Information We Collect
In the current version of the App, we collect only the following personal data:
Account Information
| Data | Why We Collect It |
|---|---|
| Mobile phone number | Used to verify your identity via a one-time passcode (OTP) at sign-up and login. Your phone number is linked to your account for the duration of your use of the App. |
Location Data
We request access to your device's location when you open the App, in order to show you nearby venue recommendations and display how far each venue is from you. Location data is used in real time only and is never stored. See Section 3 for full details.
How We Use Your Information
We use the personal data we collect solely for the following purposes:
| Purpose | Data Used | Legal Basis (UAE PDPL) |
|---|---|---|
| Create and manage your account | Mobile phone number (verified via OTP) | Contractual necessity |
| Show restaurant and venue recommendations near you | Location data (while app is open, not stored) | Consent (you grant location permission) |
| Display the distance from you to each venue | Location data (while app is open, not stored) | Consent (you grant location permission) |
| Send push notifications for general app updates and relevant alerts | Device push notification token | Consent (you grant notification permission on your device) |
| Operate, maintain, and improve the App | Aggregated, non-identifiable usage patterns | Legitimate interest |
| Respond to support requests and enforce our Terms of Service | Account information | Legal obligation / Legitimate interest |
We do not use your personal data for any purpose not listed above without first obtaining your explicit consent.
Location Data
Placer requests access to your device's location when you open the App. Location is used for two purposes only: to surface venue recommendations that are geographically relevant to you, and to show how far each venue is from your current position.
How It Works
- Location is accessed only while the App is open (foreground only). We do not access your location in the background or when the App is closed.
- Your location coordinates are used in real time to generate recommendations and calculate distances. They are not stored or logged on our servers at any point.
- We do not build any record or history of your location or movements.
Your Control
- You will be prompted to grant location permission when you first open the App. You may allow or deny this at that point or at any time thereafter.
- If you deny location access, the App will still function, but recommendations will not be tailored to your location and distances will not be displayed.
- You can revoke or change location permission at any time in your device's Settings app.
How We Store Your Data
The only personal data stored on our servers is your mobile phone number, linked to your account. We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect it, including:
- Encryption of personal data at rest
- Encrypted transmission between the App and our servers (TLS/HTTPS)
- Access controls limiting access to personal data to authorised individuals only
Where our servers are located outside the UAE, we ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place for cross-border data transfers in accordance with the UAE PDPL and any implementing regulations issued by the UAE Data Office.
Data Sharing & Disclosure
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal data. We share it only in the following limited circumstances:
OTP Delivery Provider
To deliver the one-time passcode to your mobile number at sign-up and login, we use a third-party SMS delivery service. Your phone number is transmitted to this provider solely to send the OTP. The provider does not retain your number or use it for any other purpose.
Google Places API
We use the Google Places API to retrieve venue information (names, addresses, ratings, photos, and opening hours) displayed in the App. Venue lookups involve no personal user data — only venue search terms or identifiers are sent to Google. This is governed by Google's Privacy Policy.
Legal Requirements
We may disclose your information if required to do so by applicable law, court order, or governmental authority, or where necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of Placer, our users, or the public.
Data Retention
We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary for the purposes described in this Policy, or as required by applicable law.
| Data Type | Retention Period |
|---|---|
| Mobile phone number (account identifier) | Retained for the duration of your account. Deleted within 30 days of account deletion. |
| Location data | Not stored. Processed transiently in real time and discarded immediately. |
| Device push notification token | Retained while your account is active. Removed upon account deletion or when you disable notifications. |
When you delete your account, we will initiate deletion of your personal data within 14 days and complete permanent purging within 30 days, except where retention is required by applicable law.
Your Rights
Under the UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data, you have the following rights with respect to your personal data:
- Right to Access — You may request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
- Right to Rectification — You may request correction of any inaccurate personal data we hold about you.
- Right to Erasure — You may request deletion of your account and all associated personal data. You can delete your account directly within the App, or by contacting us (see Section 10).
- Right to Restriction of Processing — You may request that we restrict processing of your personal data in certain circumstances.
- Right to Data Portability — You may request your personal data in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format.
- Right to Object — You may object to processing of your personal data where we rely on legitimate interest as our legal basis.
- Right to Withdraw Consent — Where processing is based on your consent (such as location access or push notifications), you may withdraw that consent at any time through your device settings, without affecting the lawfulness of any prior processing.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details in Section 10. We will respond within 30 days. In complex cases we may extend this by a further 30 days and will notify you accordingly.
Children's Privacy
The Placer App is not directed at children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal data, please contact us immediately using the details in Section 10 and we will promptly delete that information.
Users between the ages of 13 and 18 should review this Policy with a parent or guardian before using the App.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in the App's features, our practices, or applicable law. When new features are introduced that involve collecting additional personal data, this Policy will be updated before those features become available to you.
When we make material changes, we will notify you by:
- Displaying a notice within the App prior to the change taking effect, and
- Updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this Policy.
Your continued use of the App after an updated Policy becomes effective constitutes acceptance of the revised terms. If you do not agree, you should stop using the App and may delete your account.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your data rights, or have a concern about how your data is handled, please contact us:
support@placerapp.co
We aim to respond to all privacy enquiries within 5 business days and to resolve all formal data rights requests within 30 days as required by the UAE PDPL.