Privacy Policy

The Local (“The Local,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is a Boston-first dating app that helps you connect with people you’ve crossed paths with in real life, developed and operated by Maxwell Chapin. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect through The Local mobile application (the “App”), how we use and share it, and the choices you have. By creating an account or otherwise using the App, you agree to the practices described in this policy.

We collect the following categories of information:

• Profile information. Information you provide when creating or updating your profile, such as your name, date of birth, gender, photos, bio, dating preferences, and relationship goals.
• Account credentials. Your email address and authentication details, processed through our backend provider, Supabase.
• Location information. With your permission, we access your device’s precise, real-time GPS location while you are using the App. We request this “while using the app” location permission specifically to support venue check-ins: when you scan a venue QR code, we use your live location to confirm you are physically present at that venue, to show you venues near you, and to detect when you and another user have overlapped at the same venue so we can surface a potential match. We do not access your location in the background or when the App is closed. You can disable location access at any time in your device settings, but doing so will disable venue check-ins and overlap-based matching.
• Push notification tokens. If you enable notifications, we collect a device push token (issued through Expo’s push notification service) so we can send you alerts, including notifications about match overlaps at venues.
• Check-in and venue history. When you scan a venue QR code or check in at a location, we record the venue, the time of your check-in, and which other users were checked in at the same venue during an overlapping window.
• Usage and device information. Information about how you use the App, such as swipes, likes, matches, and message metadata, as well as device type, operating system, app version, and crash or diagnostic logs.
• Communications. If you contact us for support or feedback, we collect the contents of that communication and your contact details.

We use the information described above to:

• Create and maintain your account and profile;
• Surface matches based on venue check-ins, location overlap, and your preferences;
• Operate venue check-ins and detect when you and another user have overlapped at the same venue;
• Send push notifications, including alerts about match overlaps and other account-related activity;
• Maintain the safety, security, and integrity of the App;
• Investigate and respond to reports of abuse, harassment, or violations of our Terms of Service;
• Respond to support requests and feedback; and
• Analyze, maintain, and improve the App’s features and performance.

We do not sell your personal information. We share information in the following circumstances:

• With other users. Your profile information (such as your photos and bio) is visible to other users as part of the App’s discovery and matching flow. If you check in at a venue, information about that overlap may be shared with other users who checked in during the same window.
• Service providers. We use third-party services to operate the App, including:
  • Supabase, which provides our database, authentication, and file storage infrastructure and stores most of the data described in this policy on our behalf.
  • Expo, which provides the push notification infrastructure we use to deliver alerts to your device. Expo may relay your device push token to Apple Push Notification service (APNs) or Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) as applicable to your device.
• Legal and safety reasons. We may disclose information if required by law, legal process, or government request, or if we believe disclosure is necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of The Local, our users, or the public, or to investigate fraud, security, or technical issues.
• Business transfers. If The Local is involved in a merger, acquisition, financing, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.

We retain your information for as long as your account remains active. If you delete your account, we will delete or anonymize your personal information within a reasonable period, generally within 30 days, except where we are required to retain certain information for longer to comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, investigate misconduct or abuse, or enforce our agreements.

• Access and correction. You can review and update most of your profile information directly within the App.
• Account and data deletion. You can delete your account from within the App, or by emailing us at contact@thelocaldating.com. We will delete your personal information as described in Section 5 above.
• Location and notification permissions. You can enable or disable location services and push notifications at any time through your device settings. Disabling these permissions may limit features such as venue check-ins and match overlap alerts.
• Questions and requests. You may contact us at any time with questions about your information or to make a request regarding your data.

The Local is intended only for users who are at least 18 years old. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If we learn that we have collected information from a user under 18, we will delete that information and terminate the associated account.

We use reasonable technical and organizational measures designed to protect your information from unauthorized access, loss, misuse, or alteration. However, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security of your information.

Our service providers, including Supabase and Expo, may store and process information in the United States or other countries. By using the App, you understand that your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than the one in which you reside, which may have different data protection laws.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will update the effective date above and, where appropriate, notify you through the App or by email. Your continued use of the App after a change takes effect constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your information, contact:

Maxwell Chapin
The Local
contact@thelocaldating.com