Introduction

Welcome to BabySit Buddies. We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information, especially that of children. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application and related services (collectively, the "Service").

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. By accessing or using our Service, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by all the terms of this Privacy Policy. *If you are a parent or guardian agreeing to these terms on behalf of a child, you are also agreeing to these terms on their behalf.*

Information We Collect

Personal Information

We may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide when using our Service, including:

• Contact information (name, email address, phone number)
• Account credentials (username, password)
• Profile information:
  • **For Parents/Guardians:** Profile picture, address, emergency contact information, information about children (age, allergies, special needs), preferred sitter qualifications, availability.
  • **For Sitters:** Profile picture, background check information, certifications (CPR, First Aid), experience, availability, hourly rate, references.
• Payment information (stored securely through our payment processor)
• Communications (messages exchanged between parents and sitters through our platform)

Automatically Collected Information

When you access or use our Service, we automatically collect certain information, including:

• Device information (device type, operating system, unique device identifiers)
• Log data (IP address, browser type, pages visited, time spent)
• Location information (general location based on IP address; *precise location may be collected with consent for babysitting job check-in/check-out*)
• Usage patterns (features used, interactions with the Service, search queries)

How We Use Your Information

We may use the information we collect for various purposes, including to:

• Provide, maintain, and improve our Service
• Process transactions and manage user accounts
• Connect parents/guardians with qualified babysitters
• Facilitate communication and scheduling between parents and sitters
• Verify sitter qualifications (background checks, certifications)
• Send notifications related to bookings, messages, and account activity
• Provide customer support and resolve disputes
• Personalize your experience and recommend sitters or jobs
• Monitor and analyze usage patterns and trends
• Ensure the safety and security of our platform
• Comply with legal obligations

Sharing Your Information

We may share your information in the following circumstances:

• Service Providers: We may share your information with third-party vendors who provide services on our behalf, such as payment processing, background checks, data analysis, email delivery, hosting, and customer service. We use reputable vendors who are committed to protecting your data.
• Marketplace Participants: To facilitate bookings, we share relevant information between parents/guardians and potential sitters (e.g., sitter profiles with parents, job details with sitters). Parents may receive sitter's information for job planning.
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information if required by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., court order, subpoena).
• Business Transfers: If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of all or a portion of our assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.
• Consent: We may share your information with third parties when we have your explicit consent to do so.
• **Emergency Situations:** In the event of an emergency involving a child, we may share necessary information with emergency services and relevant contacts provided by the parent/guardian.

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect the security of your personal information and that of the children involved. These measures include encryption, firewalls, secure server infrastructure, and access controls. We regularly review and update our security practices to maintain the highest level of protection. However, please be aware that no method of transmission over the internet or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. We strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal information, but we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

Your Choices and Parental Controls

You have several choices regarding the information you provide to us:

• Account Information: You can review and update your account information in your profile settings.
• Location Services: You can control location sharing through your device settings. Note that precise location sharing may be required for certain features, such as babysitting job check-in/check-out, and requires your consent.
• Marketing Communications: You can opt out of receiving promotional emails by following the unsubscribe instructions in those emails.
• Push Notifications: You can manage push notifications through your device settings.
• Data Access and Deletion: You may request access to, correction of, or deletion of your personal information by contacting us. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe.
• **Parental Controls:** Parents/Guardians have the right to review, correct, or delete any personal information we have collected about their children. They also have the right to refuse further collection or use of their child's information. To exercise these rights, please contact us.

Children's Privacy

Our Service is intended to be used by parents/guardians who are at least 18 years of age. While babysitters may be younger than 18, we do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children under the age of 13 *without verifiable parental consent*. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information without your consent, please contact us immediately so that we can take appropriate action to remove the information and terminate the child's account.

COPPA Compliance

BabySit Buddies is committed to complying with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). If we knowingly collect personal information from a child under 13, we will obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting, using, or disclosing that information. We will also provide parents with the ability to review, correct, or delete their child's personal information.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date. If the changes are significant, we will also provide a more prominent notice, such as an in-app notification or email. Your continued use of the Service after the effective date of the revised Privacy Policy constitutes your acceptance of the changes. You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes.