do not sell, rent, or share location data with third parties for advertising or marketing purposes.
9. Children's Privacy
Bookify is not intended for users under 18 years of age.
10. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Continued use of the Platform indicates acceptance.
11. Contact Us
For questions, concerns, or requests regarding your privacy or this Privacy Policy, please contact us:
- Email: bookifyplatform@gmail.com
- Phone: +260 977 417 725
- WhatsApp: +260 977 417 725
- In-App: Settings → Support → Contact Us
- Response Time: We aim to respond to privacy inquiries within 7 business days
For data deletion requests, please follow the instructions in Section 7 above.
