Stops App — Privacy Policy

Last Revised: November 20, 2024

Welcome to Stops! We are a geo-social mobile app and platform owned and operated by Stops.com, Ltd. (“Stops,” “we,” “us,” or “our”). Your privacy is critically important to us, and this Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you use our app and services.

This Privacy Policy is designed to comply with global privacy standards, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). By using our app or services, you agree to this Privacy Policy. If you have any concerns, please contact us before using the app.

By downloading, using, or accessing Stops, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, you may not use our app or services. You can withdraw your consent or modify your data preferences at any time through our Settings section or by contacting us at team@stops.com

We do not collect any Personal Information from you or related to you without your approval, which is obtained, inter alia, through your acceptance of the TOU and this Privacy Policy.

We collect the following types of information:

A. Non-Personal Information

• Technical details: Device type, operating system, browser version, screen resolution, and IP address.
• Usage behavior: App interactions, search queries, and clickstream data.
• Aggregate data: Anonymous statistics for research and analytics.

B. Personal Information

This includes information that can identify or be linked to you, such as:

• Account information: Name, email, username, phone number, and birthdate.
• Location data: GPS data, Wi-Fi networks, and IP address for location-based features.
• Content shared: Photos, videos, Pixel Tags, messages, and other user-generated content.
• Social connections: Contacts you choose to sync and interactions within Cubes or messages.

We also collect information provided by third parties, such as:

• Advertising identifiers, online tracking data, and analytics data shared by our partners

For avoidance of doubt, any Non-Personal Information connected or linked to any Personal Information shall be deemed as Personal Information as long as such connection or linkage exists.

We collect your information in three ways:

1. Directly from you when you sign up, update your profile, or interact with the app.
2. Automatically through cookies, device settings, or app usage tracking.
3. From third parties, including advertising and analytics partners.

We use your information to:

• Provide and improve the app and services.
• Customize your user experience and offer personalized recommendations.
• Process communications, including private messages and Pixel-Tag interactions.
• Enable geo-social features like location sharing (when opted in).
• Conduct analytics and research to improve functionality and security.
• Deliver tailored advertising and measure its effectiveness.
• Comply with legal obligations and respond to government or regulatory inquiries.

Under GDPR, CCPA, and other applicable laws, you have the following rights:

1. Access: View the personal data we hold about you.
2. Correction: Update inaccurate or incomplete data.
3. Deletion: Request to delete your account or data (“Right to be Forgotten”).
4. Data portability: Obtain a copy of your data in a portable format.
5. Objection: Restrict or object to specific data processing activities.
6. Withdraw consent: Disable features like location sharing or targeted ads.

You can manage these settings directly in the app or by contacting team@stops.com.

We do not sell your personal data. Your information may be shared only in the following circumstances:

1. With your consent: For example, when you connect with friends or sync contacts.
2. Within the Stops community: Content shared in Cubes or public areas may be visible to others.
3. With service providers: Third-party vendors (e.g., hosting or analytics) may process data on our behalf under strict contractual obligations.
4. For legal reasons: To comply with laws, regulations, or court orders.

We may transfer your data to countries outside your jurisdiction for processing or storage. When this occurs, we ensure adequate safeguards are in place, such as Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs), to protect your data.

We may use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Improve app performance.
• Enable personalized features.
• Deliver relevant advertising.

You can manage your cookie preferences via your device or browser settings.

We retain your data for as long as necessary to provide the services or as required by law. Upon account deletion, your data will be removed within 48 hours, unless legal retention is required. Aggregated data may be kept for research and analytics purposes.

We use advanced encryption and secure hosting services to protect your data. However, no system is completely secure. In case of a data breach, we will notify affected users within 72 hours as required by law.

Stops is not intended for users under 13 years old. We do not knowingly collect data from minors. Parents or guardians can contact us to request deletion of their child’s data..

Stops includes various social features that allow you to connect and interact with other users, such as Cubes, Pixel-Tagging, and direct messaging. When using these features, please be aware of the following:

1. Content Visibility:
   • Any content you share in public Cubes or other open areas of the app is visible to all users and may be indexed by search engines or shared by others outside the app.
   • Content shared in private Cubes or via direct messages is accessible only to the recipients but may still be copied or re-shared by them.
2. Sharing with External Platforms:
   • You may choose to share content from Stops (e.g., photos, Pixel-Tags) directly to third-party social media platforms. These actions are governed by the privacy policies and terms of use of those platforms, and Stops is not responsible for their practices.
3. Social Interactions:
   • Stops may display your profile name, photo, and interactions (e.g., likes, comments) to other users based on your privacy settings.
   • You can control the discoverability of your profile and content through the app’s privacy settings.
4. Tagging and Mentions:
   • Other users can Pixel-Tag you or mention you in content they share. You will be notified when this occurs and may request the removal of such tags via the app or by contacting info@stops.com.
5. Third-Party Data Collection:
   • By using social features, you may share data (e.g., location, photos) with other users or groups. While Stops implements measures to safeguard your data, we cannot control how other users handle shared information.

User Responsibility:
We encourage all users to exercise caution when sharing personal or sensitive information on social features. Stops is not liable for any content shared by users or actions taken by recipients of that content.

Stops may display advertisements within the app, provided by us or our third-party advertising partners. We aim to make these advertisements relevant and engaging while respecting your privacy. Below is how advertisements work within Stops:

1. Types of Advertising

• Personalized Ads: Ads tailored to your interests based on app activity, device information, and preferences.
• Non-Personalized Ads: Ads not based on your behavior but on general context, such as your location or app usage.

2. Data Collection for Advertising

To serve relevant advertisements, we may use the following types of data:

• Device Information: Advertising IDs, IP address, operating system, and app version.
• Activity Data: Clickstream data, interactions with ads, and usage patterns.
• Demographics and Interests: Information inferred from your activity or shared by third-party partners (e.g., age range, general interests).

3. Third-Party Advertisers

Stops works with authorized third-party advertising networks and partners who may collect and process your data. These partners use cookies, pixel tags, and similar technologies to:

• Deliver relevant ads based on your preferences and behavior.
• Measure the effectiveness of their ads and campaigns.

You can review their privacy practices by accessing the privacy policies of these third-party partners. Stops ensures that all partners adhere to applicable privacy laws.

4. Your Choices

• Opting Out of Personalized Ads: You can opt out of personalized ads via your device’s privacy settings (e.g., “Limit Ad Tracking” on iOS or “Opt Out of Ads Personalization” on Android).
• Disabling Cookies: Most browsers and devices allow you to disable cookies or adjust cookie preferences. Note that this may affect ad functionality or app experience.
• Ad-Free Experience: Currently, an ad-free version of Stops is not available.

5. Transparency and Accountability

• Stops does not sell your personal data to advertisers. We only share information as described above to deliver ads or improve our services.
• We comply with relevant advertising guidelines and privacy regulations, including the GDPR and CCPA, and require our partners to do the same.

6. Cautionary Note

When interacting with ads, you may be directed to external websites or apps. Stops is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of third-party advertisers. Review their terms and privacy policies before engaging.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Significant changes will be communicated via email or app notifications. Your continued use of the app constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.

If you have any questions (or comments) concerning this Privacy Policy or wish to speak with our current GDPR-compliance officer, you are most welcome to send us an e-mail to the following address, and we will make an effort to reply within a reasonable timeframe: team@stops.com.

For more company policies, please visit our full Terms of Use.