TravelMate - Privacy Policy

Effective Date: January 2, 2026
Last Updated: January 2, 2026

Welcome to TravelMate. We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring transparency in how we collect, use, and safeguard your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains our practices regarding data collection and usage when you use our AI-powered trip planning application.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Account Information

When you create a TravelMate account, we collect:

Email address
Display name (optional)
Password (encrypted and stored securely)
Account creation date

1.2 Trip Planning Data

To provide our AI-powered trip planning services, we collect and process:

Destination preferences and travel dates
Number of travelers and budget information
Trip preferences (activities, dining, accommodation types)
Custom itineraries and schedules you create
Chat conversations with our AI assistant
Location data when you use map features

1.3 Automatically Collected Information

We automatically collect certain technical information:

Device information (type, operating system, unique identifiers)
IP address and general location
App usage statistics and analytics
Error logs and crash reports
Performance data and diagnostic information

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for the following purposes:

2.1 Core Services

Generating personalized AI-powered trip itineraries
Providing AI chat consultation for trip modifications
Displaying activities on maps with accurate locations
Synchronizing your data across devices via cloud storage
Enabling offline access to your saved trips

2.2 AI Processing

Your trip preferences and chat messages are processed by third-party AI services (Claude API and Google Gemini) to generate travel recommendations. This data is transmitted securely and is subject to the privacy policies of these AI providers.

2.3 Service Improvement

Analyzing usage patterns to improve app functionality
Identifying and fixing bugs and technical issues
Developing new features based on user behavior
Enhancing AI recommendation accuracy

3. Third-Party Services

TravelMate integrates with the following third-party services, each with their own privacy policies:

Firebase (Authentication, Cloud Firestore, Cloud Storage, Analytics, Crashlytics)
Anthropic Claude API - AI trip generation
Google Gemini AI - Alternative AI trip generation
Google Maps Platform - Map visualization and location services
Google Play Services

Note: When using AI features, your trip preferences and chat messages are sent to our AI service providers for processing. These providers may process this data according to their own privacy policies.

4. Data Storage and Security

4.1 Where Your Data is Stored

Cloud Storage: Trip data is stored in Firebase Cloud Firestore and synchronized across your devices
Local Storage: Trip data is cached locally on your device using Hive for offline access
Geographic Location: Data is stored on Firebase servers, which may be located in various regions globally

4.2 Security Measures

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

All data transmission is encrypted using HTTPS/TLS protocols
Passwords are hashed and encrypted before storage
Firebase security rules restrict unauthorized access to your data
Regular security audits and updates
Secure API key management for third-party services

                Important: While we strive to protect your personal information, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your data.
            

5. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share your data only in the following circumstances:

5.1 Service Providers

We share necessary data with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating the app (Firebase, AI APIs, Google Maps). These providers are obligated to keep your information confidential and use it only for the services they provide to us.

5.2 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or governmental request, or to protect our rights, property, or safety.

5.3 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the acquiring entity.

6. Your Rights and Choices

6.1 Access and Control

You have the right to:

Access your personal data stored in the app
Edit or update your account information
Delete your trips and itineraries at any time
Clear your AI chat history
Request a copy of your data
Request deletion of your account and all associated data

6.2 Data Retention

We retain your data for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide services. When you delete your account, we will delete your personal data within 30 days, except where retention is required by law.

6.3 Opt-Out Options

Analytics: You can disable analytics collection in app settings (if available)
Location Services: You can disable location permissions in your device settings
Push Notifications: You can disable notifications in app or device settings

7. Children's Privacy

TravelMate is not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we discover that a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, we will immediately delete it from our servers. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us.

8. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have data protection laws different from those in your country. By using TravelMate, you consent to the transfer of your information to these countries.

9. Cookies and Tracking

The TravelMate mobile app does not use cookies. However, we use local storage mechanisms to cache data for offline functionality and to improve app performance. Third-party services integrated into the app may use their own tracking technologies.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for legal, operational, or regulatory reasons. We will notify you of significant changes by:

Posting the new Privacy Policy in the app
Updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
Sending an in-app notification or email (for material changes)

Your continued use of TravelMate after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:

Email: pivotmasterapps@gmail.com
Support: pivotmasterapps@gmail.com

12. Additional Information for EU/EEA Users (GDPR)

If you are located in the European Union or European Economic Area, you have additional rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

Right to Access: Request a copy of your personal data
Right to Rectification: Correct inaccurate or incomplete data
Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your personal data ("right to be forgotten")
Right to Restriction: Restrict processing of your personal data
Right to Data Portability: Receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format
Right to Object: Object to processing of your personal data
Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent at any time

To exercise these rights, please contact us at the email address provided above.

13. California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have specific rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

Right to know what personal information is collected, used, shared, or sold
Right to delete personal information held by us
Right to opt-out of the sale of personal information (Note: We do not sell personal information)
Right to non-discrimination for exercising your privacy rights